Shelford's Fast Wing Play Hurts Ely Tigers Once More

 

🏆 Counties 1 Eastern Counties

📆 24^th January 2026

🆚 Shelford Nomads

🕣 2pm KO

📍Pocock + Shaw Park

Ely Tigers opened the first of three home games as the played host to Shelford Nomads, both sides looking for points, but again the home side were forced to make changes to starting 15.

The game started with Ely on the backfoot, as Shelford were awarded a penalty, opting to kick for the points, from just in the Ely half, but the ball went wide of the posts, however they soon got on the score sheet with the next attack, and the attack was a carbon copy of the previous weeks defeat at Ipswich, as Shelford moved the ball quickly, with purpose, on to the wing, were they had the overlap to score in the corner, unable to add the conversion they took a 5-0 lead.

With just 10 minutes on the clock, the lead was doubled, a mirror move of the first try, resulting in another try out on the wing, Shelford failed to add the conversion as they took a 10 nil lead, they soon had the chance to add a penalty, which they did, to make it 13-0, Ely hadn't go going, Shelford soon made it across the try line once more, again in the corner, however this time they added the point's for the conversion, to lead 20 nil,

First attack of the half for the Tigers, as Tom Green goes over the try line, Jake Alsop unable to add the conversion, but the joy was short lived as Shelford secured the bonus point to lead as they increase their lead, Green adds the Tigers second try, with the conversion added by Alsop, but during the end of half, Tigers were dealt a double blow, with both, Lory Martin and Green, forced off the pitch due to injury, which meant another reshuffle for the home side. 

Second half saw Shelford score first, after a dropped ball by Ely was picked up, for Shelford to score a try, Tigers were reduced to 14 as Matt French received Yellow card, while a man down, Shelford increased their lead, from the next break, Mitch Kennett goes over to score, under the posts, with Alsop added the conversion, as the score line read 35-19, Ely added some hope as the scored their 4th try, as a strong run by Matt McCarthy, was held up with the try in line insight, McCarthy was able to get the ball away to Coby Guerrero who dived over the line, as the score read 35-26. 

With full time approving Shelford were awarded a penalty, the opted to kick, deciding to kick for points, a successful kick would have seen Shelford open the gap up to much for the home side, the kick sailed over the posts as Shelford finished the game 38-26 winners.

Tigers Face Tough Start to 2026 Season with Heavy Loss Against

 

🏆 Counties 1 Eastern Counties

📆 17th January 2026

🆚 Ipswich

🕣 3pm KO

📍Humber Doucy Lane, Ipswich IP4 3PZ

Tigers finally got 2026 started with a league fixture against Ipswich, both sides looking for points to push them up the league. The home side start bright, scoping inside five minutes, with a unconverted try to lead 5-0, soon after they doubled their lead, With ten on the clock, as they score again, this time in the corner, with another unconverted try to double their lead, The next attack looked it was going to be a long afternoon for the Tigers, as they conceded a third try, as Ipswich scored in the corner once more, this time converting, to lead 17-0, however Ely were next on the score sheet, with Jake Alsop breaking free, with John Surbey finally touching down the ball, with Alsop adding the conversion. 

With 22 minutes on the clock Luke Turner broke free to run, unchallenged to score under the posts, with Alsop adding the conversion as the score board read 17-14 to the home side

However, Ipswich soon open the gap with a converted try, down the left hand side,, the left hand side of the pitch was proving profitable for the home side, as they quickly opened the gap up to 36--14, with a mixture of converted and non converted tries, to go into the half time brake with a healthy lead, First attack of the second half sees Ipswich score from a scrum deep in the Tigers half, with the home side breaking off the blind side, with the conversion added the home side increased their lead, the rest of the half, see neither side take control of the game, as the fog dropped in, Ipswich edged to the 50 point mark, as they push Ely back across the try line, to score a converted try, as the final score finished 50-14.