Tight victory for Ely Tigers who played Bury St Edmunds on Saturday, report by Steve Wells.

Ely Tigers travelled to Bury St Edmunds on Saturday afternoon to face to the town’s 2nd XV, looking to build on their opening day victory.

The Tigers handed a debut to summer signing Archie Bell.

It was the Tigers who added the first points to the scoreboard after a spell of pressure, finally moving the ball from left to right finding Adam Tallack who found a gap in the corner to tab the ball down.

Jake Alsop was able to add the conversion points, a penalty awarded soon after saw Alsop add a further three points to the scoreboard as the Tigers led 10-0.

The home-side started to get a foot in the game as they picked up a loose kick and attack, with the ball out to wings, finding the gaps to score their first try, with the conversion added Tigers leaded narrowed.

A penalty for Bury saw them opt for the three points to level the scoreboard.

As half time approached, there was the award of a penalty, Alsop opting to kick for the points, but the chance was missed as the scores reminded level.

It was the home side who took the lead on the stroke of half time, with a quickly taken penalty resulting in a try, with the conversion added as the home side took the lead for the first time.

From the restart, Ely were awarded a penalty for the same point as the one moments earlier. This time Alsop made no mistake, and with the help of the upright, the ball dropped the right side as the half ended with Bury leading 17-13
 

The restart of the second half saw a turning point of the half, as Bury went down to 14, following a high tackle and with the extra man Ely made it count.

Mitch Kennett going over, and with Alsop adding  the extra points, Ely lead once more, but that lead didn’t last long, as back came the home side with a penalty, and once again the score board were level at 20-20.

Ely broke thru again, with Rhys Williams Goldman, scoring his first try since joining the club in the summer.

Alsop adding the extra points to open a seven-point lead, but Tigers were unable to build on the lead as once again to level the score up, as they break free from tackles to find a gaps to cross the try line.

The conversion was added with the help of the post as once again the scoreboard was level.

Back came Ely as they broke deep from their own half for a powerful run from Matt McCarthy.

The ball found Paul Dewey whose last pass found Williams Goldman who touched down for the try.

Alsop was unable to add the extra points, and as the game reached the end, Bury pulled level once more, as they scored a try in corner.

Ely missed tackles once more, the conversion was missed and it looked like the game was going to finish in a tie, but from the restart there was still time for a final twist.

Ely restarted and kicked the ball into the middle of the park towards the Bury backline, but as the ball came down the defender dropped the ball and knocked on, for the official to award a penalty.

Alsop opted to kick, the ball sailed over the posts as the official blew for the final time as Ely ran out 35-32 winners.

Speaking after the final whistle head coach, Des Lloyd said: "A very tough game, and we got through it, however, we still have lots to work on, and that's what we'll be doing over the next week during training.

"We missed some tackles today and that's just one area we'll be working on as a group.”