The first local derby of the season came as Newmarket travelled along the A142 to Cambridge Commodities Park to face Ely Tigers on Saturday.

Tigers were forced to change their starting XV due to injuries, and after a bright start for Ely it was the visitors who opened the scoring with an early try, but the conversion couldn’t be added.

Tigers open their scoring as Mitch Kennett  bundled the ball over to score and Alsop add the conversion as Tigers took a two-point lead.

A mistake at a line out, allowed Newmarket to score again, in the same spot as the previous try, and this time the conversion was added.

From here, it was the visitors who controlled the game. Tigers, unable to make the tackles count, allowed Newmarket free to score under the posts, conversion added.

Missing tackles and moving the ball quickly saw another try for Newmarket, with the conversion added. The score board now read 26-7.

Ely won the ball from a line-out as Jordan Barnes took the ball over for a try, a penalty to Newmarket in front of the posts saw them opt for the points.

As half time approached Newmarket score again, as Ely fail again to hold on to the player as the visitors break again down the wing, cutting in to score under the posts, with the conversion added they lead at the break 36-14.

Second half started with neither side able to get a hold of the game, and it was the hosts that put the first points on the board.

The ball was taken across the try-line by Jim Storey, Alsop was able to add the conversion.

It was missed tackles highlighted by head coach, Des Lloyd, after the game, that came back to trouble Ely again as Newmarket crossed the try line once more, again with the conversion added the visitors lead 43-21,  

Ely finished the game with 14 men as Matt McCarthy was shown a yellow card for a high tackle, the final whistle blew soon after as the points headed back along the A142 to Newmarket.