Match result: Ely 5 - Newmarket 50

Playing 10-a-side on a small pitch, Ely’s first kick was caught by Lewis Heap. Heap passed to Aiden Cooper, Cooper to Oliver Green, Green back to Heap and in the blink of an eye the first try was scored. In horrible wet, muddy conditions and a howling wind Newmarket chose this match to start playing adventurous running rugby – and how well it worked. Within a few minutes of the re-start Heap was over again for his second try, this time following good runs by Dylan Allan and Thomas Locke. Newmarket were in a ruthless mood and when Daniel Downing was bundled into touch 5 metres from Ely’s line, Joe Stafford was on hand to steal the ball from the lineout and stretch the lead. Ely had no answer to the determination of the Newmarket forwards and good work by Liam John, Ben Jeacock and Oliver Sanusi-Bartlett allowed Chris Le to steal the ball at the ruck and crash through the Ely defence for his first try of the day.

For the second period Newmarket changed their entire team, but it made little difference to the balance of the match. Following an over-long drop out, Ely were pushed off the ball at their own scrum on half-way and Nathan Buckle picked up the ball and evaded the defence to score. In the deteriorating conditions play became a little scrappy with both sides making handling errors and infringing at the rucks. But again Newmarket pushed Ely off their own ball and this time Ethan Brown was on hand to pick up the points. However, Ely had the last word, scoring in the corner following a tap penalty.

In the final period Newmarket scored a further four tries. Three came from long-range runs by the forwards. First Jeacock proved unstoppable from a tap penalty, then Daniel Bristow ran in from the half-way line, before Le got his second of the day. Long passes from Anton Philips at scrum half set up a couple of good runs by Iain Moffat who made good ground. However, the backs had the last word. Gwilym Davies picked the ball off his toes on the half-way line and passed out to Stafford who swerved his way over to score Newmarket’s tenth try.

Dan Downing and Jack Watson were named joint men of the match for bone-crunching, try-saving tackles.