A try in the last play of the game inflicted a cruel first-home defeat of the season at Cambridge Commodities Park on the Ely Tigers, who were beaten 27-21 by Shelford Nomads.

Ely welcomed back some missing faces to their starting line-up, and after some cagey and close-opening exchanges, the Tigers took the lead through Adam Tallack with a try in the corner.

Ely Standard: Defeat for Ely has meant they've slipped to eight in the Counties 1 Eastern Counties league.Defeat for Ely has meant they've slipped to eight in the Counties 1 Eastern Counties league. (Image: Steve Wells)

Jake Alsop missed the conversion, and from the restart, the visitors surged up the pitch to score their first converted try of the game to lead 7-5.

After missing his first penalty, Alsop kicked his second to put the Tigers' noses back in front for a slender 8-7 lead, with the penalty counts for both sides creeping up.

A well-worked line-out play saw Ely win the ball over on the right and move it through the hands, with Matt McCarthy finding Luke Turner to score an unconverted try to make it 13-7.

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Shelford closed the gap with a kick in front of the posts before scoring another try from the restart, this time unconverted, to make it 15-13 at the break.

The second half started with Ely taking the lead with a try under the posts through McCarthy, but Alsop's conversion was charged down, making it 18-15 to the hosts.

Ely Standard: Both sides were evenly matched throughout the close contest. Both sides were evenly matched throughout the close contest. (Image: Steve Wells)

Alsop made no mistake with his next kick, though, opening up a six-point lead, which was again cut to one point by Shelford as they scored another try.

With the game coming to a close, Shelford piled the pressure on the home side and broke the Tigers' hearts with a try in the last play of the game to seal a 27-21 victory following conversion. 

Ely at least finished the game with a losing bonus point for their efforts but will be hoping for more when they travel to face second-placed Cantabrigian in the Counties 1 Eastern Counties league this Saturday, October 21.