1stXV 22 Preston Grasshoppers 17

Ampthill Defense Holds Firm Against Grasshoppers Final Assault

Ampthill welcomed visitors Preston Grasshoppers for their first ever visit to Dillingham Park on a fine, windless but very cold winter afternoon who found the pitch in surprisingly good condition. Amps squad saw 4 changes in the pack, 2 in the backs and 4 on the bench from where William Moss, on loan from Bedford made his debut while Number 8 Maama Molitika and centre Daniel Lavery made their first appearances of the season having recovered from injury.

lineout
Last minute lineout

The first half saw the visitors with an advantage in the tight and a dominant maul, the second saw that advantage nullified while the home side’s backs looked dangerous the whole game but a lack of precision and poor decision making saw many opportunities wasted.

Preston began well using their forwards to gain territory, their maul was particularly effective resulting in a 5th minute try to their open side flanker converted by their fly half. The hosts responded with a flowing move that resulted in fly half Joseph Tarrant taking on the defence and show great strength to touch down in the 10th minute and he followed up by adding the extras.

On 18 minutes, after Ampthill had failed to capitalise on a chance or two, Captain Villiami Ma’asi took an inside ball to the left of the posts and crashed over, Tarrant, setting the scene for the remainder of the game, failed with the straightforward conversion.

On 30 minutes a Grasshoppers lock touched down after another catch and drive wide out with their flyhalf landing a second excellent conversion. Amps remained on the attack for much of the remainder of the half but despite much effort and creating two 3 on 1s, no further score was added before the referee blew for half time leaving A’s trailing 12-14.

The second half saw the introduction of the Ampthill bench which first gained parity in the forward exchanges and then saw two further unconverted trys, the first from a counter attack from deep in the hosts own half finished by fullback Elliot Clements-Hill in the 50th minute and the second another effort from Tarrant on 69 minutes from close range who somehow spun over the line despite the attention of two defenders. The visitors scored a penalty goal in the 68th minute from in front of the posts after the home side’s defence had held firm in the red zone.

The last 5 minutes saw Preston hammering at Ampthill’s line with multiple scrums, lineouts and phases all in the red zone but Amps defence held firm to secure the bonus point win.

Director of Rugby Mark Lavery commented “We got out of jail with our last 10 minutes of defense after Preston came with a game plan which they executed very well. We might have done more with the possession we had in the first half but all credit to Grasshoppers, that was as tough a game as we’ve had this season.”

Ampthill
Tries: Tarrant 10, 69, Ma’asi 18; Clements-Hill 50
Conversions: Tarrant 11

Preston Grasshoppers
Tries: Napier 5, Tomlinson 30
Conversions: Allen 6, 31
Penalty: Allen 68

Half time score
Ampthill 12 Preston Grasshoppers 14
Attendance: 162
Referee: Philip Davies
Starman: Villiami Ma’asi, Ampthill

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