1stXV v Blaydon, Sat Nov 26, Match Preview
This Saturday Ampthill welcome Blaydon for their second ever visit to Dillingham Park.
The town of Blaydon-Upon-Tyne (pop ± 14,000) is approximately 4 miles west of Newcastle and is most well known, at least to those who live south of Bedford, for the 19th century folk song Blaydon Races, the unofficial anthem of Newcastle and frequently sung by the city’s round and oval ball supporters on match days.
Like Ampthill, the visitors can trace their rugby history back to the early 1880s, they run four adult sides, a colts side and have a thriving mini & youth section. The club has a modern clubhouse with multiple function rooms, a well equipped gymnasium with more than 1,000 members and a renowned weekly car boot sale. Promoted to level 3 at the end of 2007 Blaydon have since been ever present finishing 11th last season with a played 30 won 10 record.
Like last, this season our visitors have had a poor start, they are currently 16th in the National 1 table with a played 12 won 2 record but again, like last season, have recorded much improved performances as they grounds soften. A last minute penalty goal loss away at Coventry was followed by a 66-14 demolition of Hull Ionians a fortnight ago and giving Plymouth Albion a fright by leading at half time last week.
Ampthill produced their best away performance of the season last week at Hull Ionians, after a competitive first half which ended 13-18 the second half saw the visitors run in 31 unanswered points including 5 tries to leave the 1stXV 5th in the league table having closed the gap to the teams in 2nd, 3rd & 4th.
Amps squad this week sees multiple changes, first and foremost A’s supporters will be delighted to see prop Ross Davies return to the fold, having played in the Championship and in the USA since his last spell in maroon & amber. Joining Ross, lock Josh Walker and flankers Loti Molitika & Rob Bell all return to the starting XV while Ben Earl moves to Eighthman.
In the backs, dual registered Alex Mitchell makes his first start at scrum half while Mickey Wilson starts at inside centre.
On the bench, hooker Ben Wilkinson returns, prop Matt Collins rotates, scrum half Gavin Williams returns and there’s a league debut for centre Orisi Nawakaliva.
