Ampthill open their account for 2025 with a short trip up the B530 to face local rivals Bedford Blues in the latest #BattleofBedfordshire.
Head Coach Paul Turner names a similar to team to the one that should have faced Hartpury last Saturday afternoon – the game a victim of the winter weather and now to be re-arranged a third time!
Local lad Fraser Strachan captains a team this weekend that includes two debutants, Louie Johnson starts at ten with Josh Barton moving to full-back whilst Strachan is partnered by another debutant in midfield, Sam Spink.
Turner comments ahead of the game “Local derbies are always great occasions and a big crowd will lift both teams. We’ve prepared really well this week and are looking forward to a huge challenge at Goldington Road on Saturday afternoon.”
Team to play Bedford
1. Sam Crean 2. Samson Adejimi 3. Harvey Beaton 4. Kennedy Sylvester 5. Kaden Pearce-Paul
6. Max Eke 7. Charles Ryland 8. Lekima Ravuvu 9. Charlie Bracken 10. Louie Johnson 11. Brandon Jackson 12. Fraser Strachan (C) 13. Sam Spink 14. Wilson Ijeh 15. Josh Barton
Replacements:
16. Luke Thompson 17. Harrison Courtney 18. James Johnston 19. Arthur Thomas 20. Syd Blackmore
21. Rory Morgan 22. Josh Hallett 23. Mason Cullen
TR
James Flynn, James Issacs, Roan Frostwick, Oran McNulty, Byron Sharwood, Sione Vaenuku, Evan Mitchell, Jake Parkinson, Imi Qorowale