Ampthill welcome local rivals Bedford Blues to The Olney Field in the latest edition of the #BattleOfBedfordshire expecting a club record crowd on The Olney Field.
Nearly 1900 were present for the National One play-off against Bishop Stortford in 2015 but with over 75% of tickets already sold for tomorrow afternoon this is definitely the game to be at in ChampRugby this weekend!
Blues ran out 38 v 14 winners in the reverse fixture at Goldington Road on Boxing Day, but the Mob still hold a series advantage winning four of the previous seven encounters!
Head Coach Paul Turner makes nine changes to the side that played Nottingham last Friday night and can include a number of senior players who have missed out recently.
Matt Gallagher starts at hooker this week and packs down between Dom Hardman and Joe Sproston in a strong front row! Club Captain Charlie Beckett starts again after a minor injury sustained in the warm-up before Coventry and has his lieutenant Harry Wilson alongside him in the engine room. Fyn Brown retains the blindside jersey with Josh Smart returning on the openside whilst number eight Morgan Strong will be looking to add to his eleven tries this season!
Fewer changes in the backs as Lewis Finlay and Tom Hardwick start again in the halfbacks, Gwyn Parks and Charlie Hudson have the job of containing the Blues midfield in the centres whilst a backline of Alex Harmes, Josh Skelcey and the returning Tom Bacon will look to get the Mob going forward!
Head Coach Paul Turner following a final training session on Thursday night “We’ve a great relationship with Blues but there will be no love lost tomorrow in front of what should be a great crowd on The Olney Field. Blues have a had a very good season so far and whilst form goes out of the window for local derbies, we’re under no illusion that tomorrow will be another tough challenge”
Tickets are available online until kick-off at https://www.ampthillrufc.com/match-tickets/
Gates to The Olney Field open at 1pm where we have extra bars thanks to club sponsors Carlsberg-Marstons Brewing Company, Cambridge Event Bars and Chantry Bars plus a number of new food units including “Pie & Pint” run by our own Ampthill Lionesses.
We will also have the normal BBQ with Deacons Burgers, Pulled Pork and Sausage Roll stand, Coffee by Wooden Hill Coffee, Ice Creams, Donuts and Sweets and Treats from Tracey Holywell Kitchen and “The Ampthill Rugby Crew”. Thank you to all of the local suppliers who have supported this event!
Post-match we have a DJ on The Olney Field and local covers band Dead Shady in The Marquee with Mexican Food from Taco-Diablo in the car park so don’t rush off home!
Starting XV
- Dom Hardman 2. Matt Gallagher 3. Joe Sproston 4. Charlie Beckett (c) 5. Harry Wilson 6. Fyn Brown 7. Josh Smart 8. Morgan Strong 9. Lewis Finlay 10. Tom Hardwick 11. Alex Harmes 12. Gwyn Parks 13. Charlie Hudson 14. Josh Skelcey 15. Tom Bacon
Replacements:
16. Aleki Lutui 17. Jake Ellwood 18. Syd Blackmore 19. Cai Devine 20. Rob Nixon 21. Murdoch Lock 22. Josh Bragman 23. Conor Rankin
