When the Championship fixtures were announced in July, the first one the Mob supporters looked for was the Blues at home. We now face them twice in 12 days, starting with the final round of the Championship Cup tomorrow before we head to Goldington Road in the Greene King IPA Championship on Boxing Day.
Excitement for this game at Dillingham Park has been building during the past few weeks, and we expect our biggest crowd of the year if not ever tomorrow. In contrast, our smallest crowd of the season witnessed our best performance at Level 2 last week in a narrow defeat to Ealing Trailfinders. Momentum is key in sport and the boys will look to build on that performance tomorrow.
The A’s line-up sees a few changes from last week’s side with German international, Jörn Schroder making his debut at loosehead, Shay Kerry returns to partner Carl Burgess in the second row and Jac Arthur makes his debut for the A’s at 6. In the backs Kevin Barrett takes the 9 jersey, captain Louis Grimoldby shifts to fly-half and Spencer Sutherland replaces Josh Gillespie on the wing.
As always the Mob crowd will be the sixteenth man and we hope everyone will join us at the post-match party. Come on you A’s!!
Paul Turner – Head Coach of Ampthill Rugby “The first visit by Bedford Blues to Dillingham Park, for the first competitive fixture between our clubs at home, is a truly historic day for all the members and supporters of Ampthill RUFC and I am sure we will see a truly super game of rugby befitting the occasion.
We make a number of changes to the side that ran Ealing Trailfinders so close last weekend and we look forward to seeing how the team acquit themselves in what I’m sure will be a red hot local derby.”
The full squad:
15 Lynch, Karim
14 Sutherland, Spencer
13 Sage, Jarryd
12 Hanks, Sam
11 Baker, Nigel (Sam)
10 Grimoldby, Louis (Capt)
9 Barrett, Kevin
1 Schroder, Jörn
2 Ward, Dave (Vice Capt)
3 Lutui, Aleki
4 Burgess, Carl
5 Kerry, Shay
6 Arthur, Jac
7 Bercis, Joe
8 Molitika, Maama
16 Blackmore, Syd
17 Tonga’uiha, Soane
18 Pupuma, Luvuyo
19 Johnson, Billy
20 Hudson, Sam
21 Foster, Will
22 Bordoli, Serafin
23 Fukofuka, Leon
Advance tickets are available midnight today at https://www.ampthillrufc.com/match-tickets
