After a disappointing result away at Nottingham last week, Ampthill return to Dillingham Park for their second home outing of the season, hosting old friends Caldy RFC.
New Signings
Ahead of the fixture at The Lady Bay, The Mob announced the double signing of Tongan back-rower Valentino Mapapalangi and Scottish scrum half Roan Frostwick, who is embarking on his second spell at Ampthill.
Mapapalangi joins The Mob after a five year stay at French side Rouen, who were recently relegated from the Pro D2 in the 2023/24 season. The Tongan had previously spent two seasons at Gallagher Premiership side Leicester Tigers, and made 6 appearances in the European Champions Cup before his exit at the end of the 2018/19 season.
Born in Auckland, Mapapalangi spent the early years of his career in New Zealand, at Auckland Rugby, Waikato and the Chiefs development squad before making the Manawatu Turbos squad ahead of 2015 ITM Cup season. His exploits so far have earned him 9 test caps for Tonga, and he made his debut for the Ikale Taki against Spain in November 2016.
Frostwick rejoins The Mob having spent the three seasons playing at Sydney-based clubs Warringah Rats and Norths Rugby. The scrum half spent the 2024 Shute Shield season with the Norths, losing the final to East Rugby in August, after playing for the Rats in 2022 and 2023 campaigns. He briefly returned to Edinburgh Rugby and turned out for Watsonians at the back end of the 2022 FOSRUC Super6 season, helping them secure their first Super6 title.
During the 2020-21 season, Frosty joined Ampthill on loan from Edinburgh 8 games into the RFU Championship season, making his debut in the 54-17 away defeat to eventual champions Ealing Trailfinders. After playing regular minutes for The Mob, Frostwick returned to Edinburgh in February 2022.
Frostwick signed professional terms to join the Edinburgh academy in June 2020 after making 15 appearances for the Scotland U20s and playing for North Berwick Rugby, Currie Chieftains and for Watsonians in the FOSRUC Super6 Championship.
Last Time Out
The Mob suffered a 38-14 loss to a highly impressive and in form Nottingham side despite scoring the opening try of the match after just 4 minutes. The hosts asserted their dominance for the rest of the half and scored two tries to take a 12-7 lead into the half time break. The Archers ran away with the game in the second half, scoring 26 unanswered points until a consolation converted try with just under 10 minutes remaining from Josh Barton finished the scoring for the evening.
During the loss, 4 players made their full debuts for The Mob, with 2 players making their first appearances off the bench. New signing Valentino Mapapalangi was immediately propelled into the starting XV, playing almost 70 minutes on the blindside until he was replaced by fellow debutant Arthur Thomas. Hooker Jordan Liney played his first minutes for Ampthill, replacing James Isaacs on the 62nd minute.
Half-backs Declan Murphy and Evan Mitchell played from the start for the first time, playing for an hour before both were replaced, with the former scoring an outstanding individual try early on in the piece. Winger Mason Cullen played the full 80 minutes in his first start for The Mob, having been a late addition to the 23 in the opening game away at Doncaster Knights, where he came on in the latter stages.
Opposition Focus
Caldy RFC are embarking on their 3rd straight season in the RFU Championship, after winning National One in the 2021/22 season to secure their first ever promotion to English Rugby Union’s second tier. The achievement was made even more impressive by the fact that the Merseyside outfit secured back-to-back promotions, having won National 2 North in the 2019/20 season without losing a single match. Their incredible rise over past few years have come under the tenure of head coach Matt Cairns and Director of Rugby Gareth Davies.
They finished 10th last season in the RFU Championship, securing 5 wins across the season, and comfortably finished 11 points clear of bottom placed side Cambridge RUFC. Their forward pack proved to be a huge success for them, with their top try scorer being former Ampthill hooker Matt Gallagher, scoring 12 tries across the 2023/24 campaign, only 4 tries behind the leading try scorer and fellow hooker Matt Cornish (Ealing Trailfinders).
The Ravers have had a difficult start to the 2024/25 RFU Championship season, losing their opening three fixtures, away at Bedford Blues and newly promoted Chinnor RFC, and at home to Cambridge RUFC, picking up just 1 losing bonus point so far.
Despite Caldy’s slow start, The Mob will have to be wary of underestimating The Ravers, with their only away success in all competitions last season coming at Dillingham Park, winning 21-26 success in an ill-disciplined affair in December 2023, with both sides being down to 13 men at one stage.
Last Meeting
Ampthill and Caldy have met many times across the years in National League 1 and National League 2 North, but they have played each other 5 times across the previous two seasons, most recently on the 6th April 2024, on the Paton Field. After defeating The Mob on Merseyside in the Premiership Rugby Cup in September 2023, alongside the aforementioned away win at Dillingham Park in December 2023, The Ravers were aiming to secure 3 wins from 3 against Ampthill across the 2023/24 season. The Mob went into the match off the back of one of the most memorable wins in the club’s history, beating champions elect Ealing Trailfinders 29-21 at Dillingham Park. Tries from Josh Barton, Brandon Jackson (2), Oli Morris helped The Mob overcome a 15 point half time deficit, scoring 24 unanswered points in the second half to help secure a 20-29 victory, exacting revenge for their defeats against The Ravers earlier in the season.
Ampthill 1st XV v Caldy kicks off at 2pm on Sat 12th October.
Tickets for this game are available here.
