Ampthill welcomed Cornish Pirates back to Dillingham Park only two weeks after their close Championship Cup encounter and Head Coach Paul Turner predicted a “similar game” pre-match.
With the start delayed for unknown reasons with both teams ready on the pitch, play eventually got underway and Ampthill’s old habit of giving visitors an early advantage came back to haunt them – Pirates scoring after only 2 minutes through Alex Schwarz following a run from halfway by full back AJ Cant.
The Mob then enjoyed a period of sustained possession and had they been more clinical would have cancelled out the Pirates lead earlier than the 14th minute when Ben Harris and Pete White combined to put the A’s scrum-half in right of posts. Hardwick added the extras to level the game.
The Pirates response was immediate! Wedlake made a break on the left wing and he had his opposite wing Relton in support who scored in the corner, Robson converting from the touchline. The second of his six from the tee!
The visitors soon doubled their advantage – a penalty kicked to the corner resulted in a converted line-out and maul try to lead 7 v 21. Ampthill soon reduced the arrears again with a similar try of their own, in form hooker Syd Blackmore scoring his sixth try in five games and Hardwick again on target. 14 v 21
When awarded another penalty in front of the posts on the stroke of half-time, Ampthill captain Beckett pointed to the posts and Hardwick duly added the three points. 17 v 21 at the halftime whistle and all to play for in the second half.
Nobody would have predicted the second half capitulation from the Mob as the Pirates ran riot on The Olney Field – punishing every wayward kick, handling error and penalty against the forwards to seemingly score at every opportunity and run in six second half tries, five converted including a hatrick for replacement hooker Morgan Nelson.
To their credit the Mob kept trying to play, often overplaying and did score a consolation second-half try when Gwyn Parks put a kick behind the defence and chased through to score but by then the damage had been done. A clinical performance from the Pirates and Ampthill’s biggest defeat of the season!
Following the game, Paul Turner said “That was a hugely disappointing performance in front of our home fans. Despite going in 17-21 at half time we felt that the game was in the balance and needed to impose ourselves more in second half.
Full credit to Pirates who capitalised on all of our errors after the break, as they stretched away and punished us at every opportunity. It was a humbling experience that we must take on the chin and strive get better.
The injuries didn’t help our cause but we must dust ourselves down ready for our next block of league games starting at Caldy next Saturday.”
