Ampthill welcomed local rivals Bedford Blues to The Olney Field for the latest edition of the #BattleOfBedfordshire with a club record crowd on the bank – thanks to all 2657 who came out today to support!
Head Coach Paul Turner welcomed a number of senior players back to the starting XV after defeats to both Coventry and Nottingham, and their inclusion made a huge contribution to a much-improved performance this afternoon.
Ampthill kicked off playing down the slope and with the wind and soon set about the visitors. A second minute penalty on the Blues 22 kicked to touch 5m out created the platform for Ampthill to open the scoring – Fyn Brown collecting Matt Gallagher’s arrow throw and Gallagher then joining the back of the maul and driving over. Conversion missed. 5 – 0
When awarded another penalty in an identical position five minutes later, Ampthill opted for the posts and Hardwick pushed his kick wide to the frustration of his Head Coach.
The Mob extended their lead minutes later – Comfort Homecare Player of the Match Dom Hardman broke the line in midfield and with Parks and Finlay in support the two backs exchanged passes to put Finlay in under the posts. An easy conversion for Hardwick. 12 v 0
Blues fly-half Maisey then denied Ampthill a third try with a tackle on Tom Bacon before Hardwick again extended the Mob lead slotting a penalty after yellow cards for both sides, and what could maybe have been a red for the visitors? 15-0 and 30 mins played.
Never write off the Blues. A duo of tries from wing Sean French in five minutes before half time reduced the arrears at the break to 15-12 although the second appeared to be instigated with a change of ball for the quick 22 drop out by Maisey after Hardwicks penalty went too long! Momentum with the Blues at half-time.
The second half was an end-to-end contest but again it was Blues who scored first – full back Rich Lane on loan from Bristol Bears cutting through the Ampthill defence to score and Blues lead for the first time in the game, 15 v 19
Their lead didn’t last long. From the restart Ampthill regathered and punished another Blues penalty – backs piling into the resulting maul and Joe Sproston going over the whitewash to the delight of the hill. 20 v 5.
Ampthill should have extended their lead four minutes later – Skelcey thinking he’d scored wide right but the officials spotting an infringement that allowed Blues to exit.
Blues brought up their bonus point and regained the lead when replacement centre George Hendy wiggled through the Ampthill defence and Maisey again adding the extras 20 v 26
Again the lead wouldn’t last – Ampthill appearing determined to win their last home game of the season and retain county bragging rights into next season. When Rankin broke just inside the visitors half he gained territory and fed Tom Bacon who stepped his defender inside to score. Another Hardwick conversion giving Ampthill a 27 v 26 lead with a quarter of the game remaining.
15 minutes of Blues attacking onslaught was met with at times heroic defending from the Mob however given enough possession they will punish any team – with minutes on the clock quick ball through the backs in the Ampthill twenty two found wing Sean French in space again and he made no mistake from ten metres out. Grimoldy’s conversion giving the Blues a 27 v 33 lead and two minutes to play.
Ampthill threw the kitchen sink at Blues to recover the game but when they knocked on following a 23 phase final play the referee blew his whistle to call an end to proceedings.
Head Coach Paul Turner following the game “A very physical contest although both teams were poor at times. We took turns to gift each other with opportunities – we just weren’t clinical enough and a good side like Bedford will always punish you. I was proud of the players effort and commitment today, we got two bonus points but probably could and should have killed the game off before half time”
