Ampthill secured back-to-back away league victories for the first time this season, claiming a thrilling 30-38 bonus–point win against Doncaster Knights at Castle Park to continue their 100% winning record in December.
The Mob dominated at scrum time early on, and after applying the pressure near inside the Doncaster 22 scored the opening try of the match in the 8th minute. Despite knocking on near the hosts’ try line, the Mob regained possession deep in Doncaster territory, and a sublimely timed pass from Seb Smith sent Fraser Strachan into a huge gap, and he then passed to Brandon Jackson on his outside who had the simple task of dotting down near the sticks.
Doncaster responded almost immediately to the Mob’s opening score, reducing the arrears to 5-7 in the 12th minute. After the Mob conceded a penalty from close range, the hosts kicked to the corner, and following a dominant rolling maul, prop Conor Davidson dived across the line unopposed.
Following a yellow card to Ampthill No.8 Charlie West in the 17th minute for a deliberate knock-on, Doncaster took the lead for the first time just a minute later to lead 12-7. Playing on a penalty advantage, a superbly weighted cross-field kick from Doncaster fly-half Morgan Bunting was claimed on the right-hand side by Aidan Cross, who passed inside to Telusa Veainu to finish with ease.
After a cagey period following Doncaster’s second score, Ampthill retook the lead in the 30th minute with another well-crafted try off the back of an attacking scrum deep in the hosts’ territory. After dominating at the scrum, Valentino Mapapalangi peeled away to the left and magnificently offloaded to Fraser Strachan who had the time and space to dive over in the corner.
Despite Doncaster regaining the lead through a 36th minute drop goal from Morgan Bunting, the Mob once again responded excellently and took a 15-21 advantage into half–time break with their third try of the afternoon just a minute after falling behind. After receiving the ball from Josh Barton on the halfway line, Brandon Jackson broke through a coupletackles and an impeccable pass back inside to Barton, who finished the move.
Doncaster managed to stop the Mob in the opening stages of the second despite applying significant pressure near the try line, and with their first foray into the Ampthill 22, theyreduced the deficit to 20-21. After stretching the Ampthill defence, a loopy pass from Morgan Bunting found inside centre Zach Kerr on the right–hand side, who forced his way over, dotting down in the corner in the 47th minute.
Ampthill secured the try bonus–point just under ten minutes later to extend the lead past a converted score to 20-28. Following a sublime line break from the impressive Finn Keylock on his first start for the Mob, the ball was spread to Brandon Jackson on the right–hand side, who applied the finish to score his second try of the afternoon.
In a recurring theme of the game, Doncaster continued to keep themselves within touching distance of the Mob, and reduced the gap to one point again with their bonus point score. Afteran exchange on the left hand side between Telusa Veainu and Matt McNab, Veainu was tackled just short of the line but offloaded to East Timor Viliamu, who dotted down in the 59th minute.
The Mob showed great character once again to re-open aneight point advantage with their fifth try of the afternoon in the 66th minute. After sustaining the attack brilliantly in the red zone, the ball found its way to Finn Keylock, who passed to Sam Kildunne on his outside and grounded the ball untouched on the left–hand side.
Morgan Bunting slotted a penalty in the 69th minute to reduce Ampthill’s lead to five points, but just three minutes later Finn Keylock nailed a penalty of his own to restore the eight point advantage, and seal a 100% kick conversion rate in a man of the match performance on his full debut.
Despite a nail-biting end to the match the Mob defending brilliantly in the closing stages to secure an impressive 30-38 bonus–point win in South Yorkshire.
Ampthill Points Scorers
Tries: Jackson 9, 56; Strachan 30, Barton 37, Kildunne 67
Conversions: Keylock 10, 31, 38, 57, 68
Penalty: Keylock 72
Man of the Match: Finn Keylock
