Ampthill overturned a 9 point half time deficit to secure their first victory of the season, edging out newly promoted Chinnor at Dillingham Park.
The game was cagey in the early stages, but Ampthill finally broke the deadlock in the 13th minute after a sublime delicate chip over the top from skipper Josh Barton was brilliantly caught and grounded by Angus Hall.
The Villagers responded well to the opening try, and levelled the scoring 8 minutes later, with Rob Hardwick burrowing his way underneath the Ampthill defence to force his way across the whitewash, and try converted by Connor Slevin.
It didn’t take long for The Mob to retake lead, with flanker Max Eke diving across the line from close range in the 26th minute, following sustained pressure on the visitors try line. After Josh Barton missed the conversion, Ampthill led 12-7 with just over 10 minutes left in the first half.
The last 7 minutes of the opening 40 proved to be very damaging for the hosts, leaking 14 points and also being reduced to 13 men. With the infringements mounting up, the referee Harry Walbaum yellow carded lock Kennedy Sylvester, and after another penalty conceded at the rolling maul, he gave a penalty try and another yellow card, this time to prop Harvey Beaton. Leading for the first time in the match, Chinnor scored their third try of the afternoon and led by 9 points at the break. A hopeful kick through by Kieran Goss was superbly finished by scrum half Luke Carter.
The first score of the second half was going to crucial in Ampthill’s attempts to launch a fightback and they vitally scored their third try in the 47th minute. A sensational break from inside his own half by Vereimi Qorowale took most of the Chinnor defence out of the game, and an outrageous 7’s like pass over the top to Angus Hall sent him away, and he scored with ease.
Despite Josh Barton missing the conversion, Ampthill turned a 4 point deficit into a 3 point lead less than 10 minutes later. After taking a quick tap penalty 5 metres from the Chinnor try line, Brandon Jackson strolled across the try line, seemingly catching The Villagers out.
Chinnor levelled the game with a Connor Slevin penalty in 62nd minute, but after charging down a Chinnor kick, Ampthill centre Josh Hallett ran it in from just outside the visitors 22 to give The Mob a 7 point lead, following a successful conversion from replacement fly half Evan Mitchell.
The visitors showed some character, and in the 68th minute reduced Ampthill’s lead to 2 points. With The Mob desperately trying to kept Chinnor at bay, hooker Alun Walker managed to ground the ball from close range, but a missed conversion from Connor Slevin meant that The Villagers were still behind.
Ampthill managed to hold onto their lead in the remaining minutes and secured the win, with a late penalty miss from Slevin proving crucial in helping The Mob seal the victory.
Following the result, Paul Turner said “Our first half performance was as poor as I can remember. At half time 12-21 down with 13 players on the pitch its safe to say we were staring down a barrel on our home patch.
A few things got sorted out in the second half and we got back in front with some great finishes from our outside backs. A win with 5 points is always good but we have a lot to address and work on”
Ampthill Points Scorers
Tries: Hall 13, 47; Eke 26, Jackson 55, Hallett 64
Conversions: Barton 14, 48; Mitchell 65
Player of the Match: Angus Hall
