20181222

20190112 Ampthill 1st XV vs Plymouth Albion

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Match Report

Plymouth Albion arrived at a damp, overcast Dillingham Park with gentle breeze blowing in favour of the visitors in the first half.

Typically, games between the two sides are close, usually less than one score determining the winner, the first half followed this pattern, the second did not!

The visitors came out of the blocks firing taking the lead in the 6th minute with an unconverted try through blindside flanker John Kelly after good work from the forwards in the red zone.

Ampthill responded with a 16th minute catch & drive try from hooker Ollie Walliker, also unconverted.

Ollie Walliker opens the scoring for Ampthill
(Photo: Iain Frankish, Actuance Photography)

The sides then exchanged penalty goals, Ampthill fly half Josh Sharp’s goal on 26 minutes cancelled out by one from Albion wing Matthew Shepherd in the 30th minute.

Josh Sharp evening up the scoreline…
(Photo: Iain Frankish, Actuance Photography)

As half time approached Amps were camped deep in the visitors 22, first receiving a yellow card for bringing down a maul and then then conceding a penalty try for a deliberate knock on leaving the score 15-8 at oranges.

Yellow card for a Maul Offence reduces the odds for Plymouth…
(Photo: Iain Frankish, Actuance Photography)

Plymouth tied the score on 41 minutes with another penalty try after A’s were penalised for a maul offence.

Given the highly competitive nature of the game most spectators would have taken long odds on the home side scoring 33 unanswered points in the remaining 39 minutes but that’s what happened.

First, straight from the kick off, a clearing kick on the Albion 22 was charged down by replacement flanker Will Allman who won the race to touch down the unconverted try.

Will Allman dashes to the line…
(Photo: Iain Frankish, Actuance Photography)

Then after a period of to and fro in mid-field the hosts replacement full back Mikey Waters finished a fine backs try on 54 minutes, Sharp adding the extras.

Mikey Walkters just making the line for the try…
(Photo: Iain Frankish, Actuance Photography)

Just 4 minutes later, right wing Spencer Sutherland was set free by scrum half Kevin Barrett to to touch down behind the posts, Sharp again successful with the conversion.

Spencer Sutherland once again over the whitewash…
(Photo: Iain Frankish, Actuance Photography)

The 62nd & 66th minutes saw left wing Sam Baker score a brace of tries after good work from the backs and some individual skills, both converted by Waters.

Sam Baker with the first of two tries this game…
(Photo: Iain Frankish, Actuance Photography)

Ampthill crossed the line twice more as the visitors discipline escaped them but both tries were disallowed for knock ons prior to the touch down.

So near yet so far, knock-on!!
(Photo: Iain Frankish, Actuance Photography)

The proverbial game of two halves saw a very competitive first followed by a one sided second, particularly the last quarter when fitness appeared to be an issue for the large Plymouth pack.

“This was a good win against an in form & confident Plymouth. At 20-15 early in the second half we raised our level producing some of the best football of the season. I was delighted with the energy and skill, the performance making up for the disappointment at Esher a week earlier. This result sets us up nicely for the big game away at Blackheath next week.”
— Paul Turner, Head Coach

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Source: https://www.ampthillrufc.com/1stxv-48-plym...

20181222 Ampthill 1st XV vs Chinnor

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Match Report

Chinnor travelled to Dillingham Park on a crisp, sunny, windless afternoon to find, despite recent rain, perfect playing conditions. Notwithstanding Ampthill being at ‘home’ they clearly hadn’t got off the bus as Chinnor stormed into a 2 try lead.

First on 2 minutes full back Kieran Goss touched down for an unconverted try after Chinnor had controlled the opening phases from the kick off, tying up the Amps defence until he ran in unopposed.

Kieran Goss opens the score for Chinnor
(Photo: Iain Frankish, Actuance Photography)

Then, centre Alex Dancer took a training ground shoulder ball off first phase to slice through the A’s defence in the 5th minute scoring to the left of the posts, surprisingly the much easier conversion was also missed.

Danny Barnes takes advantage of an opening to extended Chinnor's score
(Photo: Iain Frankish, Actuance Photography)

A’s knuckled down and came back into the game on 10 minutes with a trademark catch & drive, hooker Aleki Lutui coming up with the ball, centre James Pritchard converting from wide out.

Aleki Lutui opens the scoreline for Ampthill
(Photo: Iain Frankish, Actuance Photography)

Chinnor were proving a handful having much the better of territory and possession although the hosts defence had woken up, snuffing out multiple scoring chances for the visitors.

James Pritchard prepares for his opening conversion
(Photo: Iain Frankish, Actuance Photography)

In the 28th minute wing Sam Baker received the ball wide on the left, beat his marker before chipping the cover to touch down on the left mid way to the corner flag, Pritchard’s conversion bisecting the posts.

Sam Baker takes Ampthill ahead.
(Photo: Iain Frankish, Actuance Photography)

James Pritchard lines up for Conversion #2
(Photo: Iain Frankish, Actuance Photography)

Chinnor continued to have the better of the game forcing the home side to defend the red zone eventually settling for a 40th minute penalty goal by fly half Craig Holland from in front of the posts to leave the score 14-13 at oranges.

The Girls proving they can do festive cheer with so much more style than the boys!
(Photo: Iain Frankish, Actuance Photography)

Ampthill’s supporters were wondering how they led at half time given the extent of the visitors dominance but the half time team talk must have been effective as Amps came out firing in the second half.

The 45th minute saw Baker add his second try after backs & forwards had combined to expose the visiting defence, Pritchard converting from wide out.

Sam Bakers second try of the game
(Photo: Iain Frankish, Actuance Photography)

On 50 minutes, back in Chinnor’s half fullback Will Foster joined the line around 35m out using strength to break the first tackle and stepping the cover to score a fine individual try, Pritchard again converting.

Will Foster with Ampthill's fourth try of the game
(Photo: Iain Frankish, Actuance Photography)

Chinnor weren’t about to give up despite training 28-13 as the 55th minute saw full back Goss touch down his second try after good hands & support had shredded the home defence, Holland adding the extras from wide out.

Aleki Lutui with his second try of the match and Ampthill's 5th!
(Photo: Iain Frankish, Actuance Photography)

The ding dong nature of the game continued with Lutui’s second try after a 60th minute catch & drive, Pritchard keeping up his 100% kicking record.

James Pritchard delivering yet again from an awkward angle.
(Photo: Iain Frankish, Actuance Photography)

Still the visitors weren’t subdued as replacement outside back Joshua Hudson finished a fine team try on 75 minutes, replacement fly half Greg Goodfellow converting.

A’s sealed the game in the 77th minute with a penalty goal from Pritchard to leave the final score 38-27.

James Pritchard adds 3 for a penalty to close off the scoring.
(Photo: Iain Frankish, Actuance Photography)

This was a hard game with difference between the sides being the hosts maul defence and Pritchard’s kicking.

Closing scoreline: 38-27 in favour of the hosts.
(Photo: Iain Frankish, Actuance Photography)

“Despite the worst first half performance of the season we managed to lead at half time against a side that caused us more trouble than any other this term. The players deserve great credit for securing a bonus point win and ending 2018 on a high, however, there is still much work to do if we are to achieve our goals.”
— Paul Turner, Head Coach

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Match Store: Ampthill 1st XV vs Chinnor

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Source: https://www.ampthillrufc.com/1stxv-38-chin...