Last season Coventry recorded a Played 22, Won 8, Drawn 1 record to finish 8th, higher than any other promoted Club since the 12-team format was established.

Having strengthened their squad in the close season with 8 former Premiership or Pro 12 players and a brand new artificial pitch installed at Butts Park, their target will surely be finishing higher in the league table.

“We have completely restructured the rugby programme and this has led to a major upheaval to the Coaches and Playing Staff. However, pre-season has been good but it will take some time for the new systems to bed in and we are still a couple of players short to complete the squad.

We haven’t played any pre-season games so this is the first run out for the squad which will give us the chance to look at the number of the new players and combinations in a competitive match.

11 new signings make their debuts including Loose Head Prop Ben Christie on Dual Registration from WASPS. I think it’s important that our members and fans get behind the new boys on their first appearances at Dillingham Park. I am sure it will take a while to come together but I am confident that we are building a foundation to compete in the future.

Coventry recruited strongly this summer bring in a lot of Premiership and International experience into their playing group. I’m sure they will be challenging for the Championship Cup and I predict they will finish in the top 4 of the Greene King IPA Championship this season given the improved quality of their squad.

This is the first game Ampthill has played at the level in our history and it doesn’t get any tougher than Coventry”

— Mark Lavery, Director of Rugby (Ampthill)

Match Gallery: 20190921 Ampthill vs Coventry

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Ampthill Squad

1. Tom Foulkes

2. David Ward

3. Matthew Collins

4. Henri Williams

5. Billy Johnson

6. Robert Langley

7. Joe Bercis

8. Maama Molitika

9. Darryl Veenendal

10. Josh Sharp

11. Nigel Baker

12. Sam Hanks

13. Jarryd Sage

14. Kwaku Asiedu

15. Serafin Bordoli

16. Sydney Blackmore

17. Aleki Lutui

18. Ben Christie

19. Facundo Dominguez

20. Shay Kerry

21. Gavin Williams

22. Louis Grimoldby

23. Will Foster

Coventry Squad

1. James Gibbons

2. Darren Dawidiuk

3. Gareth Denman

4. James Voss

5. Alexander Woolford

6. Adam Peters

7. Jack Ram

8. Ryan Burrows

9. Thomas Kessell

10. Rory Jennings

11. Ratu Bulumakau

12. William Owen

13. Heath Stevens

14. Ratu Jonasa Bulumakau

15. James Stokes

16. Scott Tolmie

17. Toby Trinder

18. Philip Boulton

19. George Oram

20. Senitki Nayalo

21. Peter White

22. William Maisey

23. Robert Knox