Somewhat of a 'deja-vous' ending to this pre-season encounter for Ampthill & District RFC and their home supporters, as DMPRFC won the game with the last play.

Although there was not as much at stake as in the dramatic end to last season's play-off game at the Northern Echo Arena, the ending was the same in that DMPRFC took the honours.

Three half hour periods of play had been agreed between the coaches prior to the game, where replacements were utilised on a 'rolling' basis, as will be the case come the start of the season at Level 3 and below.

DMPRFC are not usually advocates of travelling long distances on game day and although a pre-season outing was viewed slightly differently, traffic problems on the motorway put back the start of this game by 30 minutes.

Subsequently, the journey may have contributed to the poor start from the visitors, who were down two converted tries early doors, conceding one from the kick off.

What followed was a full blooded encounter, with plenty of decent passages of play for the assembled spectators, even though personnel changes were introduced on a regular basis.

Both teams threw all 30+ players on show into the fray and both sets of coaches again will have had the opportunity to cast a critical eye over their respective charges, prior to the opening game of the season come the first week of September.

Ampthill & District RFC will have found a more solid citizen in the forward pack of their visitors, with DMPRFC having strengthened in that regard, but nevertheless they fought fire with fire in the opening 30 minutes, although the visitors scrum certainly had the edge,and the lineouts shared evenly.

In response to the home brace, DMPRFC responded at the set piece, when considerable pressure was applied on the home eight and after several consecutive penalties in the red zone, the referee had no option but to award a penalty try under the posts, which was converted. (14 - 7).

The second period saw changes to both teams, but again Ampthill scored a converted try first, calling for DMPRFC to dig deep and with both backs and forwards exploiting the open spaces, they scored a fine try under the posts, which was converted.

Just when onlookers thought that DMPRFC would kick on and score, the home side struck again with a converted try (28 - 14).

With both sides committing what appeared to be their starting sides to the field for the third period, DMPRFC were required 'to step up to the plate', if they were going to take the spoils.

This they did with style, but having said that, Ampthill certainly played their part in proceedings.

DMPRFC levelled the try count, scoring two tries through their pacy backs, one of which was converted.

As the clock wound down, it was looking as if a missed conversion had cost the visitors the overall win, but with the last throw of the dice, the forwards lay siege to the home line, with a series of set scrums. Again the home pack buckled in trying to keep out the DMPRFC pack, conceding penalties to the displeasure of the referee, who again had no alternative but to award the penalty try under the posts.

With the successful conversion came the final whistle and the win for DMPRFC (28 - 33).

All at DMPRFC wish all the very best to Ampthill & District RFC in their forthcoming season in National League 2 (North), with a warning for their opposition that not many teams will come away from Dillington Park with a win.