Mowden Make It 4 In A Row At Ampthill

This fixture has a habit of conjuring up very close finishes and yesterday was no exception at the Dillington Park HQ of hosts Ampthill & District RFC.

DMPRFC have had the edge in all but one fixture in National League One games to date, but Ampthill must have thought they'd prevailed in this encounter, forcing a penalty try in the 78th minute to take the lead. However, in a twist of fate, DMPRFC forced a penalty try at the other end to take the spoils again and break the hearts of the home side.

This clash between potential silver and bronze medallists in National League One was eagerly anticipated, but had most online pundits tipping the home side to take the spoils on this occasion.

A decent playing surface was presented to the two teams, despite the recent deluge of rain throughout the whole of the country.

Both teams contained their regular compliment of solid citizens up front, with sufficient pace and power behind the scrum to cause mayhem to their respective opposition, but it was always going to be in the forwards where the game was won or lost.

So it proved, as a monumental forward battle ensued in the game, interspersed with a spattering of back line finesse.

The hosts scored the first points, when Cornish referee Veryan Boscawen penalised the visitors at ruck time and home winger and prolific kicker James Pritchard registered with a penalty to break the deadlock after 8 minutes. (3 - 0)

After another 20 minutes had elapsed, Ampthill edged further ahead, when after an attacking 5-metre scrum was awarded to the hosts, scrum half Kevin Barrett nipped down the blindside for a try (8 - 0), with the conversion missed wide by Pritchard.

DMPRFC did their fair share of attacking themselves, with Ampthill providing some stern defence, until the latter cleared their lines with a relieving kick, only for DMPRFC to mount a counter attack in the form of wing Brandon ASHER-WOOD who returned the ball with pace, avoiding a would be defender to sprint to the line for the try. (8 - 5) Fly half Warren SEALS having not issues with the conversion. (8 - 7)

So as oranges arrived, the game, as expected was in the balance, but with the slope and wind having been enjoyed by the hosts in the first half, visiting and home supporters alike were of the belief that this advantage would be utilised by DMPRFC to their better advantage after the interval.

So it eventually proved, but not until the final minutes of the game.

Up until the 78th minute, DMPRFC had enjoyed the majority of possession and attacking opportunities, but their only reward was a 52nd minute SEALS penalty, edging the visitors in front. (8 - 10).

Then, with 2 minutes to go came the flurry of frantic activity, bringing the decent crowd back to life.

Ampthill set up a drive and were awarded a penalty try, as their progression was halted illegally, with centre Garry LAW adjudged to be the offender in the melee, promptly receiving his visit to 'the cooler' for his perceived transgression. With the requirement of a conversion under the posts not required these days, Ampthill edged ahead (15 - 10) and looked to have won it.

As the game entered the last 2 minutes, the re-start not controlled by the hosts, who conspired to give away a vital penalty, which DMPRFC kicked to the corner for a last gasp effort to win the game, the penalty not being enough.

With well controlled execution, the resulting lineout formed a catch and drive effort towards the home line, which was similarly brought down as DMPRFC had done before, heralding an identical outcome of a penalty try, with home lock Karl Burgess taking the responsibility for the illegality, with a yellow card following his work.

With the try adding the extra bonus of a 'taken as read' conversion, (15 - 17) DMPRFC had sneaked the 4 league points, with Ampthill receiving a conciliatory losing bonus point.