Post by Jamie Crawford on Mar 2, 2021 12:22:16 GMT
Ampthill Preview
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Round 1 Ampthill @ Dillingham Park. 3pm KO, Sunday 7th March.
The Knights kick off the Championship campaign with a trip to Dillingham Park. “Steve Boden’s charges will look to avenge last season’s 30-26 defeat to Ampthill in the Club’s first competitive fixture in almost a year.” (DRFC website)
Ampthill had two pre-season games against Bedford Blues, the two weekends prior to facing us. So, although Ampthill hadn’t played for 335 days, they last played last week while we had a week off. The Knights however have had four pre-season games.
The Blues have let Ampthil use their 4G pitch for some pre-season training sessions, so they have built up a relationship of sorts but they are only just over 9 miles away from each other.
In the first game at Dillingham Park on 20th February apparently Bedford Blues edged Ampthill in fiery pre-season battle to win 33-36.
Ampthill beat the Blues on all three occasions the sides met last season, but a new look Bedford squad asserted their dominance from the KO. Ampthill reduced a 7-31 deficit to within three points at the referee’s whistle in just fifteen minutes. A late surge by Ampthill is something the Knights need to be wary of.
Corey Lewis (Hooker) scored first for Ampthill v Bedford to equal the scores in the early period but then the Blues had a 'purple patch' (for most of the game, so more a play on words or colours!)
However, in the last 15 minutes Mark Lavery’s Ampthill almost produced an inspired comeback with two scores from Alex Humfrey (2nd Row), then two quickfire single scores in the final few minutes by Craig Duncan (Centre), and Harvey Beaton (sub, Saracens loanee Prop).
Humfrey crossed the whitewash twice in three minutes.
Then on Saturday 27th February @ Goldington Road Ampthill avenged their home defeat with a 21-36 away win on Bedford’s home turf. Initially Amphill Hooker Dave Ward crashed over on 6 minutes from a rolling maul. Then after some Ampthill pressure in the red zone, Aleki Lutui (Prop) picked up from the ruck and scored under the posts. Jeremy To’a (Outside Centre) then scored out wide to make the score 0-19 as the first conversion was wide of the post. The Blues replied with two converted tries of their own before half time to make the score 14-18. Last season’s top scorer Ampthill Fly Half Louis Grimoldby then slotted a drop kick from 30m out. Sydney Blackmore (Flanker) was next to dot down following a maul from a line out. Finally, for Ampthill replacement scrum-half Jonny Law intercepted on the halfway line, and sprinted 50m to a superman finish for the try of the game. Grimoldby successfully converted. Bedford weren’t going to give in and scored a converted try just before the referee blew for full time. 21-36 with Ampthill scoring five tries. The aggregate score over both games was Bedford 57 v Ampthill 69.
Ampthill are starting the Championship season on a high after a win and an aggregate win over both games. They scored ten tries over two games to further boost their confidence. The Knights didn’t win a game against Sarries or or Trailfinders but they are both surely much better teams than Bedford Blues. No disrespect to Bedford but Sarries were in the Premiership last season and weren’t relegated due to their performance, or lack of. It was financial misconduct that led to them being docked 35 points and fined £5.36m; more specifically breaching the league's salary cap. They are also the ex-European club Champions from two seasons ago. Both Sarries and Trailfinders have had much more investment into their players than any other team in the Championship.
Unless anybody knows of another such as the Cornish Pirates?
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
sponsored by Twenty Four IT Services (www.twentyfourit.co.uk)
Round 1 Ampthill @ Dillingham Park. 3pm KO, Sunday 7th March.
The Knights kick off the Championship campaign with a trip to Dillingham Park. “Steve Boden’s charges will look to avenge last season’s 30-26 defeat to Ampthill in the Club’s first competitive fixture in almost a year.” (DRFC website)
Ampthill had two pre-season games against Bedford Blues, the two weekends prior to facing us. So, although Ampthill hadn’t played for 335 days, they last played last week while we had a week off. The Knights however have had four pre-season games.
The Blues have let Ampthil use their 4G pitch for some pre-season training sessions, so they have built up a relationship of sorts but they are only just over 9 miles away from each other.
In the first game at Dillingham Park on 20th February apparently Bedford Blues edged Ampthill in fiery pre-season battle to win 33-36.
Ampthill beat the Blues on all three occasions the sides met last season, but a new look Bedford squad asserted their dominance from the KO. Ampthill reduced a 7-31 deficit to within three points at the referee’s whistle in just fifteen minutes. A late surge by Ampthill is something the Knights need to be wary of.
Corey Lewis (Hooker) scored first for Ampthill v Bedford to equal the scores in the early period but then the Blues had a 'purple patch' (for most of the game, so more a play on words or colours!)
However, in the last 15 minutes Mark Lavery’s Ampthill almost produced an inspired comeback with two scores from Alex Humfrey (2nd Row), then two quickfire single scores in the final few minutes by Craig Duncan (Centre), and Harvey Beaton (sub, Saracens loanee Prop).
Humfrey crossed the whitewash twice in three minutes.
Then on Saturday 27th February @ Goldington Road Ampthill avenged their home defeat with a 21-36 away win on Bedford’s home turf. Initially Amphill Hooker Dave Ward crashed over on 6 minutes from a rolling maul. Then after some Ampthill pressure in the red zone, Aleki Lutui (Prop) picked up from the ruck and scored under the posts. Jeremy To’a (Outside Centre) then scored out wide to make the score 0-19 as the first conversion was wide of the post. The Blues replied with two converted tries of their own before half time to make the score 14-18. Last season’s top scorer Ampthill Fly Half Louis Grimoldby then slotted a drop kick from 30m out. Sydney Blackmore (Flanker) was next to dot down following a maul from a line out. Finally, for Ampthill replacement scrum-half Jonny Law intercepted on the halfway line, and sprinted 50m to a superman finish for the try of the game. Grimoldby successfully converted. Bedford weren’t going to give in and scored a converted try just before the referee blew for full time. 21-36 with Ampthill scoring five tries. The aggregate score over both games was Bedford 57 v Ampthill 69.
Ampthill are starting the Championship season on a high after a win and an aggregate win over both games. They scored ten tries over two games to further boost their confidence. The Knights didn’t win a game against Sarries or or Trailfinders but they are both surely much better teams than Bedford Blues. No disrespect to Bedford but Sarries were in the Premiership last season and weren’t relegated due to their performance, or lack of. It was financial misconduct that led to them being docked 35 points and fined £5.36m; more specifically breaching the league's salary cap. They are also the ex-European club Champions from two seasons ago. Both Sarries and Trailfinders have had much more investment into their players than any other team in the Championship.
Unless anybody knows of another such as the Cornish Pirates?
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…