Post by Jamie Crawford on Oct 26, 2021 12:32:49 GMT
Ampthill Preview
sponsored by Twenty Four IT Services (www.twentyfourit.co.uk)
Round 6 (of 20) Ampthill @ Dillingham Park. 2pm KO, Saturday 30th October.
After two weeks off, the Knights travel to Dillingham Park to play Ampthill. The Knights will attempt to win their first away game this season following the losses at Coventry and Bedford. That said, both Cov and Bedford are difficult places to go and win.
Ampthill have played five games, won two, lost two and drawn one, the Knights have played four, won two and lost two.
Last time out Steve Boden’s side beat the early league leaders, Jersey Reds 27-24 at Castle Park. It’s far too early to consider league position; for example, seven points or two games separate top from second from bottom (first to eleventh). Ealing Trailfinders are beginning to dominate pole position and they have a game in hand over six other teams like the Knights have.
Although Ampthill are not fully professional, Ampthill & District Community Rugby Club aspires to be the most 'professional' community rugby club in the country. It is an old-fashioned style club with a seemingly endless trek through the woods to get to their pitch from their clubhouse, open air gents’ toilet and a slippery bank that you stand on to spectate from with a gazebo style bar. The ground is usually customed by a welcoming crowd.
Russell Bennett, Ampthill’s fly-half is the equal-second best kicker in the Championship, just a point from top. The Knights can’t give away penalties because they are likely to be punished.
Ampthill started the season with an away defeat to Nottingham, they turned their fortunes with a narrow home win against Coventry, who beat the Knights the week before.
Their results thus far a quarter of the way through the season (after five rounds of a 20 round season):
Nottingham (A) L 36-26
Coventry (H) W 21-19
London Scottish (A) W 13-22
Bedford Blues (H) L 34-53
BYE
Jersey Reds (A) D 17-17
This leaves Ampthill seventh in the Championship with the Knights tenth, but we have a game in hand over six other teams. A bonus point win could see us rise to fourth if the Cornish Pirates don’t score a league point against Coventry. A loss would see us stay tenth because London Scottish in eleventh are nine points below us. Fourth to eleventh in one game, the points are that close!
The Knights won their only fixture with Ampthill in last season’s covid reduced fixtures by two points 17-19. Ampthill won 30-26 in January 2020; their first season in the Championship.
Ampthill ended last season seventh and they were fifth in their inaugural season, 2019/20.
In the initial Supporters’ Knight for season ticket holders, Director of Rugby Steve Boden (Bodes) indicated that lessons had been learned from the defeats and the young team of sometimes over-eager players will look to make different decisions that potentially will not leave points on the pitch that coulda, shoulda been scored. Bodes also mentioned that they were aiming to reduce the penalty count to ten to not give away points unnecessarily. The last, exciting game against Jersey Reds showed that these plans had been put into practice, plus the penalty count was eleven. The game was mooted as an exciting game to watch for supporters and neutrals alike but only nearly one thousand supporters attended. The quality of the rugby on display was outstanding. In a recent supporter’s meeting Bodes said that we aren't specifically looking to a top four place but more to building going forward. Supporters should be patient, however hopefully Saturday will see the Knights’ first away win.
Elsewhere:
Hartpury (3rd, played 5) v Bedford Blues 6th, played 4)
Cornish Pirates (4th, played 4) v Coventry (8th, played 5)
Ealing Trailfinders (1st, played 4) v London Scottish (11th, played 5)
Richmond (2nd, played 5) v Jersey Reds (5th, played 4)
Hartpury BYE Sorry Nottingham BYE
The shock result would be IF the Scottish exiles beat top-of-the-table Trailfinders, bottom bears top.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
sponsored by Twenty Four IT Services (www.twentyfourit.co.uk)
Round 6 (of 20) Ampthill @ Dillingham Park. 2pm KO, Saturday 30th October.
After two weeks off, the Knights travel to Dillingham Park to play Ampthill. The Knights will attempt to win their first away game this season following the losses at Coventry and Bedford. That said, both Cov and Bedford are difficult places to go and win.
Ampthill have played five games, won two, lost two and drawn one, the Knights have played four, won two and lost two.
Last time out Steve Boden’s side beat the early league leaders, Jersey Reds 27-24 at Castle Park. It’s far too early to consider league position; for example, seven points or two games separate top from second from bottom (first to eleventh). Ealing Trailfinders are beginning to dominate pole position and they have a game in hand over six other teams like the Knights have.
Although Ampthill are not fully professional, Ampthill & District Community Rugby Club aspires to be the most 'professional' community rugby club in the country. It is an old-fashioned style club with a seemingly endless trek through the woods to get to their pitch from their clubhouse, open air gents’ toilet and a slippery bank that you stand on to spectate from with a gazebo style bar. The ground is usually customed by a welcoming crowd.
Russell Bennett, Ampthill’s fly-half is the equal-second best kicker in the Championship, just a point from top. The Knights can’t give away penalties because they are likely to be punished.
Ampthill started the season with an away defeat to Nottingham, they turned their fortunes with a narrow home win against Coventry, who beat the Knights the week before.
Their results thus far a quarter of the way through the season (after five rounds of a 20 round season):
Nottingham (A) L 36-26
Coventry (H) W 21-19
London Scottish (A) W 13-22
Bedford Blues (H) L 34-53
BYE
Jersey Reds (A) D 17-17
This leaves Ampthill seventh in the Championship with the Knights tenth, but we have a game in hand over six other teams. A bonus point win could see us rise to fourth if the Cornish Pirates don’t score a league point against Coventry. A loss would see us stay tenth because London Scottish in eleventh are nine points below us. Fourth to eleventh in one game, the points are that close!
The Knights won their only fixture with Ampthill in last season’s covid reduced fixtures by two points 17-19. Ampthill won 30-26 in January 2020; their first season in the Championship.
Ampthill ended last season seventh and they were fifth in their inaugural season, 2019/20.
In the initial Supporters’ Knight for season ticket holders, Director of Rugby Steve Boden (Bodes) indicated that lessons had been learned from the defeats and the young team of sometimes over-eager players will look to make different decisions that potentially will not leave points on the pitch that coulda, shoulda been scored. Bodes also mentioned that they were aiming to reduce the penalty count to ten to not give away points unnecessarily. The last, exciting game against Jersey Reds showed that these plans had been put into practice, plus the penalty count was eleven. The game was mooted as an exciting game to watch for supporters and neutrals alike but only nearly one thousand supporters attended. The quality of the rugby on display was outstanding. In a recent supporter’s meeting Bodes said that we aren't specifically looking to a top four place but more to building going forward. Supporters should be patient, however hopefully Saturday will see the Knights’ first away win.
Elsewhere:
Hartpury (3rd, played 5) v Bedford Blues 6th, played 4)
Cornish Pirates (4th, played 4) v Coventry (8th, played 5)
Ealing Trailfinders (1st, played 4) v London Scottish (11th, played 5)
Richmond (2nd, played 5) v Jersey Reds (5th, played 4)
The shock result would be IF the Scottish exiles beat top-of-the-table Trailfinders, bottom bears top.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
