Post by Jamie Crawford on Jan 1, 2024 16:52:52 GMT
Ampthill preview
sponsored by Twenty Four IT Services (www.twentyfourit.co.uk)
Round 9, Saturday 13th January, KO 2.30pm
The opening match of 2024 sees third placed Knights welcome seventh placed Ampthill (the Mob) to Castle Park. Both teams have played 7 games so far, although it is round 9 in this uneven number of teams Championship since the demise of Jersey Reds.
Thus far the Knights have scored 12 more points than Ampthill (1.7/game) and conceded 26 fewer points (3.7/game). Hardly a significant difference that 4 league positions might indicate. In fact, Ampthill are just one place below the Knights/Hartpury College on offensive stats, 2 tries make up 10 of these points. They are 3 places below on defensive stats, of which 7 are tries. Ampthill have conceded the third fewest points away from Dillingham Park, so the Knights can expect a strong defence.
Ampthill’s fly half Gwyn Parks is the second highest points scorer in the Championship. The Knights must keep their discipline, especially in their half of the pitch, because penalties are likely to be converted into points.
England hooker Theo Dan broke into the Saracens set-up last season, but he started his campaign at Ampthill. Other notable former players include Northampton stars fly-half Fin Smith, England flanker Ben Earl, former Sharks prop James Flynn and Wales World Cup squad member Sam Costelow. Premiership players Josh Bassett and Lewis Ludlow both picked up a rugby ball for the first time as an Ampthill junior.
Ampthill has a solid and historic grounding in rugby that they can draw upon, even if they haven’t played in the Premiership yet.
Players to watch are former Ospreys No 8 Morgan Strong, who was named as Ampthill captain for the 2023/24 season. Scrum-half Charlie Bracken, an England under 20s player and the son of former England International Kyran Bracken.
Daventry Express, “…Izaiha Moore-Aiono got some game time at No.8 for Saints during pre-season and in the early stages of the Premiership Rugby Cup competition, but he has now left the club.
"He's signed for Ampthill," Dowson confirmed.
"He was very impressive so we'll keep close tabs on him.”
"He was excellent."
Last time out Ampthill lost 22-31; 3 tries to 5 when they welcomed Bedford Blues. The game was 12-12 at the break but then a second half surge from Bedford Blues inspired them to a 2nd Battle of Bedfordshire success. This extended Bedford’s bragging rights to 3 years. Inside centre Fraser Strachan, fly half Gwyn Parks and left wing Brandon Jackson were the Ampthill try-scorers.
Bedford Blues welcomed Coventry to Goldington Road on Monday 1st January and lost 19-34.
This enabled Coventry to leapfrog Ealing Trailfinders, the Knights and Bedford blues to go from 4th to top of the Championship. However, Trailfinders have 2 games in hand over Cov plus the Knights and the Blues have 1 game in hand over Coventry.
Championship games taking place this weekend:
Friday 12th January
Nottingham (5) v London Scottish (10)
Saturday 13th January
Cambridge (11) v Cornish Pirates (6)
Doncaster Knights (3) v Ampthill (7)
Ealing Trailfinders (1) v Caldy (9)
Before this weekend, Ealing Trailfinders, Cornish Pirates, and Caldy have played 6 games. The Knights, Bedford Blues, Ampthill & London Scottish have played 7 games. Coventry, Nottingham, Hartpury & Cambridge have played 8 games.
After both teams have played 6 games (so comparable), the Cornish Pirates have the strongest defence in the Championship, 2 points fewer than Ealing Trailfinders.
A Knight W could see them rise to the top if Caldy beat Ealing.
A Knight L could see them drop as low as 5th if Nottingham and the Cornish Pirates both win. The Pirates need a winning try bonus point, then it will depend on the try count.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
sponsored by Twenty Four IT Services (www.twentyfourit.co.uk)
Round 9, Saturday 13th January, KO 2.30pm
The opening match of 2024 sees third placed Knights welcome seventh placed Ampthill (the Mob) to Castle Park. Both teams have played 7 games so far, although it is round 9 in this uneven number of teams Championship since the demise of Jersey Reds.
Thus far the Knights have scored 12 more points than Ampthill (1.7/game) and conceded 26 fewer points (3.7/game). Hardly a significant difference that 4 league positions might indicate. In fact, Ampthill are just one place below the Knights/Hartpury College on offensive stats, 2 tries make up 10 of these points. They are 3 places below on defensive stats, of which 7 are tries. Ampthill have conceded the third fewest points away from Dillingham Park, so the Knights can expect a strong defence.
Ampthill’s fly half Gwyn Parks is the second highest points scorer in the Championship. The Knights must keep their discipline, especially in their half of the pitch, because penalties are likely to be converted into points.
England hooker Theo Dan broke into the Saracens set-up last season, but he started his campaign at Ampthill. Other notable former players include Northampton stars fly-half Fin Smith, England flanker Ben Earl, former Sharks prop James Flynn and Wales World Cup squad member Sam Costelow. Premiership players Josh Bassett and Lewis Ludlow both picked up a rugby ball for the first time as an Ampthill junior.
Ampthill has a solid and historic grounding in rugby that they can draw upon, even if they haven’t played in the Premiership yet.
Players to watch are former Ospreys No 8 Morgan Strong, who was named as Ampthill captain for the 2023/24 season. Scrum-half Charlie Bracken, an England under 20s player and the son of former England International Kyran Bracken.
Daventry Express, “…Izaiha Moore-Aiono got some game time at No.8 for Saints during pre-season and in the early stages of the Premiership Rugby Cup competition, but he has now left the club.
"He's signed for Ampthill," Dowson confirmed.
"He was very impressive so we'll keep close tabs on him.”
"He was excellent."
Last time out Ampthill lost 22-31; 3 tries to 5 when they welcomed Bedford Blues. The game was 12-12 at the break but then a second half surge from Bedford Blues inspired them to a 2nd Battle of Bedfordshire success. This extended Bedford’s bragging rights to 3 years. Inside centre Fraser Strachan, fly half Gwyn Parks and left wing Brandon Jackson were the Ampthill try-scorers.
Bedford Blues welcomed Coventry to Goldington Road on Monday 1st January and lost 19-34.
This enabled Coventry to leapfrog Ealing Trailfinders, the Knights and Bedford blues to go from 4th to top of the Championship. However, Trailfinders have 2 games in hand over Cov plus the Knights and the Blues have 1 game in hand over Coventry.
Championship games taking place this weekend:
Friday 12th January
Nottingham (5) v London Scottish (10)
Saturday 13th January
Cambridge (11) v Cornish Pirates (6)
Doncaster Knights (3) v Ampthill (7)
Ealing Trailfinders (1) v Caldy (9)
Before this weekend, Ealing Trailfinders, Cornish Pirates, and Caldy have played 6 games. The Knights, Bedford Blues, Ampthill & London Scottish have played 7 games. Coventry, Nottingham, Hartpury & Cambridge have played 8 games.
After both teams have played 6 games (so comparable), the Cornish Pirates have the strongest defence in the Championship, 2 points fewer than Ealing Trailfinders.
A Knight W could see them rise to the top if Caldy beat Ealing.
A Knight L could see them drop as low as 5th if Nottingham and the Cornish Pirates both win. The Pirates need a winning try bonus point, then it will depend on the try count.
COYK
DONNY, DONNY, DONNY…
