Sat 11^th Nov 00

Milton Keynes 24 - EXTRAS 10

Try:  Steve Marsden, Mark McKinlay

 Not for the first time this season the Extras travelled to a game with only 14 players. Milton Keynes however, were generous enough to lend their guests a player to make up the numbers.

 On a muddy pitch with underfoot conditions likened to wading through blamanche, this was never going to be a fast running spectacle of rugby. Most definitely ‘one for the forwards’.

 In the opening moments of the game the Ampthill pack seemed to have the better of the home team in the set pieces. Ampthill although not always the first to the break down seemed to take control once the numbers arrived.

 As the wingers, on both sides, hands gradually turned to a pale shade of blue the forwards battled it out in the mud. First blood went to Ampthill. Steve Marsden received a pass from the scrum half which left him no option but to dart around the back of a breaking up scrum to beat a couple of Milton Keynes defenders to cross the line for a try.

 Milton Keynes came back strong. They worked their way up the pitch and encamped just yards away from the Ampthill line. Great defence from the Extra’s forwards kept the Milton Keynes forwards out but with a couple of dubious refereeing decisions the home team crossed the line to equalise. With a successful conversion MK were now 7-5 up. 

Great driving notably from Mark McKinlay & Justin Cobley  kept the Ampthill team in with a chance of a second try. Luck was not on Ampthill’s side. Milton Keynes scored a second try to give the a seven point advantage.

It was now time for the Ampthill pack to stand up and be counted. Great pressure from the pack put the Extras forwards yards from the MK try line. Constant driving and battering was rewarded when Mark McKinlay crossed the line to narrow the gap to just two points.

 The second half started much as the first half ended with both sets of forwards slugging it out on the field. MK scored again to widen their lead to seven points. Soon after, loaned player Jim, went of with a neck injury. This left the Extras with just fourteen players. No sooner had the Extras re-organised when they were hit by another blow, the sight of Steve Marsden limping off the pitch with yet another injury.

 Down to just thirteen players Ampthill could o longer contain the Milton Keynes team. Milton Keynes scored another try before the game ended 24-10 to Milton Keynes.