Sat 14^th Oct 00

Hemel Hempstead  4^ths 24 – Ampthill Extras 7

 15      Aiden Harrington                  1   Brian Geary  

14      Ian Browning                         2   Brian Todd         

11      Gary Bass                              3   Stuart Stanbridge

13   Dean Jackson                        4   Lee Bradley

12   Steve Marsden                       5   Ray Nix

10   Dave Ratcliffe                       6   Liam Duffin (c) 

9     Gareth Williams                     7   Richard Redman

 8   Matt Taylor

Tries:    Richard Redman                          

Cons:    Ian Browning       

 The Extras set off for Hemel with only 14 players, the first time in two seasons that they have not been able to travel with their full compliment.

 The initial team talk given by the referee was eagerly taken in by the 14 Extras. It pretty much lost all effect when someone pointed out to the ref that he should have been refereeing two other teams on a different pitch.

 The game eventually got underway, the Extras a player down didn’t really play with the passion that they possibly could have mustered. There were some great tackles coming from Lee Bradley and Richard Redman amongst a few others but their were many moments when the Extras lacked concentration. 

Matt Taylor arrived to bolster the team up to fifteen half way through the first half.

 At half time Ampthill were losing by five points to nil. Playing uphill in the second half the Ampthill team had the hard work ahead of them.

 On this occasion a victory wasn’t to be. Despite some excellent pressure from the forwards resulting in a Richard Redman try the Extras still ended up going down 24 points to seven.