Sat 20^th October 01

Ampthill Extras 7 – Brackley 2^nd XV 11 

 Extras Fail First Big Test 

With what many considered six easy wins behind them the Extras wanted to be challenged by higher quality opposition. They certainly found this in the form of Brackley 2^nd XV. 

A game in which the majority of possession was the Extras’ but the victory was Brackley’s. 

Ampthill started strongly and had Brackley pinned down in the opening moments. Camped on the Brackley line, the Extras failed to convert possession into points. At the end of this period that the Extras were enjoying came the first blow to the home side. From deep within their own half the Brackley backs broke and scored a try against the run of play. 

The next stroke of bad luck came when Richard Beasley caught a finger in the eye whilst making a tackle, unable to see from the injured eye the injury forced Bease from the field. Despite Ampthill’s hard work they were still unable to break the Brackley line in the first half. With Brackley successfully kicking a penalty in the first half the Extras found themselves eight points to zero down at half time. 

The second half saw Ampthill play even better than they did in the first. After constant pressure it seemed like the Extras luck had changed, when Dave Tomkins and Chris Denton piled over the line it looked as if the Extras were back in it. Unfortunately, the referee who was unsighted disallowed the try. There was even worse news, Chris who had still not got up from the ground was taken to hospital for what was later found out to be a broken cheek bone. 

Yet another blow came as Brackley scored a second penalty to lengthen their lead to eleven points. 

Still the Extras piled on the pressure. Mid way through the second half the Extras were finally rewarded. From the back of a maul the huge figure of Jason Massingham charged the Brackley defence and crossed the line for the Extras first try. The successful conversion from Steve Marsden meant the Extras were well and truly back in the game trailing by just four points. 

The Extras were still looking the side more likely to score. Frustration with some of the Extras was now beginning to show. A penalty kick for them was missed as the ball struck the one of the uprights. Penalty decisions were reversed as the referee claimed of excessive talk back and probably the last chance the Extras had of clinching the game was when scrum half Phil Stanton took a quick penalty, beat all but the winger and full back only to be called back to re-take the penalty again. The referee explained that the reason Phil was called back was because one of the Brackley players was trying to influence his decision. 

It just wasn’t to be for the Extras and when the final whistle went the Extras left the field a little dejected and perhaps a little hard done by. 

Tries:  Jason Massingham

Cons:  Steve Marsden