Sat 29^nd September 01

Ampthill Extras 62 – Kettering 7

  Extras bag the dosh 

 After three weeks on the road the Extras returned home to Dillingham Park to play in what turned out to be their biggest win of the season so far.

Heavy rain fell for most of the morning leading to doubts as to how much of the Extras fast running game could be played. By 3pm the sun shone, so too did the Extras.

Paul Ratcliffe was first to cross the line with a jinking run through the Kettering defence and then a slink side step to beat the full back.

Steve Marsden was next over, shrugging off tackles to create a two try lead. The Extras, playing downhill, were now in the driving seat. Phil Stanton scored the third with a cheeky little steal as a Kettering player failed to securely catch a wayward pass. Phil juggled the ball out of his hands. His run to the line was forced further and further from the posts as the little Major was chased to the try line. Next to get on the scoresheet, shortly before half time, was an out stretched Kevin Smith just reaching to ground the ball on the line.

 The Extras were taking nothing for granted, at half time even with a twenty-eight to nil lead they faced the prospect of playing up the steep Ampthill slope for the last forty minutes.

 The second half started with Kettering showing they were by no means out of the game. They scored within a few minutes of the restart. The Extras responded in the best way they new how, with a try. Ian Browning ran up the wing to score almost immediately to dash any hopes of a come back.

 A loose ball from a Kettering scrum, a few yards from their own line was chased by flanker Liam Duffin, the ball fell to the ground in the dead ball area and simply touched down by the Extras skipper.

 There were second tries for Paul Ratcliffe and Ian Browning along with a Tim Ames try to take the Extras to ten tries. Good kicking from Steve Marsden including one effort from almost on the touch line and a conversion from Ian Browning took the Extras over the sixty mark.

 Special praise must go to the Extras’ backs who have over the last few weeks have played some quality attacking rugby. The forwards yet again held their own and linked well in order to give the platform from which the backs would strike.

 It was also good to see veteran of many Extras campaigns, Brian Geary back for his first game of the season after escaping the chilly Bedfordshire climate to the much warmer shores of the Mediterranean. 

Tries:  Paul Ratcliffe (2), Steve Marsden, Kevin Smith (2), Ian Browning (2), Phil Stanton,
            Liam Duffin, Tim Ames