Sat 8^th September 01

Northampton BBOB 3rds 26 - Ampthill Extras 41

It’s been many years since the Extras last played Northampton BBOBs but a victory for the Ampthill side was the result of this rekindled fixture. With one player going AWOL (searching for rugby kit) before even leaving Ampthill, Alan Slade was brought into the team as loose head prop.

The Extras played the first half with a strong wind behind them and after only a few minutes found themselves in front with a Liam Duffin try after some good link work between the forwards and backs. Kevin Smith was next to score as the Ampthill back line sought to exploit gaps in the BBOB defence. 

BBOBs dominated in the forwards but quick ball out to the backs enabled the Extras to build up a four try lead by half time. Phil Stanton with a forty yard solo run, (without breaking sweat, Ed.) and Kevin Smith scoring his second led to this cushion.

 The second half saw a bit of a turn around as fresh players on for the BBOBs gave them a much needed lift. With the wind behind them the BBOBs managed to hit back with four tries to the Extras’ three gave a much more respectable scoreline for the home team. Second half tries for the Extras came from John Roberts, who seems to of score a try in every game he plays, and there was a second brace for Kevin Smith to make his try count for the game four.

Two conversions for Kevin Smith and one for Steve Marsden made the final score 41 – 26 

With a fixture list riddled with fixtures against Northampton clubs the Extras find themselves having to travel next week to Northampton Old Scouts. Hopefully the atmosphere on the return journey will be as upbeat as it was on this occasion. 

 Tries:  Liam Duffin, Kevin Smith (4), Phil Stanton, John Roberts

Cons:  Steve Marsden, Kevin Smith (2)