Sat 12^th October 02
Biddenham 1^st XV 33 - Ampthill Extras 19 

Extras lose no face in defeat 

It took a first team who are top of their league to end the Extras run of victories. 

Ampthill Extras travelled to Biddenham expecting to play Biddenham 2^nd XV, arriving with just minutes to go the Biddenham team could be seen going through their warm up routine. The side practising was riddled with familiar ex-Bedford Ath first team players, it was soon apparent that this was the Biddenham first team on display. 

Still a prop short the Extras quickly got changed and took to the field and almost immediately the match began. 

Ampthill were determined to put up their best efforts in a match that they could envisage would run away from them. This was most definitely not the case. The Extras soon regained possession of the ball from their own kick and the ball was sent wide along the backs until Rob Hill caught a pass and ran through the defending Biddenham players to score a try. With Rex Hedges converting the Extras were seven points up surprising themselves more than their much fancied opposition. 

The try was enough to give the Extras all the belief in their own ability to compete in the match. With Robert McInnes impressing at fly half, it was the Extras that were looking like the sharper outfit of the two teams. Strong running from the Ampthill backs paid dividends when Tom Read outpaced his opposite number on the wing to score a second Extras’ try. 

With a wind advantage and some excellent defence work the Extras prevented Biddenham from scoring in the first half.  

During the break Biddenham made half a dozen substitutions utilising their entire squad to Ampthill’s two changes.   

The second half wind favoured Biddenham and the home side took advantage with some great positional kicks. Constantly under pressure the Extras tackled hard and brave to defend their line. Unfortunately Biddenham’s strength showed when they scored two tries to level the point tally and then a third to give them a nineteen points to twelve lead. 

The Extras, now confident in their own ability, fought back hard and levelled the score after a bought of pressure in the Biddenham twenty two. It was Robert McInnes playing in his first ever Extras game that made the break through the Biddenham defence to again level the score. 

Throughout the game the Extras players in both the forwards and backs put in some great tackles notably from Rob Hill, Simon Robinson & Julian Owen. With no more than ten minutes left Biddenham scored two converted tries to give them a win that’s final score flattered the. 

 Tries:           Rob Hill, Tom Read, Robert McInnes

Cons:            Rex Hedges (2)