Sat 28^th September 02
Long Buckby 3^rd XV 5 - Ampthill Extras 59 

Extras continue their try-scoring bonanza 

For the second week running the Extras’ opposition cried off on Friday evening. Last week Towcester cancelled and at eight o’clock Friday evening Potton telephoned to say they were unable to take on the might of the Extras. Fortunately Long Buckby, also the victims of a late cry off, stepped in to give the Extras a game. 

Upon arriving at the Buckby clubhouse the scoreboard showed that Buckby’s thirds had played two, one two and scored over one hundred points in the process. For his own good veteran Brian Todd was kept well away from this sight and ushered into the changing room to prepare for the match. 

Psyched up and raring for action the Extras kicked off and soon found themselves winning ball and on the attack. After just a few moments the Extras’ pack was in possession off the ball just yards from Buckby’s try line. Chris Denton plucked the ball from the back of the ruck and powered over the line to score the first try. Steve Marsden converted and the Extras were seven nil up. 

Shortly after that the Extras’ backs were on the attack. The ball was passed down the line to centre Simon Robinson who cut inside beating two defenders to score. Steve Marsden was again on target with his boot. 

The Extras continued to enjoy possession with some wonderful scrimmaging and lineout victories and soon Simon Robinson was again in position to score a try. In a similar situation to his first but on the other side of the field he again beat two defenders to score a try.  

Hooker Gez Ingarfield finished off the Extras’ first half try tally with an impressive take from the lineout and a run through the Long Buckby defence to score. 

The second half started with the Extras just a little bit off the boil. The referee by this stage looked as if he was trying to level the game up by favouring the home side in many of his decisions. Long Buckby were award a penalty twenty yards from the Extras’ line. Buckby ran the ball and their blind side flanker was felled just short of the line. Lying on the ground the Long Buckby player made no attempt to get away from the ball. Extras’ captain Liam Duffin tried to get the ball free by us his boots on the grounded player. The referee took exception and after a few stern words awarded another penalty to Long Buckby. Long Buckby took a tap, passed the ball wide and scored their first and only try of the match. 

The Extras upped the pace and responded with a Simon Robinson try, his third of the match just minutes later. 

John Roberts was next to score to keep up his record of scoring a try in every Extras’ match this season. Roberts’ try came about when Chris Denton caught an overthrown ball at the back of the lineout and burst through to release Roberts for a try. 

Debutant fly-half Sean Wood, cousin of Andy ‘Val’ Dadley, made it seven tries carving up the centre of the pitch to score and convert his try. 

Winger Kevin Smith and centre Richard Beasley scored the last two tries of the match to make it an impressive 59 points to 5 victory.

 Tries:           Chris Denton, Simon Robinson (3), Gez Ingarfield, John Roberts, Sean Wood, Kevin Smith, Richard Beasley

Cons:            Steve Marsden (4), Sean Wood, Kevin Smith