Sat 7^th December 02
Wellinborough 3^rd XV 12 - Ampthill Extras 12  

Oh what a lovely game. 

On a mild December Saturday afternoon is there anything better than being involved in a great contest of rugby played by two teams of keen and willing gentlemen that is adjudicated by a referee that’s passion for the game matches that of the thirty players he is to preside over? 

Probably not. 

Sometimes it just isn’t like that. 

The Extras forwards could not handle the sheer size of the Wellingborough pack and spent much of their time scrummaging and mauling wishing they had fitted themselves with new break pads. 

It was however a much different story in the different story in backs. Ampthill’s backs were by far superior and made much greater use of the little possession they had. 

Playing with the wind in the first half, Ampthill scored two tries through Andy Walker and then Rob McInnes. Along with a McInnes conversion, the Extras enjoyed a twelve points to nil half time lead.

 Wellingborough kept the ball in the forwards for much of the second half. Wellingborough made the most of an Ampthill pass that failed to reach its intended recipient and scored their first try. Later they scored from a push over try and converted to level the game. 

Liam Duffin was denied a try (Will he ever score? Ed,) that would have given the Extras a victory after the grounded ball was ‘unsighted’ by the referee. Andy Walker came close to scoring but was tackled as he cut inside in an attempt to score under the posts. 

During the game the referee showed yellow cards on no fewer than four occasions, two for each team.  

The game finished level, the Extras still without a win in their new strip. 

Tries:           Andy Walker, Rob McInnes

Cons:            Rob McInnes