21st
January 2006
Ampthill Extras 31 – Dunstablians 3rd XV
8
It was good to see Steve Marsden back in the team after several weeks out with an injured back. It was even better to see him open the scoring for the team with the first try in the match. This was after the Extras railed three nil following an early D’s penalty.
Dunstable certainly came out of the traps faster at the start of the match as their much larger forwards mounted an onslaught against the home team only to be met with by the Extras’ capacious defence.
After Steve’s try Ampthill started to take control of the match. Soon after, Marsden’s fellow centre, the puissant John Kitchiner, wasn’t to be out done and ran in to score the Extras’ second try.
D’s large pack gradually tired as the match went on and the Extras’ capitalised. Ampthill’s backs ran the ball away from the set pieces and their pack, for a change, was beating to the visitors to the breakdowns.
‘My Name is John not Scouse’ and Gareth Williams both added to the Extras’ try tally before John Kitchiner finished off after a D’s lineout was stolen by Ampthill.
The score might have been higher had Leigh Clark managed to take his conversions like a rugby player and not a footballer. Fortunately Ian Browning had a slightly better success rate kicking converting three.
James Chapman had another great game in his new position of prop.
Marsden, after putting his body on the line with some great tackles, had to leave the pitch early. With a lack of centres on the bench, skipper Liam Duffin called to substitute winger Richard Mardle. Richard started to strip his tracksuit off only to be told to fetch a centre from the second team’s bench. Zipping up he ran to the next pitch only to return without having any success. Richard was brought onto the pitch and Ian Browning was moved into outside centre.
After the match Liam felt terrible for having brought false excitement to his fellow Extra and apologised for this terrible act and could not sleep that night until he got home.
Forwards: James Chapman, Gez Ingarfield, Adam Wilson, Paul Rigby, John Roberts, Liam Duffin, Chris Denton, John Wood
Backs: Leigh Clark, Gareth Williams, John Kitchiner, Steve Marsden, Ian Browning, Dave Backhouse, Rob Hill
Subs: Dean Johnson, Richard Mardle, Dai Lamrick, Chris Wood
Cons: Ian Browning (3)