14th
January 2006
Ampthill Extras 36 – Potton XV 0
Despite a jittery start the Extras put in for the most part a clinical performance to beat Potton by six tries to nil.
Potton arrived with just fourteen players and none of those props the mach had uncontested scrums from the start. Potton also had the benefit of Extras’ Rob Hill playing in their back row.
Prior to the match Ampthill’s star Scouser John Roberts showed his own form of nervousness by depositing a pile of vomit on pitch. The nerves were probably more due to Roberts having to play the following day for the first team in their cup match against Dunstablians.
Once the match started it took a little while for the team to settle into a rhythm but once they did the tries started coming. The first was for Richard Beasley who managed to cross the line despite the efforts of Rob Hill hanging on to him to prevent him. Ian Browning was next over after cutting into the centres position from the wing in a well worked move by the Ampthill backs.
Ampthill kept the pressure on and flanker Richard Beasley was rewarded for his hard work with a second try. The last try of the half came when Chris Denton broke away. Fellow back rower Liam Duffin was at hand for the pass who then released the ball over the last defenders for Jurrien Heynen to catch and run in for a try.
In the second half, despite playing downhill, the Extras didn’t keep up their strike rate. This was partly due to the defence put up by the Potton who never gave up during the match. Tries did however come from Darren Jones who scored in the right hand corner and also a second try for Ian Browning who scored in the left hand corner after the ball was worked through the hands of Ampthill’s backs.
With uncontested scrums the Extras forwards failed to enjoy the scrum superiority they had enjoyed in previous weeks. They did show some great line out skills with Chris Wood taking a few good catches in the second half.
Tom Read converted two of the first half tries and Darren Jones slotted on in the second half to bring the Extras’ total to thirty six.
Potton were unlucky not to be rewarded with a consolation try in the second half when they were denied a try in the second half when they were denied a try that the unsighted referee could not confirm.
Forwards: Dean Johnson, Gez Ingarfield, Adam Wilson, John Roberts, Paul Rigby, Liam Duffin, Richard Beasley, Chris Denton,
Backs: Gareth Williams, Chris Hopgood, John Kitchiner, Jurrien Heynen, Ian Browning, David Backhouse, Tom read
Subs: Darren Jones, John Wood, Chris Wood, Rob Hill (opposition).
Cons: Tom Read (2), Darren Jones