Ampthill Extras 24 – Peterborough 14
A very experienced and well drilled Peterborough X-Men team turned up at Ampthill and from the start showed that they had come to win. With strength in both their forwards and backs they soon had hold of the ball and went on the attack for the try line. Not before too long they broke Ampthill’s defence and went a converted try up.
Ampthill then took their turn on the attack and the action had now switched to Peterborough’s own twenty two. Unfortunately John Kitchiner was sin-binned for ten minutes leaving the Extras a player down. However, the home side compensated for this with determination and Ampthill soon levelled the scores after a move in the backs ended with a Richard Mardle try converted by Leigh Clark.
Peterborough were next to score, once again taking the lead. Extras responded with a Leigh Clark try which he again converted to leave the half time score fourteen points each.
The deadlock remained for most of the second half. Ampthill were refused a try after some confusion in which Derek Welton and Dougie Parks made a break only to be told by the chasing X-Men players that the whistle had gone. They stopped until their own team mates ushered them on yelling ‘play on’. Dougie eventually touched down, the referee finally did blow his whistle – and called a line out! No player with ball in hand had gone anywhere near the touch line. The referee had got caught up in all the confusion and decided to call for touch.
With about nine minutes left to go Ampthill were award a penalty and the unusual decision to go for posts was taken. The penalty was missed. Fortunately a few minutes later the Extras were gifted with another penalty within easier range. Clarky made no mistake and slotted home the points. Some traditionalists were shocked at the decision, spectators including Mick Edwards and Brian Todd were shocked but securing a win took importance.
Dougie Parks eventually sealed the victory with a try on the stroke of full time. Clarky converted to give the Extras a respectful ten point lead.
Forwards: Terry Nelson, Dave Tomkin, Matt Fisher, John Roberts, Paul Rigby, Liam Duffin, Gez Ingarfield, Simon Johnson
Backs: Dougie Parks, Leigh Clark, John Kitchiner, Ian Jones, Ian Browning, Richard Mardle, Rob Hill
Subs: Derek Welton, Tom Read, Dave Burns, Gareth Williams