9th
September 2006
Northampton Heathens 20 - Ampthill Extras 19
As they did the previous season the Extras made hard work to the start of their league campaign. They more threw the match away than lost to a better team after a lazy start allowed Heathens to build up a seventeen point lead before the Extras even looked like they were there to play rugby.
Once the wake up call was made Ampthill, using their forwards, started to attack Heathens through the middle giving the backs some kind of platform to work from.
Heathens defence was strong and the home team thwarted much of the Extras attacking play. On two occasions Rob Hill broke through the final line of defence only to be tripped up by Heathens players. On neither occasion did the referee award a penalty try.
The Extras determination to score increased. Terry Nelson scored from the second phase of a penalty and Richard Mardle ran in a try after the ball was worked down the backs’ line. With Leigh Clark converting one of the tries The Extras were back in the match trailing Heathens by just five points.
Tragically Prop Adam Wilson went off injured with a cracked bone and a dislocated ankle that will see him out of action for a lengthy spell.
The second half saw Heathens begin to flag and the Extras began to dominate with much of the territory and possession. Another trip on Rob Hill had the twinkle toed full-back threatening to leave the pitch. This time the referee acted appropriately and sin-binned the perpetrator.
Ampthill were soon on the attack in the Heathens twenty two. A maul was formed and somehow Chris Day broke through the Heathens with the ball to score a try under the posts. This was duly converted by Leigh Clark to put the Extras in the lead all be it by just two points.
With very little time left the referee’s grasp of the game began to wane. With just moments to go a very innocuous smother tackle by Terry Nelson was deemed to be high and the Heathens elected to kick for goal. The kick was successful and with just over one minute in the game left the Heathens were twenty points to nineteen in front.
The Extras went all out in the last few moments to score a winner but the solid defence of the Heathens shut the visitors out.
The Extras will have to start better than this in their future league games if they are to compete for honours this season.
There was an Extras debut for Simon Johnson who played well for the short while he came on at number eight for Dave Peck.
Forwards: Adam Wilson, Keith Garwood, Matt Fisher, Terry Nelson, Derek Welton, Liam Duffin, Gez Ingarfield, Dave Peck,
Backs: Dougie Parks, Leigh Clark, David Middleton, Ian Browning, Chris Wood, Richard Mardle, Rob Hill
Subs: Chris Day, James Chapman, Simon Johnson, Gareth Williams, Laurie Barlow (jnr)