Sat 15^th Apr 00

Ampthill Extras 20 – Bourneville 34

 It was role reversal this week as the Extras took on the touring Brummies bound for Barcelona. Many amongst the Extras ranks were looking forward to playing a touring team in the hope they would be suffering as much as the they were when they had to play on tour the previous week.

 Initial signs weren’t good. The Bourneville tourists were spied coming off the coach many drinking from tin cans. Further inspection showed the majority were drinking Lucozade, not the preferred touring drink of the Extras. It was soon discovered that it was the Bourneville club tour. Their side would consist of first second and third team players.

The skies had opened around midnight on Friday, non-stop rain all night and morning meant much of the Dillingham Park pitch was waterlogged. It was a close call as to whether or not the game would be played. But play they did.

 Shortly after the start the Extras knew they had a game on their hands. From the start Bourneville showed their speed and power. The visitors were first to score. With the wet weather handling conditions were not easy. A wayward pass from the fly-half was intercepted by the Bourneville centre, who aided by the downhill slope, ran through to score. It was not long after that they managed to break through again. It was clear that Bourneville’s back line was pretty tasty and going to cause the Extras all kinds of problems. And they did. Bourneville went on to score three more first half tries. Matters weren’t helped when Phil Stanton (after calmly explaining to Gez) left the pitch with an injured hand. Soon after, another blow to the Extras when Steve Marsden had to leave the pitch injured.

 The second half began and things started to look up for the Extras. Now playing downhill it was the home side that were now taking control of the match. Joel Parker a replacement for Steve was causing the visitors all sorts of  problems. Joel managed to put in a string of big hits to unsettle the Bourneville back line. After some superb pressure the backs managed to get quick ball out to Trigger who then went on to cross the line to get the Extras on the scoresheet. Despite another try from Bourneville shortly after Ampthill’s, the Extras began to feel there was a chance of winning this game. There were three further tries for the Extras. Wayne Peck bundled himself over the line after charging through the Bourneville defence. Joel Parker who had a superb game on his extras debut zig-zagged his way to the try line for a well deserved try. Ian Browning also scored to take his own try tally for the season into the teens.

 Despite winning the second half try count 4 – 2 in favour of the Extras it was not enough for them to clinch victory.

 Everyone put in good performances on the day and there was certainly no shame in losing this one.

15      Jamie Dix                              1   Brian Geary  *

14      Ian Browning                      2   Brian Todd        

11      Gary Bass     **                         3   Wayne Peck

13   Leigh Clark                                    4   Sam

12   Steve Marsden   ‡‡                            5   Gavin Griffith  

10   Johnston (Paddy) Bradley         6   Liam Duffin (c)

9     Phil Stanton    ‡                                   7   Gez Ingarfield

                    8   Darryl Kinn

16     Spavins          * (half time)   19    Clive Browning

17     John Lasbry   ‡ (25 mins)     20   Matt Taylor  **

18     Joel Parker     ‡‡ (35 mins)   

Tries:    Gary Bass, Wayne Peck, Ian Browning, Joel Parker