Sat 1st Apr 00

Ampthill Extras 27 - Cambridge  21

In front of their home crowd the Extras made hard work of beating their guests from Cambridge. But ended up 5 tries to 3 victors. Extras drew first blood with a fine passage of play ending with Steve Marsden touching the ball down to take the lead 5 – 0. Then the Bridge came back.

 Cambridge set up camp five metres from the Ampthill line. Some great defending by the Ampthill forwards prevented Cambridge from scoring. Unfortunately frustration and lack of concentration led to a string of penalties for killing the ball being given away by the home side. This resulted in a penalty try for the visitors. With an easy kick it was now 7-5 to Cambridge. For much of the first half the Extras struggled to get out of their own half. The Cambridge flanker managed to ferret his way through the Ampthill pack to score leaving the Extras on the wrong side of a 14 – 5 scoreline.

 At half time there were some questions being asked of the Extras commitment.

 Questions were soon answered, in the second half Ampthill ‘took it to the Bridge’. Sustained pressure from the forwards saw Wayne Peck bundled over the line for Ampthill’s second try. Next there was a break for Ian Browning who used his pace and agility to touchdown in the corner.

 The scene was set shortly after that for another strike. Phil Stanton from behind a well set ruck, sensed the presence of an oversized full-back in the form of Dave ‘Splatty’ Ratcliffe waiting to pounce. Dave took the ball with as much pace as he could muster and bounded over the line for a try.

 Ampthill were not home and dry by any means. Cambridge came back with another try. Steve Marsden used his speed and power for his second and the Extras fifth try.

 Relief on the final whistle as Extras came out victors.

15      Dave Ratcliffe               1    Brian Geary

14      Ian Browning                2   Brian Todd  ‡ (60 mins)     

11      Gary Bass                      3   Wayne Peck

13   Paul Saunders                4   Tony Wilison

12   Leigh Clark                    5   Terry Norford  

10   Steve Marsden               6   Liam Duffin (c)

9     Phil Stanton                    7   Ray Nix

   8   John Roberts

16   Gez Ingarfield  ‡

Tries:    Steve Marsden (2), Ian Browning, Wayne Peck, Dave Ratcliffe

Cons:    Steve Marsden