Sat 8th Apr 00
Southport 3rds 24 – Ampthill Extras 17
With a squad of well over 20 to choose from team selection was slightly more difficult than it had been on some occasions during the season.
The lucky chosen few strolled from the clubhouse to the pitch.
Moments later the other 15 poor sods that had to play emerged to take their positions on the field.
The start was slow from the tourists. The minds knew what to do, unfortunately the signals never really reached the parts of the body they needed to.
About twenty minutes into the half, Steve Marsden burst through to receive a second phase ball from Ratty to open the scoring. 5–0 Extras. This was the only score the visitors could muster up in the first half. The home side responded with a try of their own before the half-time whistle. John Wilkinson had to leave pitch at half-time which was a blow to the Ampthill midfield.
A superb performance saw Colin Moore, travelling all the way from Texas, rewarded with a try of his own when he managed to touchdown a loose ball he’d chipped through himself.
This left the Extras within striking distance of victory and it almost looked like they may pull off ‘The great Escape’ when Ian Browning managed to burst down the wing to score for the touring XV.
An Extras victory was not to be. Tired bodies that not even a fire engine could re-hydrate were unable to prevent the home side from scoring three second-half tries for their victory.
The game was played in as great a spirit as the Extras proceeded to drown their sorrows in.
15 Jamie Dix 1 Brian Geary
14 Ian Browning 2 Brian Todd ‡ (60 mins)
11 Gary Bass ** 3 Wayne Peck
13 John Wilkinson ‡ 4 Paul Rigby
12 Steve Marsden 5 Terry Norford
10 Dave Ratcliffe ‡‡ 6 Liam Duffin (c)
9 Phil Stanton 7 Ray Nix
8 Colin Moore
16 John Lasbry ‡ (half) 19 Roy Duffin
17 Robi Ratnesar ‡‡ (half) 20 Chris Hopgood * (78 mins)
18 Matt Taylor ** (half) 21 Clive Browning
Tries: Steve Marsden, Ian Browning, Colin Moore
Cons: Steve Marsden