Match Report
Bedford Blues 12 - Ampthill 1st XV 25, Championship Cup
On what was a historic day for the Maroon and Gold, going to Goldington Road to play Bedford Blues for the short term title of the best team in Bedfordshire and the first competitive game between the two clubs, the A’s came away with a deserved win.
The Blues turned Pink for the day in support of the McMillan Cancer trust and they didn’t have the ideal start to the day with a couple of players failing fitness tests on the morning of the match.
The first forty minutes were separated by a Kwaku Asiedu try and a Louis Grimoldby penalty against a Dann Temm try. A loose kick let Rich Lane punish the A’s with a break down the right-hand side that led to a Teem try and a 5 v 8 half time score
Kwaku Aseidu opens the scoreline for Ampthill
(Photo: Iain Frankish, Actuance Photography)
With the elements and the slope in Paul Turners sides favour the A’s started to turn the screw and kept the pressure on the home side.
The A’s had spent the week working hard on defensive drills led by player forwards Coach Dave Ward and this proved critical when the Blues back line came probing the A’s defensive system but the A’s held firm in the face of the onslaught.
After gradually taking back control, an inch-perfect kick by Bordoli was regathered by Baker who found Jarryd Sage in support who dotted the ball down and fly-half Grimoldby converted for the A’s to lead 5 v 15.
Jarryd Sage comfortable clears the line to extend Ampthill's lead.
(Photo: Iain Frankish, Actuance Photography)
The Blues now had the joint battle against the clock and the slope and this led to a number of uncharacteristic mistakes and Kwaku Asiedu was on hand to take advantage and score his second try to put some breathing space between the teams at 5 v 20.
Kwaku Aseidu brushes the whitewash for Ampthill.
(Photo: Iain Frankish, Actuance Photography)
This signalled a Blues fight back and on 71 minutes Huw Worthington the Blues number eight who had carried hard all day scored a converted try to leave the score at 12 v 20.
The A’s responded again, camping in the Blues half and keeping the ball down in the right-hand corner for multiple phases. Backs and Forwards shared the workload equally and finally Karim Lynch crashed over in the right hand corner for the A’s fourth and bonus point try to leave the final score at Blues 12 v 25 A’s.
Karim Lynch justifying his return to Ampthill with a closing try.
(Photo: Iain Frankish, Actuance Photography)
A’s fans left a packed Goldington Road with a skip in their step and the first points of the season in the bag.
Joshua Sharp takes a penalty for Ampthill to open their scoreline
(Photo: Iain Frankish, Actuance Photography)
Final Score
Bedford Blues 12, Ampthill 25
“It was a great occasion to be a part of and to have so many supporters there to raise money for McMillan Cancer Trust made it really special day.
I thought we played well for large parts of the game but we still need to improve our set piece. Defensively we took a big step forward and relied on our system more than individual effort which was pleasing.
It’s only our third game together and it’s been a tough start to the season but we are progressing every week and next week we see Nottingham Rugby come to Dillingham Park for our first game ever in the Green King IPA Championship.”
