Match Report
Ampthill 1st XV 20 - Nottingham 44, Greene King IPA Championship League
Ampthill were given a tough introduction to the Championship by a physical and clinical Nottingham side, trailing 13-17 with a minute to half time Amps conceded 3 more tries in the remainder of the game with the visitors dominating territory & possession.
Despite persistent overnight & morning rain the pitch looked perfect for running rugby as conditions remained dry while the absence of wind aided kicking from hand.
Aleki Lutui attacking the Nottingham line
(Photo: Iain Frankish, Actuance Photography)
The opening exchanges were pretty even including an exchange of penalty goals in the 17th & 18th minutes after both sides were penalised in front of the posts.
Nottingham made the first breakthrough on 23 minutes after a penalty against Ampthill for a breakdown offence was kicked inside the home 22 and a catch & drive was driven over, hooker Luke Cole credited with the score with the extras added by fly half Thomas Mathews.
Lock Llewleyn Jones crashed over from close range on 28 minutes after a repeat of the first try scenario saw Amps repel the maul, Mathews again successful with the conversion.
Sam Hanks intercepts a pass and takes off down the pitch
(Photo: Iain Frankish, Actuance Photography)
Immediately from the kick off replacement centre Sam Hanks intercepted a loose pass just inside the Nottingham half scampering 45m to score wide on the left, Louis Grimoldby converting from the touch line.
Sam Hanks crosses the whitewash for Ampthills 1st Championship League try
(Photo: Iain Frankish, Actuance Photography)
A’s raised their game taking play to the visitors who proceeded to show their street smarts conceding 2 penalty goals (32 & 35 minutes, kicked by Louis Grimoldby) instead of conceding tries but avoiding the Yellow Cards that were to blight the remainder of the hosts performance.
With a minute to half time the home side were trailing 13-17 but a free kick inside Ampthill’s 22 was charged down leading to a score for Nottingham through blindside James Connolly, converted by Mathews.
Trailing 13-24 at oranges all was not lost but the hosts lost their way in the second as a series of errors gifted territory through penalties and possession through handling errors.
Mathews extended the visitors lead on 48 & 50 minutes with straight forward penalty goals before wing Ben Foley collected a grubber to score wide on the left in the 60th minute, Mathews continuing his 100% record with the boot.
Amps responded with their first controlled possession of the second half mounting sustained pressure inside the Nottingham 22 before replacement lock Jon Kpoku crashed over from close range on 63 minutes, Louis Grimoldby adding the extras.
Jon Kpoku forces his way across the line for Ampthill…
(Photo: Iain Frankish, Actuance Photography)
Down to 14 players for the fourth time in the game A’s conceded a 5th try on 79 minutes trying to achieve the unlikely feat of going the length of the field from inside their own 22.
This was a hard lesson, there’ll be many more of them if Ampthill continue to play more than 40 minutes a man down, gift 20 unnecessary points and end up on the wrong side of 18-6 penalty count.
On the the plus side set piece was good with scrums even and lineouts much improved from the Bedford game.
Final Score
Ampthill 20, Nottingham 44
“For 39 minutes of the first half we were OK, the gifted try just before half time was a blow but it was the second half where we played in all the wrong areas and showed very poor discipline that was most disappointing. We played for more than 45 minutes with 14 men against an efficient, well drilled championship side and got what we deserved.”
“I’m disappointed that despite a good week spent preparing for Nottingham we sat back and watched them execute our game plan. There were too many individual errors which were punished by Nottingham”
