Match Report
Ampthill 1st XV 19, Hartpury 13, Greene King IPA Championship League
Ampthill hold out for their second win in the Championship in a tight game where defence dominated.
Despite further heavy overnight rain Olney field looked a picture in bright sunshine as old foes Hartpury returned to Bedfordshire, the strong west wind gradually abating during the game as the rain returned.
There were no changes in Amps starting pack which impressed at London Scottish while the backs saw Darryl Veenendaal (scrum half), Sam Costelow (fly half) & Cameron Anderson (centre) rotate to the starting lineup. On the bench Louis Grimoldby (fly half) rotated while Gavin Williams (scrum half) and Sam Hanks (centre) returned.
Sam Baker on the attack
(Photo: Iain Frankish, Actuance Photography)
The opening exchanges were even with both sides incurring the wrath of the referee resulting in an exchange of penalty goals in the 11th (Hartpury, fly half Joshua Bragman) & 16th (Ampthill, fly half Sam Costelow) minutes after both sides were penalised for breakdown offences.
A’s took the lead for the first time on 20 minutes with another Sam Costelow penalty goal after the visitors were penalised inside their 22.
Dan Murphy says hello to Dave Ward…
(Photo: Iain Frankish, Actuance Photography)
The forward battle was intense but the hosts gradually established control at the set piece with the home sides former Tongan internationals (props Soane Tonga’huiha & Aleki Lutui) & ex Harlequins hooker Dave Ward prominent while the visitors line-out came under pressure, in particular from lock Jon Kpoku. The loose, however, was very combative with neither side able to dominate.
Both sides excellent defence cancelled out their opponents attacking intent leaving kicking from hand for territory the obvious tactic.
Hartpury took the lead on 25 minutes when Amps were penalised in midfield, the resulting penalty was kicked deep into A’s 22, the visitors won the line-out, set the maul and drove for the line. Eventually, open side Akapusi Qera twisted his over the whitewash, Bragman adding the conversion from wide out.
Ampthill drive their maul almost to the line…
(Photo: Iain Frankish, Actuance Photography)
The hosts responded with a period of pressure in the Hartpury half winning a penalty at a breakdown in the 30th minute allowing Costelow to succeed with his 3rd goal of the game to make the score 9-10.
Back in the visitors half the home side set up camp deep in Hartpury’s 22 with phase after phase being repelled by excellent goal line defence. Darryl Veenendaal made the breakthrough on 36 minutes with a delightful behind-the-posts grubber for centre Rueben Bird-Tullock to win the foot race and dive on the ball, Sam Costelow adding the extras from in front of the posts.
Aleki Lutui tests Hartpury’s defences…
(Photo: Iain Frankish, Actuance Photography)
With the score 16-10 at oranges and Ampthill to have the benefit of the wind in the second half, Amps connections would have been confident. What transpired was 40 minutes of superb defence from both sides punctuated by another exchange of penalty goals in the 51st & 56th minutes.
Both sides had sustained pressure in each others 22 but could not break their opposition goal line, even during the last 5 minutes when, camped in the red zone, Hartpury threw everything, including the kitchen sink, at A’s with the hosts down to 14 players after a yellow card to lock Shay Kerry.
Jon Kpoku drives the game forward for Ampthill…
(Photo: Iain Frankish, Actuance Photography)
Despite the conditions both sides tried to play an attacking game when possible but this was a battle of the defences with the hosts just coming out on top.
Final Score
Ampthill 19, Hartpury 13
“Despite a nerve wracking last few minutes this was a good win against an old rival who are now an established Championship side. Our half backs showed good control in the first half but might have made our lives easier if they’d have used their kicking game more in the second. If, before the season, you’d offered me two wins and a draw from our first four league fixtures I’d have bitten your hand off. It’s been a good start but we still have work to do.”
