Pritchard miss lets OEs off the hook in edgy draw
AMPTHILL had to settle for a share of the spoils in this crucial clash at College Meadow after missing a golden opportunity to secure victory at the death.
Full-back James Pritchard, who otherwise enjoyed an impressive afternoon, pushed a penalty wide with the final kick of the match much to the relief of the home side who had been forced to defend for long periods of this hard-fought contest.
It was a missed opportunity for in-form Ampthill who extended their unbeaten run to four games, as head coach Paul Turner admitted afterwards.
“I think that was two points lost for us rather than two points won because I thought we were good enough to win the game,” he said.
“We had most of the first half but couldn’t get over the line and found ourselves level at half-time.
“There was a strong wind in the second half and our fly-half was injured for most of the game so we had to swap things around which didn’t help us either. But I felt we had most of the second half as well.
“Pritch doesn’t normally miss those kicks which was unfortunate as he had a very good game today. So we are obviously disappointed, as you can see from the reaction of the players.
we played against a very good side today and we are still challenging near the top of the table and have a home game next week. I was very pleased with the way we contained them.”
In an error-strewn first half, the powerful Ampthill pack took a firm strangleutes hold on proceedings after going behind to a Tom White penalty early on and scored the first try of the game on eight minutes when flanker Billy Johnson charged over after a sniping break from scrumhalf Kevin Barrett.
Elthamians replied with their only try three min“But before the interval, full-back Charlie Dockery collecting White’s crossfield kick to race over in the corner, before Pritchard levelled the scores at halftime with a well struck penalty.
The home side started the second period strongly, but after White and
Pritchard swapped penalties, they were forced to defend as the Ampthill pack began to secure the majority of possession and territory.
However, they could not breach another impressive Elthamians defensive effort and head coach Sam Howard said afterwards: “I’m not sure whether to be disappointed or relieved.
“If they get that kick at the end which they would normally do 99 times out of 100 we come away with one point to their four points. So to come away even at the end is a damn sight better!
“I thought in the first half we were terrible: we didn’t keep the ball, we didn’t put them under any pressure defensively which is what we did for a while in the second half.
“But defensively we were absolutely outstanding again and we had to be because Ampthill are a good side.”