Ashbourne suffer as early chance missed

IT MAY have been a different game if Ashbourne had taken an early chance in their Midlands Two East (North) home defeat by Lincoln.

The hosts were first on the attack and created an opening, Jonny Riley breaking down the wing before kicking the ball through.

Two Ashbourne players raced to touch down for a try, each unaware the other was making the same move, and the result was a knock-on.

After surviving that scare, Lincoln found their feet in the first half, going on to claim a 33-0 win.

“We were camped in their 22 for a 15-minute spell but we just couldn’t get over the line,” said Ashbourne captain John Ford.

“For the first 15 to 20 minutes we were all over them and then they scored a breakaway try which got their tails up.

“They were 12-0 up at half-time and in the second half we tried to throw the ball around a bit more, to try and catch them off guard.

“But it didn’t really pay off, they capitalised on our mistakes to run in more tries to win 33-0.

“Conditions were tough, it was very wet down at the Rec and the wind made it difficult to throw the ball around.

“Also, two of our hookers were out injured so one of our props had to throw in at the line-outs, which didn’t help the cause.”

Ashbourne now face a tough away test against leaders Long Eaton on Saturday.

“You have to go out there with the mentality that you can turn them over,” Ford added.

“When we played them on the Rec earlier this season we lost 45-14 but we gave them a game, they were probably just a bit fitter than us which meant they ran away with it in the end.

“But we want to go there and at least try to grab a bonus point.”