A’s fall to Club after ruthless Burch stands tall at Woburn
A GAME of the proverbial two halves saw Amps just shade the first half in what appeared to be a battle between two sides intent on maximising their error count.
But while the A’s continued a mistake-strewn performance into the second half, Club largely cut out theirs and outscored their hosts by four tries to one.
The home side had the better of the scrummage for much of the game but their lineout failed to function.
Blackheath were clinical and accurate in the second half converting opportunities ruthlessly while Ampthill were the exact opposite, spurning good chances to score through an inability to control the ball in the tackle area.
“It was very pleasing to come to Ampthill, always an abrasive opponent, and secure a bonus-point win,” said Blackheath director of rugby Colin Ridgway.
“I thought our players showed great character with Marcus Burcham, in his 100th appearance, leading by example.”
Meanwhile, Ampthill head coach Paul Turner admitted he could have few complaints.
“There were too many individual errors and four tries conceded in 17 minutes is unacceptable,” he said.
“Whilst I was unhappy with their first try which I thought had an obvious crossing it wouldn’t have made much difference as we were well beaten by a smarter, more streetwise side who controlled the breakdown.”
In the 13th minute, on almost their first foray into Blackheath territory, the home side took the lead through wing Pete Weightman who finished a move wide on the right, fly-half Stef Jones adding the extras off the post.
Another 15 minutes of stalemate was finally broken when Club fashioned an opportunity and scored an unconverted try through Fred Owen wide on the left.
The visitors had the better of the remainder of the half forcing the hosts to defend a series of fivemetre lineouts right up to the whistle – leaving the score 7-5 at oranges.
The second half began
with Ampthill on the attack before another error turnover gave Club the chance to take play up the other end of the field.
The visitors’ scrum-half Jack Walsh took advantage to dummy his way across the line under the posts in the 50th minute, the extras added by inside centre Mark Cooke.
Then came A’s 15-minute defensive meltdown – similar to what happened against Darlington Mowden Park – as the visitors ran in three more tries, the first two converted by Cooke.
Captain and outside centre Burcham marked his 100th appearance for Blackheath by breaking the line 40 metres out to score under the posts, followed by a penalty try and then an unconverted score through full-back Leo Fielding.
Though underfire Ampthill responded in between as Jones converted a penalty on 62 minutes before left wing Sam Baker had the last word on 69 minutes, touching down wide on the left after good interplay between backs and forwards.