Amps turn up narrow gap on
FIFTH faced off against third at Dillingham Park with Ampthill & District overcoming a 16-point half-time deficit to edge past Plymouth Albion.
The game began with Amps in the ascendancy with much of play concentrated in the Albion half, however regular handling errors and referee’s wrath prevented much continuity.
Eventually, fly-half Joseph Tarrant broke the deadlock in the 10th minute with a penalty goal after the visitors were penalised in front of the posts.
With Amps still unable to complete a handful of phases without an error or penalty, Plymouth came back into the game scoring a fine try on 21 minutes through fly-half Kieran Hallett, who added the extras himself.
The hosts redoubled their efforts but yet another error gifted a turnover deep in the Albion half, allowing centre Daniel Powell to race 70 metres to touch down a 34th-minute try, converted by Hallett.
The 37th minute saw Tarrant convert his second penalty after another Plymouth infringement in front of the posts, but the home side were immediately penalised themselves, allowing Hallett to add a 39th minute kick of his own.
Ampthill’s kick-off was tapped back by a Maroon & Gold hand, but somehow home side contrived to gift the ball to the visitors again, with full-back Matthew Shepherd taking the final pass to score an unconverted try.
Trailing 22-6 at oranges, it was clear that Amps needed to cut out the errors if they were to get anything from the game.
Pressure at the beginning of the second half was rewarded with another successful penalty by Tarrant but he failed with a fourth, more difficult attempt, a few minutes later.
The 57th minute saw prothe lific home wing Samuel Baker touch down wide out after more Amps pressure had stretched the hitherto untroubled visiting defence.
Tarrant then added another penalty goal on 63 minutes to reduce the deficit to one score.
With the home pack now in control in the tight, a driving maul was brought down over the line and ruled held up, much to the irritation of the home faithful.
But their jeers soon turned to cheers as the hosts drove the resulting five-metre scrum back over the line and were illegally prevented from touching down, resulting in a penalty try and a simple 75thminute conversion for the final score.
Ampthill head coach Paul Turner said: “We played some good rugby in the first half but our error count was unacceptable.
“Despite trailing by 16 points at half-time the game was still in reach as a fine second half performance proved.
“Huge credit to the players, who cut out the errors and stepped up in defense.”
Albion hooker Rupert Freestone added: “It was a good game in which we dominated the scoreboard in the first half and were in turn shut out in the second.
“Our game management let us down after half time as our error and penalty count increased.”