Ampthill head to The Paton Field in the final game of 2025 with Head Coach Dave Ward predicting a forwards battle with Caldy
“Everyone keeps telling me what a tough place Paton Field is, I’ve never been there as a player of coach but I’m excited for it. It’s going to be a real humdinger with two forward packs noted for their physicality coming together to battle with a big festive crowd and an important clash for both teams given the respective positions in the Champ”.
Dave Ward makes five changes to the team that overcame London Scottish at Dillingham Park last weekend. James Johnston replaces Harvey Beaton at tighthead this week with Harrison Courtney at loosehead and Seb Smith at hooker. Ward names a new lock combination with Tatoa Auvaa returning having missed the last three games alongside Olamide Sodeke in the engine room. The back row is unchanged with last weeks man of the match Charlie West on the blindside, vice-captain Charles Rylands on the openside and Tino Mapapalangi at eight.
Player coach Louis Grimoldy returns at flyhalf as one of two changes in the back division with Finn Keylock switching to full back this week. Captain Fraser Strachan partners Sione Va’enuku in midfield whilst Scottish try-scorers Angus Hall and Brandon Jackson start again on the wings.
Starting XV
1 Harrison Courtney 2. Seb Smith 3. James Johnston 4. Totoa Auvaa 5. Olamide Sodeke 6. Charlie West 7. Charles Rylands (vc) 8. Tino Mapapalangi 9. Efan Jones 10. Louis Grimoldby 11. Angus Hall 12. Fraser Strachan (c) 13. Sione Vaenuku 14. Brandon Jackson 15. Finn Keylock
Replacements:
16 Jimmy Isaacs 17. Rich Barrington 18. Callum Norrie 19. Jake Parkinson 20. Ollie Mullarkey 21. Rory Morgan 22. Josh Barton 23. Oscar Wilson