Ampthill were edged out 29-30 by in-form Chinnor thanks to a late try from visitors in a dramatic 10 try thriller on the Olney Field on Saturday afternoon, despite leading for the vast majority of the match.
The Mob came out of the blocks fast, and scored the opening try of the match in the 3rd minute of the contest. After building sustained pressure and around the Chinnor try line, some great hands on the right hand side gave Sam Kildunne the easy task of diving over in the corner.
Chinnor responded almost immediately, levelling the match at 5-5 just three minutes later, after a cross-field kick from fly-half Nick Smith, whilst playing on penalty advantage, was dotted down in the in goal area by winger Kieran Goss.
In what was a frantic opening to the game, the Mob reestablished their 5 point advantage with their next foray in Chinnor territory in the 8th minute. After progressing into the Villagers’ 22, a cross-field kick from Louis Grimoldby was claimed on the bounce by captain Fraser Strachan, and despite being stopped short of the try line, Valentino Mapapalangi picked the ball up from the ruck and forced his way over the whitewash.
The visitors reduced the deficit to 10-8 with a penalty from James Bourton, but just after the half hour mark, Ampthill extended their lead to 7 points with a superb team try. After reclaiming possession near their own try line, an outstanding passage play involving Sione Va’enuku, Valentino Mapapalangi and Josh Barton sent Oscar Wilson into the clear. He then passed inside to Efan Jones, who walked it in.
Despite Ampthill back-rower Ollie Mullarkey receiving a yellow card for deliberate knock on in the 35th minute, the Mob scored their bonus-point try shortly after to push the lead to 22-8. Off the back of a Chinnor scrum, the visitors tried an inside pass, but it was brilliantly read by Efan Jones, and he took it home from just inside his own 22.
Chinnor took advantage of playing with the extra man with the last play of the first half, scoring their second try of the afternoon to go in to half time 22-15 down. Isaiah Wharton eventually managed to ground the ball from close range despite the Mob’s best efforts defensively.
The Villagers started the second half exceptionally, with a brace of tries from winger Freddie Owsley giving Chinnor a 22-25 lead after 46 minutes. He applied a simple finish on the left hand side in the 43rd minute, and only three minutes later magnificently chipped through and claimed his own kick to dot down unopposed.
Ampthill responded brilliantly to behind for the first time in the contest, reclaiming the lead with their fifth try of the afternoon in 49th minute. Some great hands on the right hand side led to Totoa Auvaa breaking a tackle and strolling across the whitewash with ease, and following a Louis Grimoldby conversion the Mob led 29-25.
The game was a tense, nervy affair for the remainder of the match, but with just five minutes remaining, Chinnor retook the lead once again, edging one point ahead. Playing on penalty close to the try line, the ball was given width, and Kieran Goss applied the finish on the right hand side for his second try of the game.
Ampthill won a penalty inside the Chinnor half in the last minute of the match, but with the game on the line, Grimoldby failed to slot a tough kick from out wide, condemning the Mob to defeat.
Speaking after side’s defeat on Saturday afternoon, Ampthill head coach Dave Ward said, “From 22-15 at half time we should’ve gone on to win the game but our discipline let us down in the second half. Credit to Chinnor who were good for the win, they’re a decent side, but it’s a tough result to take”.
Ampthill Points Scorers
Tries: Kildunne 3, Mapapalangi 8, Jones 31, 36; Auvaa 49
Conversions: Grimoldby 37, 50
Attendance: 545
Man of the Match sponsored by Carlsberg Britvic: Efan Jones