MATCH REPORT: Hartpury 27 v 32 1st XV

Ampthill Head Coach Dave Ward was delighted with his teams performance after watching the Mob overcome high-flying Hartpury at the 4Ed Stadium “it’s incredible, they’ve only lost once here this season and that was against Ealing and we knew what a tough test this would be. We prepared well for this game, the guys were tremendous with their attitude and the fact we got the result is a credit to the players efforts tonight”

Hartpury opened the scoring on 5 minutes with a well worked team try finished by James Denty but moments later the Mob hit back through ex-Hartpury student Oscar Wilson who finding himself on Mapapalangi’s shoulder received a sublime offload and finished in the corner.

Wilson turned provider for Ampthill’s second try putting Tongan Sione Va’enuku through a gap to score under the posts. A successful Luke Davidson conversion giving the visitors a 5-12 lead.

Ampthill extended their lead on 24 minutes scoring from a training ground catch and drive that Dave Ward would’ve once finished himself – replacement flanker Charlie West being credited with the score. 5-17.

Hartpury have only lost once at home this season and they hit back scoring twice from lineouts to level the game 17-17. However the Mob weren’t ready for their half time break and retook the lead when Wilson scored his second try of the night – the balled spread quickly across the whole back line but Wilson still had to beat three defenders before he could ground the ball.

Hartpury came out of the blocks quickly and retook the lead early in the second half through Alford before a series of defensive sets kept Ampthill in the game – the hosts throwing everything at the Mob in the red zone but the visitors defence held firm.

With a quarter of the game remaining Ampthill scored the try of the night. Following multiple patient phases in midfield, captain Fraser Strachan ran at the hosts and put a delicate chip over the advancing line. Va’enuku raced around a defender to collect the kick and sprinted home under the posts.

The team’s exchanged penalties in the closing phases but the Mob had done enough to take five points back to Dillingham Park before they host old rivals Richmond FC in a huge game for both clubs next Saturday.

After running Coventry really close at home you could taste the tangible relief and we now move on to the game of the season so far with twelfth place Richmond coming to Dillingham Park next Saturday for what could be a season defining game.