Match Report
Ampthill 1st XV 13, London Scottish 5, Greene King IPA Championship League
Match Pictures: Match Store
Ampthill Overcome Storm Dennis and London Scottish to take 4 points.
Ampthill welcomed visitors London Scottish for their first ever visit to the Grange Jaguar Bowl on a filthy, wet and windy afternoon. Despite recent heavy rain the pitch was in good condition.
Playing against the howling gale in the first half Ampthill’s defence restricted the visitors to a single try; Ampthill’s connections would have expected to have scored more than 2 penalty goals and a converted try in the second but as sometimes happened both teams seemed to play better against the wind.
With kicking from hand against the wind very difficult both teams tried to play their way out of their own half managing several double figure sets of phases but finding achieving significant territorial gains hard.
The home side’s lineout was poor in the first half but improved in the second while the scrummage was pretty even.
Billy Johnson preparing to engage in yet another scum for Ampthill
(Photo: Iain Frankish, Actuance Photography)
London Scottish took the lead on 11 minutes with a try from their flanker after multiple red zone phases, being driven over from close range, William Magie’s attempt conversion hitting the post.
Try as they might, despite several occasions with similar possession deep in Ampthill’s 22, the visitors were unable to trouble the scoreboard leaving the score 0-5 at oranges.
Ampthill immediately put the visitors under pressure at the start of the second half winning a 43rd minute penalty mid way between the posts and the touchline outside the Scots 22. In the first of what was, given the conditions, an immaculate kicking display Ampthill’s fly half Louis Grimoldby struck the ball cleanly between the posts.
It was now London Scottish turn to show committed defence denying Ampthill for the next 20 minutes despite being under almost continuous pressure in their own half.
London Scottish denied Ampthill a try for 20 mins despite heavy pressure
(Photo: Iain Frankish, Actuance Photography)
The 58th minute saw home prop Aleki Lutui receive a yellow card after a clash of heads in the tackle, Ampthill were forced to replace wing Will Foster to keep the front row competitive.
Eventually, Ampthill won another penalty on 66 minutes, this time on mid way to the right of the posts but on the visitors 22. This kick was harder since it was downwind but Louis Grimoldby’s boot was true allowing Ampthill to take the lead for the first time in the game 6-5.
The remainder of the game saw Louis Grimoldby keep the hosts in their own half with judicious placement of kicks behind their line forcing them to carry again against the wind.
Josh Gillespie beats Craig Duncan to the ball sealing the game for Ampthill
(Photo: Iain Frankish, Actuance Photography)
The 79th minute saw London Scottish on a rare visit into the home half when the ball went loose, Louis Grimoldby hacked through, chased his own kick to grubber into the in goal area where replacement wing Josh Gillespie won the footrace to touch down.
The last kick of the game saw Louis Grimoldby again superbly accurate with the boot to score the conversion from much closer to the downwind touchline.
Final Score: Ampthill 13, London Scottish 5
(Photo: Iain Frankish, Actuance Photography)
In truth, this wasn’t a game for those that like running rugby, but the host’s defence in the first half proved key along with Louis Grimoldby’s 100% kicking record.
Final Score
Ampthill 13, London Scottish 5
“The toughest time to lose a game is the last couple of minutes and we’ve now had that happen 3 games in a row. Conditions were horrendous, even playing with the wind. I thought both teams played better into the very strong wind, it’s not often that is the case.”
“A game for the purists, conditions were awful, credit must go to all the players in both squads. Our defence was key in the first half and we executed professionally enough in the second to take the points.”
