Match Report
Ampthill 1st XV 13, Cornish Pirates 30, Greene King IPA Championship League
Match Pictures: Match Store
Cornish Pirates’ Dominant Second Half Secures Bonus Point Win Over Ampthill
Ampthill welcomed visitors Cornish Pirates for their first ever visit to Dillingham Park’s Grange Jaguar Bowl on a dry, bright & windy afternoon with excellent under foot conditions.
Tomi Lewis on his way to the line for Ampthill…
(Photo: Iain Frankish, Actuance Photography)
Playing against the wind Amps began well gaining territory through a combination of phase play through the forwards and back play out wide before full back Tomi Lewis produced an elusive run, stepping & gliding through multiple tackles to touch down near the posts on 10 minutes, fly half Louis Grimoldby adding the extras.
Louis Grimoldby adding to Ampthill’s score after a try by Tomi Lewis
(Photo: Iain Frankish, Actuance Photography)
Just 3 minutes later Ampthill were denied a second try after the visitors had been penalised 10m outside their 22, Louis Grimoldby’s quick kick to nothing to the corner being gathered & apparently touched down by left wing Sam Baker. Referee Simon Harding overruled his assistant who’d awarded the score despite being some distance away and on the wrong side to observe the grounding.
Sam Baker struggles across the line only to have his efforts denied
(Photo: Iain Frankish, Actuance Photography)
Having taken play back for the penalty, Louis Grimoldby made no mistake to extend the lead to 10-0.
As the match moved into the second quarter Cornish Pirates began to exert some control through their forwards while Cargill’s boot took advantage of the wind to force the hosts time & again deep into their own territory.
The pressure told with the home side twice penalised in front of the posts allowing Cargill to convert penalty goals in the 17th & 27th minutes.
Soane Tonga’uiha creates a break in the Cornish Pirates line…
(Photo: Iain Frankish, Actuance Photography)
Ampthill restored the lead to 7 pts with a 33rd minute Louis Grimoldby penalty, scant reward for some fine attacking play.
Louis Grimoldby preparing to kick for a penalty…
(Photo: Iain Frankish, Actuance Photography)
A missed tackle in the 36th minute then gave the visitors the chance to apply pressure inside Amps 22 where centre Rory Parata squeezed over from close range, Cargill missing what was a relatively simple conversion to leave the score 13-11 at oranges.
Despite conceding a score near half time Ampthill’s connections would have been satisfied to lead at the interval having played uphill and against the wind.
Matt Collins receives attention after a controversial tackle.
(Photo: Iain Frankish, Actuance Photography)
Unfortunately Cornish Pirates produced a dominant second half display with their forwards winning the collisions and their backs using both their size and their offloading skills to carve open the hosts defence.
Pirates outscored the home side 19-0 with tries from right wing Robin Wedlake-Millecam (41 minutes) and a brace from hooker Daniel Frost (54, 70) while Cargill added 2 conversions.
A successfully executed charge down was a glimpse of hope for Ampthill…
(Photo: Iain Frankish, Actuance Photography)
The home side were denied another try after a charge down and foot race saw the referee again overrule his assistant but in truth Ampthill were outplayed in the half.
Joe Bercis takes his time to recover after intense play…
(Photo: Iain Frankish, Actuance Photography)
Final Score
Ampthill: 13
Cornish Pirates: 30
“The 13-11 lead at half time didn’t do us justice, then as has happened once or twice before this season, we’ve kicked off, given the ball away and conceded a soft try & the game momentum. The boys have done us proud so far this season but we were not able to play to our game plan in the second half.”
“We enjoyed our visit to Ampthill with excellent hospitality and a fine pitch in a unique natural amphitheatre location. Clearly the result went our way but in truth, with 3rd playing 4th, this was probably our best 5pts of the season so far.”
