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Match Report v Ampthill
Bedford Blues came out on the wrong side of a classic 12-try pre-season humdinger as they fell to an agonising 40-38 defeat to Ampthill in the first Battle of Bedfordshire this season.
Despite some classic Bedford attacking tries, Blues ultimately paid the price for a whole host of ill-discipline as Ampthill continued to chip away at the scoreboard and ultimately secured local bragging rights with a try right at the death
Mike Rayer's charges fell on the wrong side of the referee and the set-piece battle as Ampthill perhaps showed more game nous following beginning their pre-season account last weekend, but there were still numerous positives to take from the game particularly in the offensive department.
Ampthill had already won three penalties by the time they took the lead after just nine minutes. Former #BluesFamily member Ewan Fenley cut a neat line to finish underneath the posts and give Josh Sharpe the eaisest of jobs to make it a seven-pointer.
Blues weren't behind for long despite spending the early exchanges in their own half and scored with their first attack. After Jordan Onojaife and Joe Atkinson made the initial yards, Ollie Stedman spotted a bit of space and burst clear. Former Ampthill captain Louis Grimoldby's conversion made it a tied game.
The penalty count countinued to tick over before the referee had had enough on 18 minutes, awarding Ampthill a penalty try for stopping a driving maul illegally, before more hard work up-front from the hosts put them 21-9 up through Aleki Lutui's snipe from close range.
Both sides traded possession as misjudgement and a lack of ruthlessness cost them before Blues finished the half with a flurry to get themselves back into the contest by half-time. First, Blues showed some patience around the tryline before sending it wide for a run in from Matt Worley, then Alex Day went it alone off a tap and go before a perfect offload to get Josh Pieterse over the line.
That made it 21-19 to Ampthill at the break as both sides wrung the changes ahead of the second half. Blues came out for the restart like a train and completely flipped the scoreboard on its head with three smart tries to make it 21-38.
More patience from the forwards eventually paid dividends as Alex Woolford reached for the line before the backs took over to showcase more unbelieveable Bedford rugby. From starting on their own try line, Blues found another score after Connor Tupai burst 50m and got clear before going through the hands to set Dean Adamson away.
Rich Lane completed the quality scoring when he made some space in the midfield and it looked like Blues were crusing.
But ill-discipline again reared it's ugly head as Blues began to constantly get pinged at the breakdown and allow Ampthill to counter-attack.
On 64 minutes they cut the deficit to 10 points as Jack Dickinson went over from a driving lineout and they kept on coming at Bedford. Corrie Barrett was sent to the sin bin after an accumulation of team penalties and they further reduced the arrears through another score by the forwards pack.
Some heroic defence kept Blues in-front but it was only a matter of time before Ampthill made thier numerical advantage and penalty count amount to something. Connor Tupai was also sent to the bin late on, that gave Ampthill the chance to lineout from 5m and they charged over to secure the spoils.
Bedford Blues First Half team:
15. Matt Worley, 14. Pat Tapley, 13. Tom Litchfield, 12. Jamie Elliott, 11. Andre Robson, 10. Louis Grimoldby, 9. Alex Day; 1. Josh Pieterse, 2. Jack Hughes (Will Biggs 30'), 3. Osman Dimen, 4. Jordan Onojaife, 5. Luke Frost, 6. Bailey Ransom, 7. Joe Atkinson (C), 8. Tui Uru
Bedford Blues Second Half team:
15. Rich Lane (C), 14. Josh Gillespie, 13. Jamie Elliott, 12. Frank Kelly, 11. Dean Adamson, 10. Will Maisey, 9. Connor Tupai; 1. Corrie Barrett, 2. Will Biggs (Callum Burns 60'), 3. Ed Prowse, 4. Jordan Onojaife (Luke Frost 60'), 5. Alex Woolford, 6. Ollie Newman, 7. Joe Atkinson (Bailey Ransom 60'), 8. Tui Uru
*All photography provided by Claire Jones - RedHatPhoto.com*
