Ampthill defence carries the day in derby

By ZAK CARR

Bedford …………..10pts

Tries: Hughes 3, 22

Ampthill …………20pts

Tries: Dickinson 9, Morgan 14, Cambriani 74

Conversions: Bennett 75

Penalties: Bennett 46

THE ‘noisy neighbours' stood firm to silence a rowdy Goldington Road and overpowered their rivals on derby day.

Ampthill DoR Mark Lavery said: “We knew if we let them off the leash, they could score, and score quickly. They never looked like piercing us, and I think that's our best defensive performance of the season.”

Harri Morgan starred on debut for Ampthill. The way he carried himself evoked the player of level higher than anyone else on the pitch. He was that split second quicker, in his decision making and execution.

Both sides scored similar tries in the opening stages: kicking to the corner from a penalty, and using a rolling maul to set up camp on the try line.

Bedford did it first, after three minutes, courtesy of hooker Jack Hughes.

Then after nine minutes, Ampthill hooker Jack Dickinson went over in the same fashion for his fourth try in as many matches. Both conversions were missed.

In a first half full of similarity, Ampthill No.9 Morgan, on loan from Ospreys, gaves the crowd a rare moment of something different. Picking up from the base of the scrum, he dummied a pass to his winger which allowed him to run over with zero opposition. Bennett hit the post with his conversion attempt.

Bedford tied up the scores with a try from Hughes. Bedford kicker Will Maisey returned the favour by hitting the upright with his conversion.

A tense few minutes saw neither side gain an advantage leaving it 10-10 at the interval.

Ampthill were awarded an early penalty in the seond haf penalty and Russell Bennett made no mistake from the tee, giving his side a 13-10 lead.

The match then took a serious step up in intensity and pace , yet the score did not change. Both teams gave themselves chances, but neither capitalised.

Ampthill, after surviving multiple phases on their own try line, finally found territory deep in Bedford's half. And after winning another lineout, Ben Cambriani squeezed himself over to the despair of the home fans. Bennett scored his first conversion of the day, and all that was left was for Ampthill to see out the last five minutes.

Bedford try scorer Hughes said: “We never got going, we had chances to win but we just never got going.”

REFEREE: Adam Leal

ATTENDANCE: 3,431