Brave Ampthill fight back to keep tie alive

By KEVIN MILLER

Ampthill …………21pts

Tries: Jack 14, Vukasinovic 55, Penalty 66

Conversions: Bennett 15, 56

Ealing………………31pts

Tries: Johnston 16, Terry 21, Walker 27, Cordy-Redden 49, Bird-Tulloch 72

Conversions: Shingler 22, 28, 73

AMPTHILL head coach Paul Turner was left to rue his team's inability to “control a game and do the basics right” as Ealing Trailfinders ran out winners at Dillingham Park

Turner said: “It was a brave performance against the league champions. We did lots of good things but ultimately it's frustrating.

“I felt at half-time, despite being 7-19 down, we could get back into the game if our set-piece started to function. It did and we regained the momentum to get back to 21-24.

Thereafter from the restart with 10 to go we lost control tactically and with it the game. I couldn't fault the effort but it's another one that got away against quality opposition.”

It was Ampthill who scored first on 14 minutes.

Having absorbed periods of Ealing pressure, fly-half Russell Bennett kicked a 50:22 and from the resulting lineout the Mob created multiple phases of pressure on the Ealing line and eventually Jamie Jack burrowed over.

Ealing's response was immediate. The visiting backs moved the ball well and found wing David Johnston who skipped around the last defender to score.

Another two Ealing tries followed in the next ten minutes. First debutant Cam Terry scored off the back of a rolling maul and then on 28 minutes an attempted chip was intercepted by Jack Digby who offloaded and two phases later Charlie Walker scored out wide to put Ealing ahead 19-7.

James Cordy-Redden scored Ealing's fourth on 52 minutes while Ampthill's Harvey Beaton was in the sin-bin, but the momentum of the game was about to swing.

A try from Theo Vukasinovic, followed by a penalty try – which saw Ealing's Paul Gibbons binned – reduced the margin to three points.

Ampthill felt they could get something from the game, but a misplaced kick gave Ealing possession and Matt Gordon hit a great line and centre Reuben

Bird-Tulloch weaved his way over for the final try, while Ampthill's Ben Cambriani was in the sin-bin.

Ealing director of rugby Ben Ward said: “We played well today. It's a really tough place to come – one of our favourite victories in the league was here.

“Ampthill are a side that stick in all the way. They're well coached and they came back second half and did exactly what we expected them to do.

“We're delighted with the win and to take a tenpoint advantage back to Vallis Way.”