The Champ
Hartpury …………27pts
Tries: Denty 6, Short 33, Crane 38, Allford 43
Conversions: Bazalgette 34, 44
Penalty: Bazalgette 80
Ampthill …………32pts
Tries: Wilson 9, 40; Va’Enuku 18, 59; Smith 24
Conversions: Davidson 19, 60
Penalty: Davidson 74
AMPTHILL outside centre Sione Va’Enuku scored two tries in a star performance as The Mob climbed nine points clear of the relegation zone.
The Bedfordshire side scored five times in total with winger Oscar Wilson also getting two first-half tries as they became only the second away side to beat Hartpury in their own backyard this season.
Ampthill head coach Dave Ward said: “It’s fantastic, we executed our plan in terms of attack, the way we wanted to manage field territory and to come away with five points at this place, only Ealing have done it this season, so we’re really happy with the result.
“We took a massive amount from their game against Richmond last week; you have to look at those things. It’s not always going to be the same because Hartpury could come with a different plan as well, but the way Hartpury set up their backfield, if you put a kick through the middle and have a good kick chase, you can put pressure on.”
The opening 10 minutes was error-strewn, both sides losing a lineout amid some kick tennis before Hartpury opened the scoring through winger Brad Denty, who finished off a brilliant fluid move, started off by fellow flyer Ollie Holliday, before No.8 Tom Worts carried forward and Denty finished off in the right corner.
Ampthill responded with a 15-minute three-try flurry, Wilson dotted down in the left corner before Va’Enuku powered over off a lineout move before hooker Seb Smith scored through another lineout in the right corner.
The reds levelled through two driving maul moves with flanker Harry Short and hooker Will Crane scoring, but Ampthill crushed their momentum with a try on the half-time whistle, Wilson skirted three defenders to slide over in the left co
Hartpury took a two-point lead quickly after half-time, with scrum-half Sam Allford scurrying over under the posts, but again the Mob fought back with Va’Enuku finishing a chip-and-chase by the left post.
Luke Davidson extended the away side’s advantage from the tee before a last-minute penalty kick from home side fly-half Harry Bazalgette in the dying embers ensured two crucial league points as they try to keep their playoff hopes alive despite going four games without a win.
Hartpury coach Mark Cornwell said: “Ampthill came here with intent, they were physical, they wanted to play rugby as well, they are a completely different side to when we played them away. We didn’t deserve to win, Ampthill did, and full credit to them.”
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