After the worst of first half starts, DMPRFC pushed league leaders and Championship contenders Ampthill and District RFC all the way in a very entertaining game at their Arena HQ.

To fight back from being 0 – 28 down after only 29 minutes, against a mixture of Saracens Academy players, ex-Tongan Internationals and some of the best reported talent, is testament to the hard work and dedication of the DMPRFC squad and coaches, who are to be congratulated.

The size of the task was literally evident from the outset as the teams lined up prior to the start of the game. With giants in the pack in the form of Saracens Academy and England player and lock Jonathan KPOKU, together with the formidable frame of ex-Northampton and Tongan international prop Soane TONGAUIHA, DMPRFC’s pack were giving away at least 12 kgs per man and that had a distinct advantage in the first half.

Cleverly and astutely, the visiting forwards created the foundations of this first away league win against the home side, using their weight and power to effect.

A headline from a reporter in a National rugby paper to the effect that ‘It was a case of men versus boys’ could only be referring to the ‘boyish good looks’ of the home pack compared with their opposite numbers, as to suggest anything else would be disrespectful and unrepresentative of the contribution of the DMPRFC pack on the day, who battled manfully against their bigger opponents, with some of the visiting forwards aches and pains on their bodies testament to the DMPRFC pack's tenacious tackling.

It was the home side who provided the initial excitement, when stalwart full back Chris McTURK fizzed into action, with a searing break into the visitor’s territory, ultimately running out of support at the business end of the pitch and Ampthill clearing their lines.

DMPRFC were struggling to retain any lengthy periods of possession during this period and when they did, the Ampthill defence was able to stand firm.

DMPRFC’s plight was disadvantaged with the yellow card loss of lock Jacob BRADY in the 11th minute and a minute later, the visitors took full advantage and registered the first points and ex-Worcester, Edinburgh and Tongan international hooker Alexi LUTUI was on hand to touch down after a lineout was caught and driven over the home line. (0 – 5), with centre James PRITCHARD adding the extras. (0 – 7)

Five minutes later, again from a lineout, a long pass outside found centre PRITCHARD who glided into the corner for the score (0 – 12), retaining his composure to convert his own touchdown. (0 – 14)

Ampthill’s purple patch continued when a defensive mistake on half way allowed their progress deep into home territory, where lock KPOKU was on hand to score (0- 19), PRITCHARD converting. (0-21).

The try bonus point was achieved less than three minutes later, when centre Sam HANKS ghosted through two defenders to register Ampthill’s fourth try (0 – 26), PRITCHARD again converting. (0 – 28)

DMPRFC spent the next ten minutes prior to oranges entrenched within the visitors half, mainly in the 5-metre zone. Ampthill conceded penalty after penalty in their efforts to stop the home pack from crossing their line from catch and drive lineouts, where perhaps the official could have shown the yellow card to at least one defender for pulling it down.

Finally, centre Sam Hanks fell foul and was sent to the cooler for a high tackle.

Just before the interval, DMPRFC got the reward their efforts deserved, when centre Ben FRANKLAND barged through for the only home points of the first half. (5 – 28)

On resumption of play, after a period of ten minutes of endeavour from both sides, where replacements were introduced, the ‘boys’ from DMPRFC fought back and took the game to the league leaders.

A long pass from scrum half Matt DUDMAN found full back McTURK who weaved his way through a deluge of flailing defenders to score the first try of the second half ( 10 – 28), which was converted by hard working fly half Warren SEALS. (12 – 28)

The large crowd sensed a reversal of fortune, as the Ampthill pack tried to slow down the game, with player after player requiring attention, in an effort to halt home progress.
Replacement flanker Simon UZOKWE added DMPRFC’s third try, bullocking over after a series of pick and drives on the visitor’s line (17 – 28) and with SEALS converting, the visitor’s coaching team visibly seemed to buckle with frustration, perhaps with thoughts of what had transpired in previous seasons mulling around in their heads.

The sign of a good team in form is to then respond and that is exactly what Ampthill did, with an excellent try from the base of a scrum on half way, exploiting the open side, with inter-passing from fly half Joshua SHARPE and James PRITCHARD, conjuring an opportunity for the former to score what would prove to be the decisive try. (19 – 33), heralding raucous celebrations from the visiting bench, knowing the importance of the points at that stage of the game.

However, as PRITCHARD missed the conversion and with twenty minutes remaining, again the crowd seemed to galvanise the home side, who responded themselves, as Ampthill tired.

The ‘kitchen sink’ was then thrown at the visitors, who defended well, even though they were blowing out of their preverbials.

Ben FRANKLAND scored DMPRFC’s fourth and bonus point try with jusy over 5 minutes remaining on the clock, (24 – 33)and with the conversion from SEALS bringing the second bonus point (26 – 33), DMPRFC set about trying to level the scores with a grandstand finish that quite simply ran out of time.

Time enough though for some obvious ‘squeekly bum’ moments for all Ampthill connections, whose worst fears were appearing to be realised, but were allayed when replacement scrum half Euan McKIRDY finally gathered the ball and kicked it into the main stand to herald the end of proceedings.

Great game to watch.

DMPRFC SQUAD
15. Chris McTURK, 14. Ollie WALKER (Shaun McCARTNEY, 62), 13. Ben FRANKLAND, 12. Garry LAW, 11. Callum MCKENZIE, 10. Warren SEALS, 9. Matt DUDMAN, 1. Alfie BARRON, 2. Jamie BLAMIRE (Jordan POOLE, 45), 3. Ignas DARKINTIS (Ralph APPLEBY, 52), 4. Jacob BRADY (Simon UZOKWE, 52), 5. Joe CRAGGS, 6. George STOKES (Talite VAIOLETI, 75), 7. Matt HEATON, 8. Ollie HODGSON.
Replacements: All Used
Scoring:
Try: FRANKLAND (40, 74), McTURK (53), UZOKWE (56)
Conversion: SEALS (54, 56, 75)
Penalty: None
Drop Goal: None
Penalty Try: None
Yellow Card: Jacob BRADY (11)

AMPTHILL & DISTRICT RFC SQUAD
15. Ciaran WHYTE (Elliot OBATOYINBO, 57), 14. Spencer SUTHERLAND, 13. James PRITCHARD, 12. Samuel HANKS, 11. Nigel BAKER, 10. Joshua SHARP, 9. Gavin WILLIAMS (Euan McKIRDY, 62), 1. Soane TONGAUIHA (Aleki LUTUI, 71), 2. Aleki LUTUI (Oliver WALLIKER, 48), 3. Matthew COLLINS (Karl GARSIDE, 52), 4. Billy JOHNSON, 5. Jonathan KPOKU (Sydney BLACKMORE, 40), 6. Sam HUDSON, 7. Joseph BERCIS (Maama MOLITIKA, 71), 8. Maama MOLITIKA (Jonathan KPOKU, 61).
Replacements: All Used
Scoring:
Try: LUTUI (12), PRITCHARD (18), KPOKU (25), HANKS (28), SHARP (59)
Conversion: PRITCHARD (13, 19, 26, 29)
Penalty: None
Penalty Try: None
Yellow Card: Sam HANKS (40)

Referee: Mr James GAYTHER
Referee’s Assistants: Mr Matthew DAUBNEY, Mr Tudor GRIFFITHS
Attendance: 823
Player of the Match: Joe CRAGGS (DMPRFC)

NEXT WEEK: CAMBRIDGE RFC (A)