Ampthill 41 – Blaydon 12

Blaydon more than held their own for 40 minutes against newly promoted Ampthill and had they taken their chances could have been on level terms. As it was a 10 point deficit at the break did not look un-surmountable until the home side hit a purple patch early into the second period, running in 3 tries in 9 minutes to go on to finish worthy winners.

Kevin Barrett the Ampthill scrum half nipped in for the opening try within a minute of the start, Elliot ce a  Clements-Hill landing the first of his 16 points with the conversion, but Blaydon quickly responded.

From a trademark catch and drive they were heading for the home line when Ampthill pulled down the maul and a penalty try was awarded, Andrew Baggett levelling matters with the conversion.

With their pack well on top at this stage Blaydon endeavoured to repeat that success  from 3 more line-outs but each time were held up just short, and then inexplicably failed to capitalise on a 4 man overlap with the line beckoning.

Having survived the pressure Ampthill went on to increase their lead when they ‘did a Blaydon’ with Matt Howling touching down from a rolling maul, Clements-Hill converting, and at the interval it was 17-7.

Blaydon then hung on for 10 minutes into the second half before being hit with tries from Mamma Molitka, Karim Lynch and Joseph Tarrant and the deficit had raced to 34-7.

Lock forward Chris Wearmouth pulled back 5 points with a close range effort but the home side clinched their first National League One win at Dillingham Park when man-of-the-match Clements-Hill raced in for a 6th try and added the extras himself.

John Brennan