Latest news with #Ampthill
Powys County Times
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Ealing Trailfinders sealed the defence of the Championship trophy
Ealing Trailfinders sealed their successful defence of the Championship trophy with a 34-7 win at Caldy. The West London outfit ran in six tries to open up an unassailable 13-point lead at the summit with just two rounds remaining. Bedford Blues are on the brink of sealing second spot after a big win at Cambridge, while Cornish Pirates and London Scottish won close encounters against Ampthill and Chinnor respectively. Coventry came out convincingly on top against Nottingham while S unday's game saw Doncaster Knights battle to victory away at Hartpury RFC. Party starts for Trailfinders Ealing Trailfinders wrapped up their latest Championship title triumph with victory at Caldy. Craig Hampson's third-minute score represented a perfect start for Trailfinders but they crossed just once more before the interval as Caldy dug in, Hampson turning provider for Francis Moore to dot down. Angus Kernohan's try early in the second period extended the lead to 17-0 but Caldy hit back through Matt Gallagher, who marked his 50th appearance with a try after Ealing's Lefty Zigiriadis had been sent to the sin-bin. The visitors hit straight back as Craig Willis secured the bonus point before Mike Willemse and Rob Farrar added gloss to the scoreline for the champions. Blues run riot at Cambridge Bedford Blues ran in 11 tries to defeat bottom club Cambridge 73-15. The first quarter was hard fought and the scores were locked at 12-12 after 25 minutes, Josh Skelcey and Sam Hanks cancelling out early tries for Blues' Lucas Titherington and Jamie Jack. Dean Adamson re-established the visitors' lead and Louis James' bonus-point score made it 26-15 at the break. It was one-way traffic in the second half as James and Titherington completed doubles and Adamson took his tally to four, while Matt Worley and James Lennon also added their names to the scoresheet. Pirates fight back to down Ampthill Cornish Pirates came from 23-7 down to beat Ampthill 38-33 in a thriller at Mennaye Field. The hosts drew first blood through Josh King but tries from Valentino Mapapalangi and Byron Sharwood, along with three Josh Barton penalties, opened up a sizable advantage for Ampthill. Jack Forsythe and Billy Young reduced the arrears to 23-21 at the break and Pirates went in front when Matt McNab crossed for the bonus point score. Rhys Marshall's try levelled it up at 28-28 but King's second put Pirates back in front, with the boot of Bruce Houston stretching the lead to 10 points. Lekima Ravuvu set up a tense finish with a late try but Pirates held on. Five-star Opoku inspires Coventry win Only Ealing Trailfinders and Bedford Blues have scored more points than Coventry this season and thy underlined their offensive prowess with a 67-5 victory against Nottingham. Winger David Opoku was in irresistible form, crossing for a club record five tries, as the hosts punished a Nottingham team that spent a quarter of the match with 14 men due to a pair of yellow cards. Flanker Matt Kvesic scored the first try, before Opoku scored twice in three minutes – the first following a Sam Maunder kick-through. A penalty try on the brink of half-time confirmed the bonus-point, while Nottingham responded for their only try minutes into the second half when James Cherry crossed in the corner. But Coventry hit the accelerator again as Opoku added three more tries, Aaron Hinkley, Tom Hitchcock (2) and Will Lane also crossed to cement a special win. Scottish edge past Chinnor London Scottish put some distance between themselves and Chinnor in the scrap for ninth-place with a 24-19 away win. The visitors made a fast start and crossed for the first try in the 10th minute as Jonny Law crossed, but Chinnor hit back with two tries to take a 12-7 lead shortly before half-time. Roman Zheng replied for Scottish, before Will Trenholm powered over on the stroke of half-time whistle to establish a 21-12 lead. Kieran Goss threatened a Chinnor comeback by scoring a try 10 minutes from time, but a late Josh Bellamy penalty secured Scottish the points. Doncaster hang on to win thriller Obi Ene scored two tries as Doncaster Knights saw off Hartpury RFC 41-35 and leap into fourth place in the table. In a thrilling final 10 minutes, the two teams traded three tries but Hartpury just ran out of time to snatch an unlikely win. Hartpury were quick out of the blocks, as Josiah Edwards-Giraud and Toti Benz-Solomon crossed for tries within the first 10 minutes, before Ene replied for the Knights. Alex Dolly and Ben Murphy then helped Knights into a 19-15 half-time lead with a try each, while Ene's second soon after the re-start looked to have put the visitors decisively clear. Zach Kerr added a further score but James Short reduced the gap to 34-23 with 11 minutes to go. Oliver Fox seemingly iced the game for Knights with a try five minutes from time, but Alex Morgan's score and a Harry Bazalgette penalty cut the gap to six at full-time.
BBC News
17-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Pirates beat Ampthill to seal sixth successive win
Cornish Pirates coach Gavin Cattle hailed his side's attitude after they won their sixth successive Championship Penzance-based side scored five tries as they beat Ampthill 38-33 at the victory sees the Pirates move up to third place in the table with a winning run that goes back to the start of last month."It's about building belief," Cattle told BBC Radio Cornwall."You get used to getting through those games and they know what it takes."As you get more familiar with each other, and you grow stronger bonds, you're willing to get off the floor a bit quicker and you can see in the last three or four games that's been at the fore." Despite Josh King's early try, Pirates trailed 23-7 with five minutes of the first half to go as tries for Kaden Pearce-Paul and Byron Sharwood, along with three Josh Barton penalties, put the visitors in control. But Jack Forsythe and Billy Young went over to make it 23-21 at the break before Matt McNab put the hosts in front after the Marshall's try levelled it at 28-28 soon after, but King's second try, and a Bruce-Hosyton penalty with eight minutes left, opened up a 10-point Ampthill ensured they left Cornwall with two losing bonus points as Lekima Ravuvu forced his way over with a minute left."It was a good contest," Cattle said."That first half. we had a couple of tries held over after a real strong maul and Will Trewin was through on an inside ball that didn't go to hand."Our discipline was poor in that first 20 or 30 minutes [with] eight or nine penalties in the first half."The penalty count was an issue, but we addressed that at half-time."I've got to give our maul credit because I think that gave us a foothold in the game."
BBC News
16-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Jackson signs new contract with Saracens
Saracens back Brandon Jackson has signed a new deal to stay with the Premiership club for the 2025-26 23-year-old has made six Premiership appearances for Saracens - four coming this season. The academy graduate scored 18 tries in 26 games for Championship side Ampthill last has again been dual registered with the Championship club this season but has also scored seven tries in six Premiership Rugby Cup matches for Saracens this campaign. "Brandon is a hugely talented and hard-working player who has shown consistent improvement during his time with us," Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall said."His performances in the Championship and in our senior environment have underlined his potential, and we are excited to see him continue developing at Saracens."
BBC News
01-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Winger Elliott signs 'multi-year' Saracens deal
Saracens winger Tobias Elliott has signed a "multi-year" contract extension with the Premiership club. The 21-year-old has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign, playing in 21 matches - of which he started 20 - and scoring nine tries. Elliott joined the club's academy in 2022 and spent much of last season on loan with Championship side Ampthill. "Tobias is a player we are very excited about," Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall said."He has taken everything in his stride so far during his breakout season and we believe he has a brilliant future ahead of him."Elliott has represented England at under-18s, 19s and 20s level, and in February played for England A against Ireland. Saracens have not disclosed the length of his new contract but described it as "multi-year"."I'm super excited to be able to spend the next few years at my home club with this great team. I've loved every moment so far and can't wait to make more memories," Elliott said.
BBC News
11-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Ward to join Ampthill after Bears departure
Dave Ward is to become the new head coach of Ampthill after deciding to leave Premiership Women's Rugby club Bristol departure was announced earlier this week, with the Bears saying he would be pursuing a "new opportunity".He will succeed former Wales fly-half Paul Turner, who is leaving Ampthill at the end of the season after 14 years in first joined the Championship club in 2019 as a player-coach, their first signing after reaching the second tier, and later moved into the role of forwards coach before joining Bristol in former Harlequins forward led them to four successive PWR semi-finals and one final during his time in charge. The Championship will be expanded to 14 teams next season with the admission of the revamped Worcester Warriors and one promoted from National League One."I'm very excited to return to Ampthill in the revamped Championship," Ward said."The league is at the start of a new chapter with a competition that's going to be more fierce than ever, so I'm delighted to be back and can't wait to get going."As a player, Ward, 39, had spells with Bath, Northampton Saints and Sale Sharks before establishing himself with Cornish joined Quins in 2012, on the back of the club's first-ever Premiership title win, and made 155 appearances in the quarters, scoring 10 director of rugby Mark Lavery said: "Dave was a great signing as a player, bringing another level of professionalism to the playing group and is an exciting appointment now as head coach."We had applications from across the world of rugby, but it was important that we brought in somebody who understood our culture to help us build on what we've achieved."Ampthill are eighth in the Championship this season, with six wins from their 15 games so are away to second-placed Coventry on Saturday.
