Hartpury v Ampthill Match Report:
Hartpury RFC saw defeat in their opening home fixture of the 2026/27 campaign, coming unstuck 33-24 against Ampthill.
Pury suffered their first home loss since March, when, coincidentally, Ampthill edged them out by five points.
Pury flanker Caio James opened the scoring in the 20th minute, going over from the base of a lineout drive into the right corner. Fly-half Harry Bazalgette missed the conversion.
The visitors bounced back less than 10 minutes later as fly-half Will Roue went under the posts, then converted his own try to take a two-point lead.
Both teams scored again before the break, with Pury’s inside centre Ollie Allsopp scoring first after breaking through the defensive line, rounding the final defender, and diving over towards the left corner.
The response was rapid; Ampthill’s number eight, Ed Timpson, found the line just minutes before half-time, and the visitors scored again on the stroke of half-time in the right corner as winger Tyler Offiah latched onto a grubber kick, finishing acrobatically.
Trailing 10-21 at half-time, it was crucial for the hosts to come out swinging, and that they did. Just four minutes into the second period, they tried to shift the ball out wide, and Ampthill’s full-back Elliot Gourlay was penalised for a deliberate knock-on with a man over. He was sent to the sin-bin, and Hartpury were awarded a penalty try.
As Gourlay returned from his 10-minute period, Hartpury were reduced to 14 as captain Will Crane was in an unfortunate position after trying to counter-ruck; Ampthill turned the ball over and, whilst lying on the floor, obstructed the play and was penalised for not rolling away.
Only seconds later, the now full complement of Ampthill players took advantage of their extra man, with flanker Tayo Adegbemile extending their lead to 11 points.
Pury thought they’d reduced the deficit just after the hour mark, as shortly after coming on to replace Edward-Giraud, Max Knight found the line under the posts, but saw the try disallowed for a double movement.
Allsopp, and the subsequent conversion from Bazalgette, did eventually close the score to within four points with ten minutes left in the game, before a final try from Ampthill put them out of reach five minutes before time, scored by replacement hooker Seb Smith, and Roue converted his fifth out of six attempts to seal the 33-24 win for the visiting side.
Hartpury: Brad Denty, Keir Clark (Charlie Powell 76), Josiah Edwards-Giraud (Max Knight 60), Ollie Allsopp, Jack Cotgreave, Harry Bazalgette, Cai Gealy (Sam Allford 65); Louie Trevett (Harry Edwards 54), Will Crane (C) (Casey Williams 74), Ollie Minnis (George Perry 75), Pete Paramore, Dale Lemon (Oli Smith 74), Jay Evans, Caio James, Cam Cobbett (Harry Short 41).
Ampthill: Elliot Gourlay, Tyler Offiah (Finn Keylock 60), Fraser Rawlins, Toby Baker (Oscar Wilson 23), Joe Browning, Will Roue, Efan Jones (C); Harrison Courtney (Jevaughin Warren 65), Harrison Dakin (Seb Smith 46), Harvey Beaton (Tom Gulley 46), George Nugent (Kennedy Sylvester 65), Jack Bennett, Tayo Adegbemile, Ollie Mullarkey (Barney Merrett 50), Ed Timpson.
Unused Sub: Asa Stewart-Harris.
Referee: Richard Gordon
Attendance: 1840
Half-Time: Hartpury 10-21 Ampthill
Star Players: Ollie Allsopp (Hartpury) & Will Roue (Ampthill)
Stats:
|
Hartpury RFC |
|
Ampthill RUFC |
|
7 |
Penalties conceded |
13 |
|
13 |
Line-outs won |
12 |
|
4 |
Line-outs lost |
1 |
|
3 |
Scrums won |
5 |
|
0 |
Scrums lost |
0 |
|
0 |
Sin-bins |
0 |
