Ampthill 21 Coventry Rugby 27 - no walk in the park but Cov deservedly takes the spoils

Can't let this moment This moment slip away 'Cause things like this don't happen to us everyday So take this moment And put it in a glass If you want a sip, I got memories on tap

Can't let this moment

This moment slip away 'Cause things like this don't happen to us everyday

Write your name on a cup

Drink up, drink up

Write your name on a cup

Drink Up - Train

In past seasons, any Cov fans venturing down to the woods around Ampthill on a Saturday afternoon more often than not were in for a big surprise.

Dillingham Road has become something of a fortress for Ampthill, and even though it has been significantly breached on a couple of occasions this season when the club has been bereft of its Sarries contingent (there were 6 playing against Cov), it's still a tough place to visit.

Although yesterday was certainly no picnic for Coventry Rugby, it also wasn't as daunting for a team that this season seems to fear no one.

In the same fixture just 12 months ago, Coventry had gone into the final quarter 24-21 up, but poor game management and a strong Ampthill finish, especially from their forwards, saw Cov concede three tries from lineouts close to their line. It was one of three games last season that Coventry really should have won, having put themselves into winning positions only to let the points slip away in the final 20 minutes or so - the others being against Caldy (a) and Hartpury (h).

Having narrowly beaten Caldy back in October, Cov have shown they're far more mentality resilient this season. A win against Hartpury next week, on top of those at Caldy and Ampthill, will do much to erase any lingering frustrations left over from last season (and there really weren't that many) and set the club up nicely for that tricky trip down to Pirates the week after.

Yesterday's game was an absorbing contest and Cov had to work hard at times, especially in the first half, to defend their line especially as they were down to 14 players at one point following what was deemed a deliberate knock on by Tom Hitchcock. But they were still able to create chances too, scoring three tries themselves and going into the break 14 -19 up, a score which perhaps flattered us slightly.

However, the second half belonged to Cov, although they were unable to make the most of their chances and take a decisive lead. Even with Hitchcock's unconverted try on 78 minutes, Ampthill could still have taken the spoils with a final score. It was nervy stuff but the nerves were very much confined to those watching as the players saw out the final minutes to earn the win that keeps them at the top of the table with Ealing, their closest rivals, still close on their heels. The Christmas showdown between these two sides is going to be another BPA classic and should be a near sell-out judging by the interest it is already generating.

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As a club, Ampthill deserve huge respect for their achievements on the pitch and for that reason they rightly merit a place in the Championship. But there's no getting away from the fact that their facilities are poor.

It was particularly sad to see a number of very loyal Cov supporters who regularly travel to away games unable to make the journey down to Ampthill yesterday simply because either a) the walk from the road (where the coach has to park to disembark supporters) to the pitch is too far or b) the paths to get there aren't even enough to allow sure footing. Or both.

Add to those another group of supporters, even larger in number, for whom Ampthill just isn't a ground they want to visit and there would probably have been enough to make a second coach viable. With no seating area and no cover should the elements prove inhospitable (every likelihood in November, too), then it's hardly surprising that a crowd of under 750 watched a game with the current league leaders. (As both Cov and Bedford were away from home this weekend, attendances were very low all round, the highest being at Doncaster (1401) and the lowest at Ampthill).

The walk from the main clubhouse to the pitch probably only takes 2 or 3 minutes and is unique to Ampthill at this level (almost certainly in National One as well) and doubtless unsettles both players and supporters visiting the club for the first time. Now we're almost in Winter though and the trees have shed their leaves, that closed-in, almost claustrophobic, feeling you often get as you wend you're way through the copse is greatly lessened and certainly doesn't generate anything approaching the same level of oppressive disorientation.

Being able to see the pitch from the starting point makes the whole experience far less forebidding.

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In past seasons, it's been possible to walk a complete circuit of the pitch but following a recent RFU ground assessment, the side opposite the main supporters' area is now cordoned off, deemed to be too much of a health and safety risk.

The steward who politely turned us away was apologetic and clearly not a great fan of the game's governing body, explaining that the slope behind the two players' boxes didn't comply with required regulations. In fairness, I can see that anyone who's not particularly steady on their pins might have trouble negotiating the uneven nature of the ground and it does beg the question as to whether Ampthill can currently fulfil even the minimum standards required for acceptance into the new Tier 2 next season.

The food and drink options are limited even down to their being no milk for the coffee. There was a burger stall but with no chips on offer, the ubiquitous burger and fries option is somewhat curtailed.

Apologies for the photo of a half-eaten offering but Josh had tucked in well-before I could take a snap. I don't think he was overly impressed either, the paucity of choice and the lack of fries being reflected in his score of a pretty meagre 5.5.

When all this is taken into account, the current standings are;

1. Caldy - 9

2. Cambridge - 8.5

3. Leicester - 7.5

4. Coventry - 7

5. Nottingham - 6

6. Ampthill - 5.5

7. London Scottish - 5

With Hartpury, Bedford, Chinnor and Ealing still to come, there's still all to play (or is that pay) for....

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The game ebbed and flowed, with both clubs getting their noses in front over the course of the game, only for Cov on 54 minutes to kick a penalty for a 21-22 lead which was extended to 6 points with 3 minutes remaining. It wasn't a classic though, with both teams falling foul of the referee far too often; Coventry principally in the first half and Ampthill in the second. In the opening 40, Cov's lineout didn't function as well as it has for much of the season and we tended to get penalised at the breakdown again, either for holding on or not rolling away (?). In the second half we seemed to have sorted this out for the most part and it was Ampthill who struggled on the penalty front.

Alex Rae's selection might have surprised a few Cov supporters but with Hinkley rested, the decision to keep Tiki Nayalo at 5 and bring in James Tyas alongside him, with Suva Ma'asi moving into the backrow, was inspired. JT was pivotal in ensuring Cov's driving maul was more effective than it has been all season and Ma'asi seemed to tackle everything that came his way. He might not be massive in stature, but in heart and willingness to put his body on the line he most certainly is. Jordon Poole had a very solid game at 2, but arguably Suva's impact at 7 was even greater. Cov is very lucky indeed to have two hookers of their quality, together with Will Biggs who never seems to have a poor game when he puts on a Cov shirt.

Or perhaps it's more a case that Cov is the beneficiary of some very astute recruitment in recent seasons.

With Josh Barton rested, Will Lane was given a deserved run out and took his opportunity well. With quick hands and a very good boot, he's everything you'd want, and more, in an understudy to Barton - although 'understudy' is a little unfair given he'd make the starting XV in several of the current Championship sides.

And with such a strong bench, Rae was able to take off both Nayalo and Tyas and bring on Nkwacha and Anstey to provide some real bulk when Ampthill legs were tiring.

The scrum was solid again, although there was a period in the first half when several defensive scrums were reset and where Cov were deemed to be shoving early. However, the forwards grew more into the game the longer it went on and Ampthill had no real answer to Cov's driving mauls which consistently caused problems for the home side. When the scrum seemed to tire a little the entrance of Salt, McEachran and Biggs gave the visitors the advantage.

Barton came on for Lane, increasing the tempo and putting Ampthill on the back foot a little. Yet again though, in an effort to catch Ampthill napping, Barton took a quick tap from 15 metres out when Cov were only a point in front with just a few minutes remaining - the consensus amongst supporters was to take the points at that stage. Had Cov come away with 5 points then fine, but they didn't and it was a really good opportunity squandered.

Barton is an excellent 9 at this level and is a very popular player amongst Cov fans, an ideal replacement for Will Chudley, so it's probably unfair to be critical, especially as it might not be his call. It just seems an odd thing to do when the game is so tight.

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Cov's defence this season has been a real strength, something reflected in the 'Points Against' column of the current table showing we are conceding just under 16 points a game, far better than any other club in the league. We're not quite as prolific in attack this time round, small wonder when you consider the departures of Wilson, Wand, Rigg and Pellegrini but that will hopefully come the longer this squad is together. The current style of play is clearly best suited to this group of players so there shouldn't be any real concerns about the team

averaging fewer points per game than last season. Having redressed two of the losses Cov suffered on their travels last season, this current squad is beginning to look even stronger than that of last season, despite missing those big names.

Cov's success this season could be down to it being very much a club that is greater than the sum of its parts whereas perhaps last year it relied more on individual contributions as times. This season there seems to be more talk of wins being down to the whole squad and its depth, rather than the highlighting of one or two players performances within games.

And that's a heathier position to be in really. The real positive for me is that I still feel there's more to come from this group of players. At times last season, even though we lost 6 games, we played some real champagne rugby and played several teams off the park.

We've yet to do that this season.

Cov, though, seem more obdurate, more durable and can grind out wins in a way they didn't last year. Yes, the highs were higher but equally the lowers were lower. There's a consistency in the performances this season which should give supporters more confidence going in to a tough run of games - Hartpury and then, of course, Pirates and Ealing.

We're less than a third of the way into the season but I think we've seen enough to believe that a top two finish is the very least we should be hoping for at this point and the expectation is that we'll push Ealing all the way.

Moments like these are very rare, indeed no Cov supporter has seen Cov finish top of the Championship, let alone be promoted into the top tier - we must grasp the opportunity with both hands as who knows what the future holds either for Coventry Rugby or, indeed, for the game itself.

Can't let this moment

This moment slip away

'Cause things like this don't happen to us everyday

Write your name on a cup

Drink up, drink up

Write your name on a cup

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