Ampthill RFC v Coventry Rugby - a walk on the wild side

I'm walking away (oh, I'm walking from away)

From the troubles in my life (from the troubles in my life)

I'm walking away (away)

Oh, to find a better day

I'm walking away (I'm walking away)

From the troubles in my life (troubles in my life)

I'm walking away (I'm walking away)

Oh, to find a better day

Walking Away - Craig David

There are worse places to watch Coventry away from home than Ampthill.

Far worse.

And if the BBC weather site is to be believed, and these days weather forecasting seems to be a good deal more accurate than it ever was back in the days of poor old Michael Fish, then it's going to be a balmy 15 degrees. Every chance then that the winter coat might have seen its last appearance for another 6 months or so.

From the BBC weather app

Happy days.

The setting, surely one of the most bucolic in all of the national leagues, always makes for a very different experience, whatever the weather. Tynedale was similar in that respect, although there's nothing quite like the Ampthill walk from clubhouse to pitch. I've done that in all weathers and I have to say, when it's wet and miserable it's not the best of feelings knowing that there's virtually no shelter available for the next hour and three quarters.

Which is also the case for the players, too, as poor Olly Pavoas found out to his cost a few seasons back, as I recall.

It really can be a case of taking a walk on the wild side.

In April, when its hopefully dry and warm(ish), well it's something to look forward to. Ampthill is a proper rugby club, a community club that runs six senior teams and a full range of junior sides. I've always found it friendly and welcoming and one that deserves it's place in the second tier of English rugby for sticking to traditional values without ever selling its soul.

It's never set out to buy success as some clubs have done (and as we did in the mid 90s) and has managed to keep hold of its own identity despite the huge financial pressures facing Championship sides these days. I know clubs like Plymouth Albion, Moseley and Rosslyn Park (to name but three) are better supported and would probably generate more interest in the Championship were they to be involved, but at least the system is such that clubs like Ampthill can be successful at this level. And that's as it should be.

Because of its remote pitch and lack of stand, it's a bit of a 'marmite' club to many - some like it, others not so much. I'm definitely a fan. Facilities at this level are obviously important and despite having a decent clubhouse, the pitch is isolated and a good two or three minute walk from the changing rooms. Last time I was there, there was no stand, a few portaloos and a refreshment hut and not a lot else. The word 'spartan' comes to mind.

But if it's about the atmosphere or character of a club that's important, or the ethos even, then Ampthill ticks all the right boxes for me.

When you go there, you go knowing it's unlikely to be of the most entertaining of games. More often than not, Ampthill's strength has been in its pack and it's usually quite a one dimensional approach from them. I'm hoping I'm wrong but I'm expecting something similar on Saturday to be honest.

In recent weeks, teams have been loathe to play an expansive game against us because they're all too aware of the damage our backs can cause when the pattern of play is open or broken and gaps start emerging. And not just the backs either, to be fair.

With all Championship games available for scrutiny by the opposition these days, they'll know that we've struggled a bit in the set piece where historically they've always been strong - remember players like Latui, Tonga'uiha and Molitika? They did for us on more than one occasion. I think Latui might still play the occasional game - he must be getting on a bit now, he was 37 (apparently) in 2015???

I think they'll want to keep it quite tight initially anyway.

Pete White on the charge - and leaving Callum MacBurnie for dead if I'm not mistaken

And then there's Pete White at scrum half. Always busy and able to dictate the pace, injecting urgency into the game when it's most needed. It will be good to see him again. Always a bit of a live wire and never giving less than his best, he has the potential to cause us some problems. He was a firm favourite with the Cov crowd because he wore his heart on his sleeve and there was never such a thing as a lost cause if Pete was on the pitch.

Ampthill have had mixed fortunes this season, losing more games than they've won. However, they're currently on a run of four wins on the bounce (equaling Cov's best winning run this season) so they're hitting some decent form just at the wrong time as far as Cov is concerned. Only two of the losses have been close ones though, ie within 7 points, so it's not as if they've been mostly tight games either.

From the RFU website

Averaging nearly 25 points a game, that's almost 8 points less than Coventry and confirms the fact that they're not the most free-scoring of sides. One of the most telling stats is that Ampthill have just four players who have scored four tries or more this season whilst Coventry have 12. Yes, 12! Cov have the ability to score from anywhere on the pitch which makes them such a dangerous team - 7 of those 12 are backs and 5 are forwards, illustrating just how versatile this current squad is.

It's a game that we ought to be favourites to win, but there's something about Ampthill away from home that always makes it a difficult one to predict. Cov have often flattered to deceive at Ampthill and I've watched one or two disappointing performances there in the past. I do wonder if the players sometimes find it harder to motivate themselves at these more 'parochial' grounds?

There couldn't be a bigger contrast between playing in front of 2500 partisan supporters at the BPA in a modern stadium and in front of the wall of noise that is the main stand and the wide open spaces of Dillingham Park with far less atmosphere and in front of an average crowd of just 662 (according to Statbunker), the lowest in the Championship this season when the rain and win is driving in and the pitch is a bit of a mud bath.

That's no excuse but I can understand why a team might find it a difficult to be at their very best.

Cov has travelled with some confidence this season and so I'll be getting off the Supporters' coach on Saturday in an unusually optimistic mood, which is a little worrying in itself. A win, and a bonus point and we'd be 13 points ahead of Bedford in 4th place with just 3 games to go. They are the only team who can now catch us, but it would mean that just 4 more points from the remaining games and a top three finish would be ours.

A hell of an achievement that, something I couldn't have imagined happening back in September and even if Cov has struggled to find its best form on the open fields of Ampthill in the past, this side should have no problems, motivationally anyway, given the prize that's at stake. And there won't be any lack of confidence on their part.

The scrum remains the big concern for me. We've given far too many penalties away in this area in recent games and of the tries conceded, many have come from the inevitable kick to the corner and the resulting catch and drive.

Parity in the scrums and we should be fine, a scrum that is going backwards from the start and things could be far tougher for Alex Rae's young side. ( Cov has just released the team news and there are four front row replacements which suggests that the coaches see this as a key area too, possibly?) Hartpury caused us considerable difficulties in the set piece last week, even the lineout wasn't as effective as it has been for the vast majority of the season.

However, Cov still had the firepower both in the loose and when the ball was spun out wide we were able to put points on the board despite Hartpury's advantage elsewhere. In Will Chudley, we have someone who can read the game so well that even when he's not getting the kind of ball he'd want from the scrum, he can still get his backs up and running or box kick to ensure we play the game in the opposition half..

Secure the scrums and lineouts and we should be fine.

It might be that Alex Rae decides to give Will Lane a start, something I'd personally like to see as we can't keep relying on Chudley to start games. Lane has plenty of experience himself and he and Snow are more than capable of playing at this level. (He didn't!)...

Whatever the result, it should be a good day out with the Supporters' Club. A fully booked coach, and a good few supporters making their own way there as well, should see a slightly bigger crowd than average, indeed probably their highest of the season - which appears to be 743 (again according to Statbunker), although a home fixture against Bedford Blues on the penultimate weekend of the season will smash that for sure.

No Sam again, but Josh will be there.

I can't wait to see what he'll make of Ampthill's pitch/facilities - he's only been to clubs with a traditional main stand and clubhouse all in one, Donny, Scottish/Richmond and Nottingham (I'm not sure if Ealing fits into that bracket?!), so he's certainly in for a rather different experience this time around.

Here's hoping it's turns out to be a walk in the park - both literally and, more importantly, figuratively, too.

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