Myall swings win for Archers

By JACK RILEY

Nottingham …27

Ampthill ………. 21

LEICESTER Tigers loanee Charlie Myall scored two tries in the final 10 minutes as Nottingham left it late to claim victory in their second and final pre-season fixture.

It was a match of contrasting styles with the Archers playing expansive rugby at every opportunity whereas Ampthill preferred to show their physicality and set piece prowess.

But it was Nottingham who asserted early dominance up front, winning a scrum penalty after knocking on from their own kick off. From the kick to the corner, Jack Dickinson darted in to score off the maul.

On 15 minutes, another penalty was kicked to the corner and from a throw to the front of the lineout the ball was returned to Dickinson to run in unopposed.

Ampthill hit back when hooker James Isaacs drove over and Josh Barton converted to reduce the arrears to 10-7 and Richard Barrington crossed to overturn the deficit on the stroke of half time.

Sam Mercer showed great strength to take a horde of Ampthill defenders with him across the line in the left hand corner to make it 15-14 to the Archers and the seesaw contest continued as Lekima Ravuvu went over with Barton adding the extras to put Ampthill back into the lead.

David Williams had made probing runs a number of times since coming on early in the second half and in the 57th minute was able to make inroads into the Ampthill 22 and found Myall with a looping pass to score.

Ampthill were reduced to 13 men following two yellow cards in quick succession and Myall finished a thrilling match-winning team try after the Archers stole a lineout on their 22.