Cambridge succomb to Ampthill defeat

Hosts are denied a bonus point

Cambridge suffered a double disappointment in their 20-10 defeat at home to Ampthill in National League One.

It was always going to be a tough test against the fifth-placed side, but Cambridge acquitted themselves well in the first half, standing up to the physical challenge of the visitors.

They went behind though when conceding a penalty try in the 16th minute after battling to stop a catch and drive inside the 22. Joe Tarrant added the conversion.

And at the end of the half, they gave away another try as George Furbank fumbled when collecting a kick ahead and Nigel Baker passed to Steffan Jones to touch down to make it 12-0.

Ampthill began the second half by extending their lead through a Tarrant penalty.

But Cambridge regrouped and took the game to Ampthill.

They earned some reward by perfectly executing a catch and drive from a line-out for Jake McCloud to touch down.

Within 15 minutes, they had hopes of getting parity with the visitors as they moved play across the pitch after a dominant scurm, and then got it wide for Lawrence Hutchinson to touch down in the corner.

However, they were unable to turn a period of pressure into points and when Tom Trotter threw a mis-placed pass back into his own 22, it gave Ampthill the chance to finish the game.

After a couple of penalties at the scrum, they finally moved possession wide for Ben Gulliver to dive over in the corner, and it also denied Cambridge a losing bonus point.