November 1, 2025
With the clocks having gone back, Chinnor had their second home match of the season today with the visit of Ampthill.
In their previous home game Chinnor recorded arguably the best result in their history as they convincingly beat full-time Coventry 47-26. Last weekend, they suffered a narrow 19-25 defeat at Hartpury University, their third away loss out of three, which left them in 10th place in the table
Ampthill
Ampthill were founded in 1881. Home is Dillingham Fields which now seems to be called Olney Fields on the Ampthill website.
Ampthill are commonly referred to as The Mob, a tongue in cheek reference to the Anthill Mob in Wacky Races !
In 2013/14 Ampthill finished second in National League 2 South but lost the promotion play-off to Darlington Mowden Park. In the following season, Ampthill had been level transferred to National League North but after another second-place finish, they beat Bishop’s Stortford to earn promotion to National League One.
Ampthill won the National League One championship in 2018/19 to be promoted to the Championship, where they have remained ever since. Last season Ampthill finished in 8th place with an average home attendance of 1,045, but their best finish was 5th in 2019/20.
Ampthill This Season
Ampthill started the season with two wins, an emphatic 45-24 triumph at Cambridge, followed by a 26-21 home success over Cornish Pirates, which was notable for two tries being scored by 19 year old winger Noah Calouri, who was on loan from Saracens, and who scored 5 tries the following week for Saracens against Newcastle Falcons, prompting some calls that he should be called up to the England National Squad !
However, since this good start Ampthill have experienced two heavy losses, predictably going down 28-56 at Worcester Warriors, and being crushed 12-66 at home in the Bedfordshire derby by Bedford Blues. Ampthill started the day in 8th place, four points ahead of Chinnor.
Ampthill Squad
The Ampthill team for last week’s game against Bedford had 7 Saracens in the starting XV plus another three on the bench. All of their matchday squads in their previous three league games contained either 7 or 8 Saracens.
However, Ampthill do have players of their own, and they sometimes perform better when the Saracens loanees are recalled to play for their parent club in the Premiership Cup.
Signings in the close season included ex-Coventry prop Jevaughn Warren, fly-half Louis Grimoldby from Cambridge, prop Callum Norrie from Glasgow Warriors, ex-Scarlets Welsh scrum-half Efan Jones, hooker Sebastian Smith from Loughborough University and back-row forward Oliver Mullarky, who was playing for Leeds Beckett University last season.
Retainees from last season included ex-Jersey Reds fly-half/full-back Josh Barton, who was the third highest points scorer in the division last season with 152 points, experienced prop Richard Barrington, who played over 200 games for Saracens, captain and centre Fraser Strachan was previously with Bedford Blues, Ealing Trailfinders and Doncaster Knights, Fijian number 8 Lemima Ravuvu joined Ampthill from the British Army and New Zealand prop Harrison Courtney played a handful of games for Edinburgh. Number 8 Valentino Mapapalangu had 8 caps for Tonga and new signing lock Justin Mataele was a current Tongan international, and had 5 caps.
The top three try scorers this season were from all Saracens, centre Oscar Wilson with three tries, followed by lock Totoa Auvaa and Calouri on two. Grimoldby was the top points scorer with 24 points.
Previous Meetings
Ampthill did the double over Chinnor last season, winning 31-29 at home in September after Chinnor missed a late conversion to tie the scores, and then a penalty to win the game. Ampthill started the game with 9 Saracens with another one on the bench. Ampthill comfortably won the return in January, 32-19, despite fielding just two Saracens.
The sides met 2013/14 in National League 2 South when Ampthill won both times. A 21-11 win was recorded at Dillingham Park, whilst they snatched a 34-31 victory at Kingsey Road thanks to a superb long range last minute try from Dean Adamson. Ampthill finished second that season whilst Chinnor needed a final day victory over Exmouth to stay in the division.
The other meetings came in National League One in 2018/19 when newly promoted Chinnor recorded an unexpected but thrilling 38-33 home win in the second week against the title favourites. Ampthill won the return 38-27 and went on to win the league, Chinnor stayed up by one place, four points ahead of Sale.
Matchday Information
The journey from Ampthill to Thame is 34 miles and should normally take just over an hour down the A418 via Aylesbury.
The weather at the 15.00 kick-off was dry and overcast with a temperature of 12 degrees, but light showers were forecast for later, which was to prove to be wildly incorrect ! The usual Chinnor breeze was present, making it feel a little chilly, and providing an advantage to the side kicking to the Showground End.
Adult tickets purchased online were £16. For over £65s it was £14 but an extra £5 was being charged to sit in the new covered stand behind the goal at the ring-road end. Prices at the gate were £20 for adults.
An online programme had been produced in advance of today’s game.
Ampthill made seven changes to the XV that started against Bedford, with the side containing 5 Saracens and a further two on the bench. Although this was a Premiership Cup weekend, Saracens were one of the two Prem sides without a fixture. Four of the new faces were from Saracens with winger Angus Hall, centre Olly Hartley, lock Olamide Sodeke and flanker Charlie West coming into the team. Perhaps the most interesting change was winger Sam Kildunne, the younger brother of the Red Roses star Ellie, starting, with the two other players coming into the side being hooker Smith and Grimoldby, the latter returning after a minor injury.
Chinnor made just two changes to the side beaten at Hartpury, both injury enforced, with George Stokes coming in for Scott Hall in the back-row and lock Geordie Irvine taking the place of Conor Brockschmidt. Irvine was on loan from Ealing Trailfinders, and had made 4 appearances for Chinnor last season on loan. Captain and scrum-half Luke Carter was making his 100th appearance for Chinnor.
Ampthill were in shirts of maroon and gold hoops with black shorts whilst Chinnor were in their usual black and white hoops.
Match Report
The floodlights were already on as Ampthill kicked off with the breeze. Carter claimed for Chinnor and eventually cleared for a lineout midway inside the Chinnor half. Chinnor stole the lineout but were ruled offside when a high kick was launched.
Ampthill kicked the penalty to 10 metres from the Chinnor line, and Sodeke made the catch. With a penalty advantage, Grimoldby attempted a grubber kick but Chinnor centre James Bourton was covering and touched down in the in-goal area.
Ampthill kicked their penalty to 5 metres and after another penalty advantage, Chinnor centre Tom Watson made an interception and had a clear run to the Ampthill tryline, but play was brought back, and Ampthill were again 5 metres from the Chinnor line.
This time Chinnor lock Jamie Campbell won the lineout and Chinnor were able to clear. Ampthill won their lineout and spread the ball wide. Kildunne kicked ahead but Carter made the catch and called for the mark.
Carter found touch for a lineout around 30 metres from the Chinnor line. Ampthill secured their ball but could only chip into touch 10 metres from the Chinnor line. A smart throw to the front of the lineout enabled Chinnor to clear their lines but Sodeke again won lineout ball for The Mob. Marapalangi then did well to pick up at the base of the ruck to burst through a gap but was pinged for not releasing when tackled, and Chinnor were able to take play back up to the half-way line.
James Carr won the lineout for Chinnor and Carter kicked high but unfortunately for the home side the aerial challenge by wing Grant Hughes with Kildunne was deemed to be dangerous and Hughes was shown a yellow card. Kildunne clearly landed awkwardly but was able to continue.
Ampthill kicked their penalty into the Chinnor 22 from which they knocked on, and Chinnor won a penalty at the subsequent scrum. Chinnor won their lineout close to the halfway line, after which play became scrappy, with knock-ons from both sides, but the scrum went Chinnor’s way. Ampthill captain Rylands was injured during this period of play, and needed a HIA check, from which he was not to return.
Chinnor looked to attack from their scrum but they dropped the ball in midfield, which was hacked on by Strachan and Kildunne won the foot-race to score the first try of the game. The conversion from Grimoldby was superbly judged with the wind, so Ampthill led 7-0 after 16 minutes.
Chinnor won the restart, but Ampthill won turnover ball, but kicked straight out of play. Chinnor won their line out on the Ampthill 10 metre line, and ran, but although there appeared to be a deliberate knock on by an Ampthill defender, the referee only awarded a penalty with no further sanction.
Chinnor kicked to 10 metres from the Ampthill line and with their first visit into the visitors’ 22, their rolling maul rumbled over to score, with hooker Alun Walker getting the credit for the score. Nathan Chamberlain’s attempted conversion slide wide of the posts, meaning the score was now 5-7 after 20 minutes.
Ampthill soon launched an attack down the right-wing with a long pass to Hall, who opted to send a kick bouncing into touch 10 metres from the Chinnor line. Ampthill nearly stole the Chinnor throw, but the referee judged they had knocked the ball forward and awarded the scrum to Chinnor.
Chinnor Number 8 Gabriel Mann picked up at the base of the scrum and charged 20 yards forward and won a penalty when halted. A short throw from the subsequent lineout took play into the Ampthill 22, but the Mob were able to win turnover ball and Jones kicked high for Chinnor wing Kieran Goss to catch. Goss set-off down the touchline and passed inside to flanker Stokes but the move ended with a knock-on in the tackle and a scrum to Ampthill on their 22.
Ampthill’s clearing kick was poor, and Chinnor spread the ball wide after winning their line-out, and great hands in midfield sent Hughes diving over in the corner. However, the referee disallowed the try for a forward pass from Nick Smith to Hughes, which looking at the replay on the screen looked incredibly harsh. Chinnor though were awarded a penalty, although I can’t say why, which they kicked to 5 metres.
The Chinnor rolling maul rumbled over for a second try for Walker, but Chamberlain was again unable to add the extras. Nevertheless, Chinnor now led 10-7 with 30 minutes on the clock.
After Chinnor cleared the restart to touch, Hartley made a good break through the centre of the Chinnor defence, and although an obvious forward pass was not seen this time by the officials, Chinnor were able to defend and turnover possession, and when Carter sent the ball into orbit, Ampthill were offside at the rebound.
From the Chinnor scrum, Carter smartly fired a pass to hit an offside Ampthill forward to give Chinnor a penalty, which took them to the Ampthill 10 metre line. Although Carr won the lineout for Chinnor, Chamberlain’s kick ahead went out on the full.
Auvaa won the lineout for Ampthill but Chinnor quickly turned over possession and prop Robin Hardwick was stopped by a crunching tackle after receiving an inside pass, and Ampthill forced a penalty.
Ampthill kicked to inside the Chinnor 22, and then won a penalty at the lineout, which they kicked to around 10 metres from the Chinnor line. After winning their lineout, Jones’ attempted grubber kick hit a Chinnor defender but Ampthill were able to re-gather, but then lost control of the ball. Chinnor’s Main reacted the quickest to touchdown in the in-goal area, but Chinnor were awarded a scrum for a knock-on.
Chinnor secured scrum possession, and kicked off to end the first half, with a 10-7 lead.
A few spots of rain started to fall during the interval, and with the elements now in their favour, Chinnor would have fancied their chances to go on to win the game.
Ampthill returned the Chinnor restart with a high kick, which Goss claimed and then released Stokes to break deep into Ampthill territory, but his inside pass intended for Carter was intercepted to prevent an almost certain score. Ampthill’s attempted clearing kick was charged down for an Ampthill lineout 5 metres from their own line.
Ampthill tried to run from their lineout from close to their tryline but were unable to break-out from their 22, forcing Jones to kick for touch.
Campbell won the lineout for Chinnor and the rolling maul rumbled forward but a loose pass in midfield needed to be regathered before eventually a knock-on was forced.
The rain was now getting heavy as Chinnor were awarded a free-kick at the Ampthill scrum. Carter sent the ball into the heavens but Ampthill full-back Barton took an impressive catch and won a penalty.
A good run from Kildunne took Ampthill up to the half-way line, where Chinnor knocked on for a scrum to The Mob. Ampthill won a scrum penalty which they also sent into the stratosphere only for Mann to make a good catch and then passed to Hughes, who sent a fabulous kick from inside his 22 deep into the Ampthill 22.
Ampthill were able to clear but only as far as to Mann, now on the half-way line, but Chinnor knocked-on to give Ampthill a scrum just outside their 22.
After Ampthill kicked into the Chinnor half, Chamberlain kicked with the wind to send the ball deep into the Ampthill 22 but good hands from Hall, Hartley and Kildunne enabled Ampthill to return play to the halfway line where Ampthill were awarded a scrum.
Barton delivered a low kick from the scrum, from which the Chinnor clearing kick was charged down leading to a scramble to touchdown, which Chinnor won for a drop-out under their post.
Ampthill were now pressing, and another Chinnor clearing kick, this time from Chamberlain, was charged down, and when Ampthill gathered, they looked to spread wide to the left wing. Hughes attempted to claim a long, floated pass but was unable to hold onto it and knocked on. The referee consulted with his assistant, and eventually determined that a second yellow card, and hence a red card should be shown to Hughes, but the offence was not worthy of a penalty try.
Chinnor had to play the final 20 minutes of the match with a man down and Ampthill had a 5 metre line-out. However, in perhaps the most decisive play of the match, Ampthill’s rolling maul was held-up by some great defence, and Chinnor were awarded a penalty. Some handbags followed, but after Chinnor cleared their lines, Ampthill were never to threaten the Chinnor tryline again.
Campbell predictably won the Chinnor line-out and Chinnor kicked deep into Ampthill 22 where Kildunne made the catch. Both sides engaged in some kick tennis as the rain got heavier, and after Hall made a catch and attempted an offload, Sodeke knocked on, and Chinnor were awarded a penalty.
Campbell again won lineout ball for the home side and Chinnor’s rolling maul headed for the Ampthill line before being stop. After several drives were repelled, the ball was released to their backs and Smith’s perfectly timed pass enabled substitute Frederick Owsley to dive over in the corner. With regular place kicker Chamberlain now off the field, Smith stepped up to send a fabulous touchline kick through the uprights. Chinnor now lead 17-7 with 67 minutes on the clock, and Ampthill now needed two scores.
The rain continued to get heavier and it was announced that spectators could go to the covered stand without the £5 charge ! Ampthill dropped the ball in midfield and Nick Smith fly-hacked forward, but the touch was heavy and the ball went dead for a 25 metre drop out for Ampthill.
Carter sent another high ball into the Ampthill 22 where it appeared that Owsley had knocked forward, but play continued and Ampthill’s clearing kick lacked distance. Campbell again ruled at the line-out but several Chinnor drives were defended. Chinnor won another scrum and a line-out but after much arm wrestling on the Ampthill line, Chinnor lost possession and Ampthill were able to clear their lines and deny a four try bonus point for the home side.
Ampthill were still struggling to make any progress but were able to clear to half-way, where they won a penalty after a line-out. With the referee indicating that time was just about up, Ampthill opted to go for the posts to grab a losing bonus point, and Hall stepped up to send an impressive kick from the half-way line into the breeze straight through the uprights. The referee immediately blew the final whistle to leave the final score as a 17-10 victory for Chinnor.
Despite today’s win, Chinnor dropped one place in the Champ table as Coventry achieved a 5 point win at Richmond, and Ampthill’s last gap losing bonus point kept them one point ahead of Chinnor.
Highlights : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psnoggeWmOI
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