Bicester 42 Ampthill 31

Festive cheer for Bicester U13’s
A gritty effort against Ampthill gave the Bicester U13’s an early Christmas present thanks to good team work, determination and a few choice words from the coaches!! But, it was not all plain sailing to get the 42-31 result.
After a sluggish start, which saw the team caught on the hop with two early trys from their opponents, the boys clawed their way back into the game matching the try score, only to be punished by another Ampthill try on the verge of half-time.
The short and rather sharp half-time pep talk sent the team back onto the pitch with renewed vigour – the boys were certainly under no illusion that they had spent the first 25 minutes making life very hard for themselves!
Starting two points down in the second half, Bicester came out guns-a-blazing to score a try within minutes of the whistle blowing. Giving them the lead for the first time in the match, the dogged efforts were rewarded by yet another try and some great conversions. The forwards dug deep and really started to turn the screw especially from the set pieces. Their solid performance gave the backs something to work with and reward was yet again sweet with another try.
A brief bad spell ensued, due to poor discipline and a lapse in concentration from Bicester. This resulted in a penalty and a further try for Ampthill – a lesson learnt. As the game was coming to a close, both teams continued to battle to the bitter end, with Ampthill scoring a very late try. But, it was not enough to secure the win.
At the final whistle and to the delight of the crowds that had gathered to watch this tense game, Bicester stood victorious. Credit where credit is due, the forwards were very consistent winning every scrum and the backs pulled out of the bag some fantastic set pieces. The 42-31 win saw the team physically drained, but there is nothing like a bit of pain to win such a hard fought contest – Ampthill were worthy opponents.
It remains to say, a big thank you to all the team and of course the parents for the continued support and dedication. We have a good little team and here’s to more success in the New Year. Remember boys, have a good rest now, but come back in January ready to start working on overall fitness and your core rugby skills. Here’s to a truly committed team effort in 2009 and let’s continue your streak of winning rugby!
Merry Christmas to you all and a huge thank you for my chocs and bubbly.
Cheers John