Rugby - Overseas boost for Ambleside (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Rugby - Overseas boost for Ambleside

4:05pm Monday 22nd September 2008 in Sport By Gazette Sports

THINGS are looking up at Ambleside RUFC, whose squad has an international flavour - with two South Africans Craig Martin (No. 8) and Louie Mackay (full back) and a Kiwi fly-half, Tyrone Rowntree.

Ambleside also have Steve Bragg back in the side after a three-year run at Windermere and promising 17-year-old local lad Josh Birch is in the second row.

Unfortunately Ambleside's scheduled opponents Millom cried off for Saturday's opening match.

So as not to disappoint supporters skipper Darren Todd fixed up a friendly with Hawcoat Park (formerly BAE) and the side got their campaign off to a winning start, scoring three tries to one.

Ambleside started well with prop Airey and Bragg causing problems on the fringes, while new fly-half Rowntree put centres Watson and Maschino through gaps.

Ambleside coach Neil Irwin had worked hard on keeping the ball alive, which was superbly demonstrated by vice-captain Harding, along with John Benson and Craig McMullen.

Although dominant for much of the first half, Ambleside failed to find their finishing touch and Todd gave up on looking for a try and asked Watson to kick for goal in front of the posts.

He slotted it wide but Ambleside's first points came five minutes later when the pack pressured Hawcoat's scrum on their own line and McMullan pounced to touch down.

College-based prop Nick Lee replaced Bragg at the break and kept up the good work.

With breaks from Mackay, wingers Mortimer and Crowley along with forwards Martin, Todd and Harding, Ambleside began to run the show.

Twenty minutes into the half Benson and Harding combined to get within inches of the tryline and scrum-half Alistair Johnston - man of the match - went over for the score.

Although changes disrupted Ambleside slightly, they added a third try when McMullen broke and Todd was on hand to recycle and pass to Johnston, who romped home from 40 metres.

Johnston tried to drop-kick the conversion but failed but was not made to regret it as Hawcoat only managed a breakaway try in the final minute to get on the scoresheet.