NATIONAL Two North leaders Ampthill left Mortimer Park with their eighth victory in nine outings this season.

But Luctonians' director of rugby Alex Davidson felt that the cash-rich Bedfordshire club were flattered by the margin of victory.

"A 19-14 scoreline with us getting a losing bonus point would probably have been fair," said the former Birmingham & Solihull lock.

"As in previous years against the likes of Sedgeley Park and Stourbridge here, we really raised our game against a top side.

"Ampthill rely quite heavily on their star players and Kevin Barratt, the ex-England Sevens player, at nine really makes things tick for them.

"Any team that can bring an ex-British Lion prop, in Darren Morris, and a Tongan international, in Vili Ma'asi, off the bench in the second half is going to do well at level four."

Luctonians made a promising start and had the better of territory in the opening exchanges but it was the visitors who bagged the opening try on 20 minutes with a turnover on halfway leading to a try for Tom Nutley which Joe Tarrant converted.

"Ampthill conceded penalties early on but they went unpunished and then they broke clear to score," said Davidson.

"They showed that they have plenty of speed on the break and the ability to take territory quickly.

"But a lot of their play came from individual brilliance rather than good team work."

An example of that came on 28 minutes when fly-half Tarrant broke through a number of tackles to go over for the second try.

And this was quickly followed by a third when Joe Sproston went over from close range.

"Our backs have shown time and time again this season that they know how to find the line and we had the consolation of scoring the try of the game when Jimmy Norris went over just before half-time," said Davidson.

Geraint Langdon landed the conversion to give a 19-7 scoreline at the turnaround.

"Ampthill made a strong start to the second half and for a while looked like league leaders," said Davidson. "But then it was all us to the half-way point."

Luctonians were, however, unable to make the crucial breakthrough and Ampthill's power off the bench ensured a late resurgence.

Ma'asi went over for the bonus point try and Joe Bercis rounded things off with the visitors' fifth score of the afternoon.

"That was our peak of performance so far this season," said Davidson.

"That display would have been good enough to win the games we lost narrowly earlier in the season and the good thing is that we are still improving week on week.

"November is a tough month for us and we are targeting Birmingham at home as a winnable game.

"We are looking to get eight or nine points out of the month.

"We've seen Broadstreet and Stockport now and I don't believe we will be dragged down to their level so we are looking at mid-table."

Davidson has generally been pleased with the performance of his young squad.

"Jimmy Norris' return has given us that energy out wide while Joe Doyle has done very well and has shown he's got a nose for the try -line.

"Anthony Marfell's return at the weekend helped with our improvement while Ben Williams and Will Burton at nine and 10 have seen us more settled than we have been at that axis in the past."