Blues kicking wins the game

Newbury Blues 22 – 15 Salisbury

Papa Johns Cup, South Shield Quarter Final, Saturday 20th April 2024

Blues kicking wins the game
Dan Thorne kicking 17 points, 5 pens and 1 conversion wins the game for Blues and earns him MOM

Ben Hicks gets his 250th cap a fantastic achievement

Blues get the win in a close competitive game

Salisbury kick off and get the ball putting pressure straight on Blues defence, Blues get a penalty which they tap and go before putting a chip kick over the Salisbury defensive line, Salisbury gather and try a kick which is charged down by Blues and gathered taking play into Salisbury’s 22, a crossfield kick just bounces into touch giving Salisbury a defensive lineout, Salisbury win their lineout and kick clear to touch. Blues win their lineout and attack Oli Rhoads breaking through the Salisbury defence and making the 30mto score under the posts Dan Thorne converting 7-0 3mins

Salisbury restart, Blues gather and run but a knock on gives Salisbury a scrum, Salisbury win their scrum and run at Blues who knock on in the tackle, Salisbury again hold their scrum and attack, Blues defence earns a penalty at the tackle which is kicked to touch just in Salisbury territory, Blues just hold their lineout and take play across the pitch but again a knock on halts their progress. Salisbury win their scrum and try running before kicking, Blues gather and run then kick, Salisbury gather and kick. Time out for injuries

Ed Dyer off with a badly ripped ear Ben Kelly on
Salisbury 10 off after a big tackle deemed late

Salisbury restart with a penalty where the ball landed which is kicked to touch deep in Blues 22, lineout won Salisbury’s forwards maul, Blues manage to hold them and get the scrum, Blues win their scrum and clear to touch just in their own 22, lineout won Salisbury attack but cough up possession allowing Blues to kick clear, Salisbury gather and run the ball getting a penalty at the tackle which is kicked to touch giving Salisbury an attacking lineout, from the lineout Salisbury spread the ball across the pitch getting over to score wide out, the conversion is just wide, 7-5 17mins

Blues restart isn’t 10 so Salisbury’s scrum on half way, Salisbury attack but get tackled into touch, lineout won Blues kick into Salisbury territory, Salisbury gather and return the kick, Blues gather and run back at Salisbury but lose possession allowing Salisbury to kick deep in Blues 22, Blues run out of defence and get a penalty which is kicked to touch, lineout won Blues take play across the pitch but a forward pass halts their progress, Salisbury win their scrum in Blues half and attack, Blues get a penalty which they tap and go, Blues chip kick drifts straight out giving Salisbury a lineout on half way. Salisbury attack from their lineout getting into Blues 22 before a knock on gives Blues a defensive scrum, Blues hold their scrum and some good attacking running rugby takes Oli Rhoads into Salisbury’s 22, Blues keep the pressure on Salisbury’s defence and after several phases get a penalty which Dan Thorne slots between the posts, 32 mins 10-5

Salisbury restart and again get hold of the ball and attack but concede a penalty which Blues kick to touch, Salisbury steal the lineout and quickly spread the ball wide to get over and score wide left, the long conversion drifts wide, 10-10 38 mins

Blues restart Salisbury gather and clear to touch, both sides make mistakes in the last few minutes of the second half meaning possession changes sides and the half time whistle is blown, an equal first half ending 10-10

Blues kick off the second half and Oli Rhoads gets hold of the ball, Blues attack and get a penalty which Dan Thorne slots between the posts 13-10 41mins

Salisbury restart Blues gather and clear to touch, lineout won Salisbury attack but concede a penalty which Blues clear to touch on half way, Salisbury again steal Blues lineout and run at Blues a knock on halts their progress, Blues win their scrum on their own 40m line and take play into Salisbury’s half before they knock on. Scrum won Salisbury run the ball and get a penalty which is kicked to touch, Blues steal their lineout and run before kicking into Salisbury’s half. Salisbury gather and run at Blues who knock the ball on in the tackle giving Salisbury a scrum in Blues half, Salisbury attack from their scrum getting a penalty which is kicked to touch, lineout won Salisbury soon have another penalty which is kicked to touch on Blues 5m line, lineout won Salisbury’s forwards pick and drive getting over to score wide out, the long conversion is wide, 13-15 54 mins, Salisbury now in the lead for the first time

Blues restart, Salisbury gather and kick clear, Blues run the ball before kicking deep, Salisbury gather and clear to touch, Salisbury steal the lineout but knock on in the tackle, Salisbury manage to steal the reset scrum but soon concede a penalty, Blues tap and go getting another penalty, they again tap and go and force Salisbury to infringe and concede another penalty, Dan Thorne slots the kick 16-15 64 mins and Blues are narrowly back in front

Salisbury restart, Blues gather and run taking play across the pitch and back but get tackled into touch in Salisbury’s half, Salisbury win their lineout and get a penalty, a great kick sails into touch giving them an attacking lineout, Salisbury attack from their lineout but good Blues defence wins a penalty, Blues tap and go before kicking deep, Salisbury return the kick, Blues gather and put up a high kick, a good chase is rewarded with possession but they are soon tackled into touch still in their own half, Salisbury win their lineout and take play across the pitch and back but don’t go forward, a knock on gives Blues a scrum on their own 40m line, scrum won Blues kick deep into Salisbury’s half, Salisbury gather and run but a dropped ball gives Blues a scrum in Salisbury’s half, scrum won Blues attack but have soon conceded a penalty at the tackle, Salisbury kick to touch win their lineout and attack this time they concede a penalty which Blues kick to touch, Salisbury steal the lineout and run at Blues getting into Blues half before knocking on, Blues get a free kick at the scrum tap and go then put a neat chip kick over the Salisbury defenders and gather making good ground and get a penalty, Dan Thorne kicks the long penalty to edge Blues further in front 19-15 77 mins

Salisbury restart, Blues return the kick so do Salisbury, Blues gather run then kick, Salisbury gather and run Blues manage to intercept and attack and get a penalty, Dan Thorne again slots the kick between the posts
22-15 79 mins

Salisbury restart and mange to get hold of the ball, Blues manage to steal and spread the ball wide a kick drifts straight out bring the final whistle

Blues have managed to grind out the win, Salisbury scoring 3 try’s Blues 1 but the 100% kicking by captain Dan Thorne gives Blues the victory

MOM Dan Thorne

All the best to Salisbury for next season

Newbury Blues Squad

Ben Hicks, Rob Drysdale, George Robinson-Slater, Ed Dyer, Duncan Craigen, Ben Davies, Dylan Stewart, Harry Waye-Branch (VC).
Toby Thorne, Dan Thorne (C), Michael Klichowicz, Ali Magee, Oli Rhoads, Jamie Futcher, Tom Cole.
Sam Bramhall, Ben Kelly, Jack Ward, Euan Lindsay, Jacob Checksfield, Frank Southwold.

Next cup Fixtures is

Sat 4th May
Papa John’s Cup South Shield Semi Final
Blues Away at Teignmouth KO TBC
The team will be travelling by coach so if you want to travel on the team coach, please book your seat with NRFC reception 01635230023

Big thanks to the faithful Blues supporters

Big thanks to our match day photographer Peter Branch whose photos can be found on Facebook Newbury RFC Seniors Supporters Photography Page. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063526195463

Big thanks to all our Player Sponsors and our Club Sponsors, your support is much appreciated

Big thanks to Kennet Radio for their support, https://kennetradio.com