Blues misfire in the 1st half and end up 36 points behind to Farnham who dominate scoring 5 first half tries and earning the try bonus point by half time

Kris Ford gets his 50th Blues cap
Luke Boyt makes his Blues debut

Wimborne kick off and have the ball for most of the first 5 mins eventually spreading the ball wide left to cut through the Blues defence and score 0-5 5 mins

Blues restart Farnham attack and after several phases are in Blues 22, they keep the attack alive and are soon over to score their second try plus the conversion 0-12 8mins

Duncan Craigen has toe leave the field with a leg injury, Ed Wrench on and a reshuffle in the pack

Blues kick off and manage to get their hands on the ball but a knock on gives Farnham a scrum, Blues pack shove Farnham backwards but are penalised, Farnham kick to touch in Blues 22 win their lineout and get up to the try line but resolute Blues defence holds them up, Blues take the goal line kick which bounces into touch, Farnham win their lineout and attack getting a penalty and Blues a yellow card, Farnham take the 3 points 0-15 17 mins

Blues kick off and get their hands to the ball but the ref deems a knock-on giving Farnham a scrum, Farnham attack but a knock on halts their progress, Blues win their scrum and attack up the short side getting tackled into touch, Farnham win their lineout and attack taking play into Blues 22 before a knock on gives Blues a defensive scrum, Blues hold their scrum and clear to touch on half way.
Farnham get a penalty at the lineout the kick finds touch in Blues 22, Farnham win their lineout but lose possession allowing Blues to kick clear, Farnham attack a dropped ball is deemed backwards allowing the attack to continue, Farnham keep the ball live and after several phases have made the breakthrough to score their 3rd try plus the conversion, 0-22 27 mins

Blues restart, Farnham run at Blues a knock on gives Blues a scrum deep in their own half, scrum won Blues soon have a penalty which is kicked to touch, lineout won Blues take play into Farnham’s half getting another penalty, Blues tap and go making ground before a neat kick is chased by Blues, Farnham just win the race and touch down in the try area, Farnham kick off from their goal line Blues run the ball getting a penalty which is kicked to touch on Farnham’s 22, Farnham steal the lineout but a knock on halts their progress, from the scrum Blues attack Ali Magee getting over but the ref deems a forward pass so back for a Farnham scrum, Farnham attack from their scrum taking play into Blues half, Blues get a penalty which is kicked to touch, Farnham again manage to steal the lineout and after several phases of attacking play manage to break the Blues defence to score and convert 0-29 38 mins

Blues restart and get hold of the ball but have soon lost possession, Farnham kick deep, Blues gather and run but concede a penalty which Farnham kick to touch, lineout won in Blues 22 Farnham’s forwards maul before they break away to score under the posts plus the conversion 0-36 Half Time

A first half Blues will need to forget plenty for all to chat over at half time

Kris Ford on Will Osbourne off

Blues kick off the second half with a mountain to climb to get anything out of this match, Blues manage to get hold of the ball and spread the ball wide, Kris Ford bursts through several tackles to get over wide left, the long conversion hits the post 5-36 42 mins

Farnham restart Blues gather and run back at Farnham getting a penalty which is kicked to touch, lineout won Blues spread the ball wide sadly the final pass rolls into touch, lineout won Farnham attack, Blues manage to steal the ball but soon get tackled into touch, Farnham attack from their lineout taking play up to Blues 22 before a knock on halts their progress, Blues win their scrum and a good kick and chase results in a Blues penalty at the tackle, Blues kick to touch deep in Farnham’s 22, lineout won Blues forwards maul getting over the line but are held up.
Farnham take the goal line drop out, Blues gather and mount another attack getting a penalty which is kicked to touch, lineout won Blues forwards again maul before swopping to the pick and drive getting close to the line before conceding a penalty allowing Farnham to clear to touch, lineout won Farnham soon lose possession but get a penalty which is kicked to touch, lineout won Farnham spread the ball wide but lose the ball at the tackle and give Blues a penalty.

Jonny Lees off Tom Hunt on 56 mins

Blues kick their penalty to touch win the lineout and set off on another attack, Blues play the advantage from a high tackle spreading the ball wide right Dan Thorne to Jamie Futcher who is gone down the touchline 30m to score, Dan Thorne converts 12-36 59 mins
Farnham get a yellow card

Farnham kick off Blues gather and run but lose the ball allowing Farnham to attack but a knock on allows Blues to clear to touch, Farnham attack from their lineout taking play through several phase’s eventually breaking through to score wide left 12-41 65 mins

Ed Wrench off Will Osbourne on, and a patched-up pack

Blues kick off Farnham attack taking play up to Blues 22 before knocking on, Blues hold their scrum and try running run out of defence but have soon conceded a penalty at the tackle, Farnham elect to kick at the posts 12-44 68 mins

Blues kick off, Farnham run back at Blues taking play up to Blues 22 and across the pitch before putting in a neat kick, Blues win the race and touch down in the try area, Blues take the goal line kick Farnham take and run back at Blues, Farnham lose the ball and Blues are quick to attack spreading the ball through hands allowing Jamie Futcher to run down the grand stand touch line from halfway to score in Blues corner, the long conversion is just wide 17-44 73 mins. Blues need 1 more try to get the try bonus point.

Farnham kick off and get a penalty + 10m which they kick through the posts 17-47 74 mins

Blues restart and nearly get the ball but instead a knock on Farnham win their scrum and run the ball before a chip kick over the defence is gathered by them getting into Blues 22 before a knock on halts their progress, Farnham get a penalty scrum at Blues scrum and attack Blues manage to steal the ball and get a penalty which is kicked to touch on half way, lineout won Blues soon have another penalty, the kick doesn’t find touch allowing Farnham to clear to touch. Blues attack from their lineout making good ground, play is brought back for a penalty which is kicked to touch, Blues hold their lineout and mount another attack, after several phases Blues are close to the try line, eventually Josh Winfield crashes over to score close to the posts, Dan Thornes drop kick conversion brings the final whistle 24-47, Blues get the try bonus point

A classic game of two halves, Farnham dominate the first half which wins them the game, Blues have the better of the second half

Well done to both squads for producing an entertaining game

All the best to Farnham for the rest of the season, looking forward to the return in December

Newbury Blues Squad
Ben Hicks, Harry Waye-Branch (VC), George Robinson-Slater, Duncan Craigen (VC), Luke Boyt,
Jonny Lees, Dylan Stewart, Josh Winfield (VC), Toby Thorne, Dan Thorne (C), Ali Magee, Will Osborne, Oli Rhoads, Jamie Futcher (VC), Michael Klichowicz, Ed Wrench, Tom Hunt, Kris Ford.

Blues next Fixture is Sat 23rd Sept Away v Chichester RFC 3pm KO
Stags Home to Hungerford 3pm KO

Big thanks to the faithful Blues supporters your support is invaluable

Big thanks to our match day photographers Ian Jack whose photos are on Pitchero and 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