A much-changed Blues squad produce an all-round performance to get a great win over previously unbeaten London Irish Wild Geese
Blues have to make 9 changes from last week due to injury and unavailability

Euan Lindsay & Robin Swann make their Blues debuts
Graham Stewart, Toby Holland, Ed Gavin back after spells out

There is a 1-minute silence for the tragic murders of newlyweds David and Ceila Barlow in Uganda

Undefeated Irish kick off on a damp murky afternoon, Blues gather and clear to touch, Irish attack from their lineout, good Blues defence wins a penalty at the tackle which is kicked to touch on Irish’s 22, Blues win their lineout and soon have another penalty which is kicked to touch in Irish’s 22, lineout won Blues forwards maul and get a penalty, Blues play the advantage but play is back for the penalty which Dan Thorne slots between the uprights 3-0 4 mins

Irish restart and manage to get possession they attack putting pressure on Blues defence who manage to steal the ball but soon concede a penalty, Irish kick to touch, Blues get free kick at the lineout which is kicked to touch on half way, Irish win their lineout and attack but don’t get far before conceding a penalty for crossing. Blues concede a free kick at the scrum, Irish put up a high kick and get their hands on the ball and get a penalty which they kick to touch, lineout won Irish’s forwards maul before the ball is spread wide then back, good Blues defence keeps them out and wins a scrum then a penalty which is kicked to touch on Blues 35m line, lineout won Blues try running before kicking, the ball is touched by Irish giving Blues the lineout.
Irish steal the lineout and take play across the pitch conceding a penalty scrum, Irish steal the scrum and attack down the left-hand touchline getting through the Blues defence to score, the long conversion is wide, 3-5 15mins.

Blues kick off, Irish gather and try running before kicking clear to touch, lineout won Blues soon cough up possession, Irish kick back into Blues half, Blues run the ball taking play back to half way and get a penalty at the tackle which is kicked to touch, Irish steal the lineout and kick, Blues knock on giving Irish a scrum in Blues half, Irish attack from their scrum taking play into Blues 22, they take play across the pitch and through numerous phase before a knocking on, on the try line, Blues win their 5m defensive scrum and the forwards pick and drive getting a penalty which is kicked to touch on the 30m line.
Lineout won Blues run at Irish before kicking deep, Irish run at Blues getting up to half way and win a penalty scrum, Irish attack from the scrum but good Blues tackling forces a penalty which Blues kick to touch, lineout won Blues attack but lose the ball allowing Irish to kick clear, Blues run the ball before kicking Irish gather and send a kick rolling into touch just in Blues half, Irish again steal Blues lineout and attack taking play into Blues 22, Irish soon get a penalty which is kicked to touch, lineout won Irish take play across the pitch and back eventually breaking the Blues defence to score close to the posts, the conversion is kicked 31mins 3-12

Blues restart, Irish gather and return the kick, Blues gather and put up a high kick and chase which is rewarded when Irish knock on, Blues get a penalty at the scrum on half way which is kicked to touch, Blues throw is crooked giving Irish a scrum on own 22, Irish win their scrum and try running out of defence before putting in a long kick, Blues run out of defence Jamie Futcher making good ground before releasing Toby Thorne who is stopped just in Irish’s 22, Blues keep the ball moving Euan Lindsay out through hands to Luke Boyt who steps the defender to get over and score the conversion is just wide 8-12 37mins

Irish restart Blues gather and run at Irish getting up to half way, Blues keep the ball live and a pass from Toby Thorne releases winger Robin Swann who sprints down the left-hand touchline breaking through several Irish tackles to score a great solo try, the conversion is just wide 13-12 half time.
A hard fought equal first half with Blues just getting in front at the end of the half

Time for the coaches to do their jobs

Blues kick off the second half, Irish gather and try running out of defence but a knock on gives Blues a scrum on Irish’s 22, Irish’s pack steals the scrum allowing them to kick clear, they also manage to get hold of the loose ball in Blues 22 but have soon knocked on, Blues get penalised at the scrum, Irish tap and go getting up to the try line put resolute Blues defence holds them up earning a 5m scrum, this time Blues hold their scrum and try running out of defence getting a penalty at the tackle allowing Blues to kick to touch just short of half way. Lineout won Blues kick, Irish gather and try running but good Blues defence pushes them back, injury time out for Irish. Blues restart with a scrum and attack winning a penalty, Blues play the advantage and put in a kick but play is back for Blues penalty, Irish injury time out, Dan Thorne kicks through the posts 16-12 50 mins.

Irish restart and get hold of the ball, again Blues defence holds them out so Irish try the kick, Blues gather and run getting a penalty which is kicked to touch just in Irish’s half, lineout won Blues spread the ball wide, a knock on gives Irish a scrum just in Blues half, Irish get a penalty at the scrum, their kick doesn’t find touch allowing Blues to kick clear into touch on their 40m line.
Irish win their lineout but have soon lost the ball but get a penalty which is kicked to touch, Irish win their lineout and take play across the pitch getting another penalty which is kicked to touch in Blues 22, lineout won Irish’s forwards maul getting over the line to score, the conversion is wide 16-17 58mins

Blues restart, Irish kick clear to touch still in their own half, Blues attack from their lineout and soon have a penalty, Dan Thornes long attempt hits the uprights 61 mins

Irish take the 22 drop out, Blues run the ball conceding a penalty on half way, Irish kick to touch on Blues 40m line, Irish attack from their lineout taking play up to Blues 22 before conceding a penalty which Blues kick to touch in Irish territory, Blues win their lineout but soon lose the ball allowing Irish to run at Blues and get a penalty, Irish injury time out, Irish’s penalty doesn’t find touch allowing Blues to clear to touch still in their own half.
Lineout won Irish attack, Blues defence force the knock on giving them a scrum, Irish get a free kick at the scrum and elect for a scrum this time Blues get a free kick, Blues put up a high kick and chase, Irish gather under pressure and have soon knocked on.

Charlie Lewis off Ed Gavin on 70 mins

Blues win the reset scrum and attack getting a penalty at the tackle which is kicked to touch, lineout won Blues attack getting a penalty, Blues play the advantage but play comes back for the penalty which Dan Thorne slots between the posts 74 mins 19-17

Toby Holland off Jacob Checksfield on

Irish’s restart kick is not 10 giving Blues a scrum on half way, Blues hold their scrum and run at Irish getting a penalty and Irish a yellow, Blues kick to touch on Irish’s 22, lineout won Blues attack and get another penalty which is kicked to touch, Blues again put pressure on Irish’s defence but they hold firm and get a penalty which is kicked to touch still in own half. Irish’s throw isn’t straight giving Blues a scrum, Blues just hold their scrum but have soon knocked on giving Irish a scrum, Irish win the scrum and soon have a penalty which is kicked to touch, lineout is stolen by Blues and kicked to touch to bring the full-time whistle.

A good hard-fought game with both sides giving it their all, Blues just edging it and getting the narrow victory and handing Irish their first loss this season
Another special Saturday at Monks Lane

Thanks to the ref who kept control of this hotly contested game

MOM – Robin Swann

Newbury Blues Squad
Ed Wrench, Harry Waye-Branch (VC), George Robinson Slater (VC), Ashley Doel,
Ben Davies, Charlie Lewis, Dylan Stewart, Luke Boyt, Euan Lindsay, Dan Thorne (C),
Robin Swann, Will Osborne, Toby Holland, Jamie Futcher (VC), Toby Thorne,
Graham Stewart, Ed Gavin, Jacob Checksfield,

Blues next Fixture is Sat Nov 4th away @ Winchester
Stags home v Slough

Big thanks to the faithful Blues supporters your support is invaluable

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And Ian Jack whose photos are on the pitchero website

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