Winchester kick off on a damp afternoon on a wet pitch, Blues clear to touch still in their own half from the lineout Winchester put pressure on Blues defence and earn a penalty which is kicked just wide, Blues take the 22 drop out, Winchester kick into Blues 22 which Blues gather and clear to touch just outside their 22.
Lineout won Winchester’s forwards maul but concede a penalty Blues kick to touch win their lineout and attack, Winchester get a penalty scrum win and attack across the pitch and back taking play into Blues 22, getting a penalty which is kicked to touch, lineout won Winchester soon have another pen, again its kicked to touch, Winchester put pressure on Blues defence which manages to hold out and get hold of the ball which is cleared to touch

Oli Rhoads with a finger injury off Harry Stevens on 11 mins

Winchester win their lineout but a knock on halts their progress giving Blues a scrum, Blues get a penalty which finds touch close to half way, Winchester knock on at the lineout giving Blues a scrum, Blues hold their scrum under pressure and attack before putting a kick into Winchester’s 22, both sides try the kicking game before Blues kick a loose ball deep into Winchester’s 22 and chase, Winchester just get there first and get a penalty at the tackle which is cleared to touch, lineout won they try running the ball before a neat kick rolls into touch
Blues win their lineout and kick into Winchester’s half, Winchester attack taking play deep into Blues 22 and across the pitch and back before their 10 breaks through the defensive line to score their 15 kicks the conversion Winchester have the rewards for all their pressure, 7-0 20 mins

Blues restart , Winchester return the kick which is touched into touch by Blues, lineout won Winchester attack but concede a penalty at the tackle, Blues kick to touch just in Winchesters half win the lineout and run at Winchester’s defence, Blues cough up possession allowing Winchester to kick into touch, lineout won Blues try running at Winchester but concede a penalty which Winchester kick to touch deep in Blues 22, Winchesters forwards maul from the lineout to score the conversion is wide 12-0 26 mins

Blues restart kick is knocked on by Winchester, Blues win their scrum and attack a knock on and injury for Blues halts play

George Robinson-Slater off Will Butler on for his debut 28 mins

Winchester win their scrum and run before kicking, Blues return the kick, Winchesters kick to touch still in own half, Winchester steal the lineout and kick to touch from own 22 ito touch on half way, lineout won Blues run before kicking deep, Winchester return the kick, Blues again run the ball before kicking Winchester touch down and take the drop out kick.
Blues gather and attack before kicking which is touched by Winchester giving Blues the lineout in Winchesters 22, Winchester again steal the lineout and clear to touch on half way, Blues win their lineout and put up a high kick, both sides decide on kicking before a Blues kick is straight out giving Winchester an attacking lineout, Winchester attack from their lineout taking play across the pitch and back before a neat chip kick and chase is just touched down by Blues, the goal line kick is taken Winchester gather and put pressure on Blues defence winning a penalty which is kicked to touch, lineout won Winchesters forwards again maul to get their third try the conversion is wide 17-0 38 mins

Blues restart Winchester return the kick, several kicks later Winchester run at Blues making good ground and win a penalty and Blues a yellow, Winchester kick to touch win their lineout and again their forwards maul but are held up over the try line, half time whistle is blown

Blues kick off the second half Winchester gather and run before putting in a cross-field kick which rolls into touch, Blues get a scrum at the lineout when Winchester knock on, Winchesters forwards make amends getting a penalty at the scrum which is kicked to touch, lineout won Winchester attack getting into Blues 22 before a knock on gives Blues a defensive scrum. Winchesters pack is dominant and they steal the scrum and attack, a foot in touch just short of the try line gives Blues a lineout,

Ashley Doel off Alex Du Sautoy on 45 mins

Winchester steal Blues lineout and attack taking play across the pitch to score and add the conversion 24-0 47 mins

Blues restart, both sides kick before Winchester knock on, Winchester again shove Blues back and win the scrum they then kick deep, Blues run the ball getting a penalty which is kicked to touch, lineout won Blues attack winning another penalty, Blues tap and go and soon have another penalty they again tap and go getting deep into Winchesters 22 before a knock on halts their progress and sadly the period of Blues pressure yields zero points.
Winchester win their scrum and a long kick roll’s into touch just outside Blues 22, lineout won Blues kick, Winchester return the kick so do Blues, Winchester run but a great Dan Thorne interception sets him off up the pitch, Blues support is slow allowing Winchester to steal at the tackle and kick clear, again both sides kick, Blues get a penalty at the tackle and tap and go quickly getting a penalty for Winchester not being 10 and Winchester a yellow card.
Blues tap and run and soon have a pen scrum and Winchester a 2nd yellow card, Winchester steal the scrum and kick clear, Blues attack taking play back into Winchester’s territory getting another penalty again Blues take quick and spread the ball across the pitch only to be tackled into touch.
Winchester’s throw is not straight giving Blues a scrum, Winchester’s pack shove Blues back and win the ball their clearing kick is straight out so back for a Blues lineout, Blues set piece is not working and Winchester win Blues lineout and run the ball taking play into Blues half and up to the 22 before knocking on. Winchester easily win Blues scrum and attack getting a penalty at the tackle in front of the posts which is kicked 27-0 68 mins

Blues restart Winchester return the kick, Blues run getting back into Winchester’s half before conceding a penalty, Winchester kick to touch win their lineout and attack, Blues manage to steal the ball getting into Winchester’s half and getting a penalty Blues tap and go making ground before a pass rolls into touch. Winchester win their lineout but cough up possession allowing Blues to attack and get a penalty, Blues tap and go but soon lose possession allowing Winchester to run out of defence and get a penalty which is kicked to touch in Blues half. Lineout won Winchester attack, Blues manage to steal at the tackle and run at Winchester who get a penalty scrum.

Ashley Doel on Luke Boyt off 75 mins

Scrum won Winchester attack before sending a neat kick rolling into touch in Blues 22, Blues lineout is not functioning today meaning Winchester get the ball and attack getting over the try line but are held up, Blues take the goal line drop out, Winchester get a penalty at the tackle which is kicked to touch, lineout won Winchester attack but again are held out, Blues kick clear, Winchester run the ball back before kicking Blues gather and run out of defence but cough up the ball allowing Winchester to put pressure on Blues defence, Blues knock on in the tackle. Winchester win their scrum and run at Blues getting a penalty which is kicked to touch, lineout won Winchester take play across the pitch and back to eventually get over to score and convert 34-0 full time

A torrid day for Blues with no points for all their effort, one of those days when very little went right for them, on to next week
Well done to Winchester who deserved their win, looking forwards to the return at Newbury
Thanks to the ref who marshalled the game well in wet conditions

MOM Dan Thorne, awarded by Winchester
MOM Jamie Futcher, awarded by Blues

Newbury Blues Squad

Ben Hicks, Harry Waye-Branch (VC), George Robinson Slater (VC), Ashley Doel, Ben Davies,
Harry Bedford, Dylan Stewart, Luke Boyt, Euan Lindsay, Dan Thorne (C), Jamie Futcher (VC),
Will Osborne, Oli Rhoads, Robin Swann, Toby Thorne, Will Butler, Alex Du Sautoy, Harry Stevens.

Blues next Fixture is Sat Nov 11th home v Tottonians, 3pm KO
Stags away v Tadley 2-30 ?? KO

Big thanks to the faithful Blues supporters your support is invaluable

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
And Ian Jack whose photos are on the pitchero website

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/simply-brilliant-blues-victorious/