Blues have to make a late change due to illness, big thanks to Jonny Lees for turning out and playing
Unfortunately Blues & Stags are still suffering from injuries and unavailability

Chichester kick off and within 2 mins have managed to break through Blues defence to score the opening try and convert, 0-7

Blues restart and get a lineout when Chichester’s kick drifts straight out, lineout won Blues run the ball but a knock on gives Chichester a scrum, from the scrum Chichester kick, Blues gather and kick which is traight into touch back for a Chichester lineout, Blues get a scrum at the lineout and send a kick deep into Chichester’s half, Chichester return the kick, Blues run the ball before a good kick rolls into touch on Chichester’s 22, again Blues get a scrum at the line out, from the scrum Blues attack getting a penalty which Dan Thorne kicks, 9mins 3-7

Chichester restart Blues gather and kick clear to touch, lineout won Chichester run at Blues before sending a kick into the try area, they win the race to touch down and add the conversion, 11mins 3-14

Blues kick off, Chichester gather and clear to touch just in Blues half, lineout won Blues run the ball a knock on gives Chichester a scrum on half way, from the scrum Chichester attack and soon have another scrum, again they attack getting a penalty which they tap and go but a knock on halts their progress.
Blues win their scrum and take play up to Chichester’s 22, Blues lose possession allowing Chichester to kick clear to touch just in Blues half, lineout won Blues have a go at running the ball before kicking deep, Chichester gather and run at Blues getting a penalty, the kick stays in field allowing Blues to return the kick, Chichester attack taking play up to Blues 22 getting a penalty which after playing the advantage they kick to touch, lineout won their forwards pick and drive but good Blues defence wins a penalty which is kicked to touch, from the lineout Blues forwards maul before kicking into Chichester’s half, Chichester return the kick, Blues kick drifts straight into touch so back for a Chichester lineout, Blues manage to steal the lineout and clear to touch, Chichester win their lineout and attack breaking through Blues defence to score and convert, 30 mins 3-21

Jonny Lees on Charlie Lewis off

Blues restart, Chichester gather and return the kick, Blues run the ball making good ground before losing possession, Chichester run at Blues and some quick hands mean they are over to score their 4th try 33mins 3-26

Blues restart Chichester return the kick, Blues run the ball taking play up to Chichester’s 22 before a knock on gives Chichester a scrum, Chichester attack from their scrum and after several phases are into Blues 22 and get a scrum, Blues a yellow, again they attack but Blues defence holds out and wins a penalty which is kicked to touch and the half time whistle is soon blown

Blues have a mountain to climb in the second half

Blues kick off the 2nd half and soon have a penalty which they tap and go and soon have another penalty and Chichester a yellow, Blues kick to touch win their lineout and have soon released their winger Jacob Checksfield who runs in to score, the long conversion is just short 42mins 8-26

Chichester restart Blues return the kick several kicks later Chichester run the ball but cough up possession, Blues run but concede a penalty at the tackle, Chichester kick to touch

Sam Bramhall on George Robinson-Slater off 46 mins

Blues get a scrum at the lineout on half way, from the scrum Blues attack and get a penalty for a late tackle, Blues kick to touch, Blues lose possession at the lineout allowing Chichester to kick to touch, lineout won Blues forwards pick and drive before the ball reaches Jonny Lees who bursts through the tacklers to score close to the posts, Dan Thorne kicks the conversion, 15-26 53 mins

Chichester kick off and the ball rolls into touch , Lineout won Blues attack taking play into Chichester’s 22, Blues keep up the pressure and get a penalty, Duncan Craigen takes quickly and is over to score, Dan Thorne kicks the conversion 22-26 57 mins, Blues are now playing their best rugby for several games

Chichester restart, Blues run the ball before kicking to touch, Chichester win the lineout and get a strange penalty, Blues a harsh yellow for retaliating. Chichester’s kick doesn’t find touch allowing Blues to kick clear, Chichester run but are tackled into touch, lineout won Blues kick rolls into touch, Blues steal the lineout and attack, injury time out. Blues restart with a scrum in own half win and run getting into Chichester’s half and tackled into touch, again an injury time out. Blues steal the lineout and attack then put in a kick, Chichester’s kick is straight out, Blues win their lineout deep in Chichester territory and maul, Chichester manage to hold them and get a scrum, they win their scrum and kick to touch

Sam Bramhall off George Robinson-Slater on 70 mins

Blues attack from the lineout then try for a crossfield kick, play is back for Blues penalty which is kicked to touch in Chichester’s 22, lineout won Blues maul and put pressure on Chichester’s defence Blues get a penalty when Chichester come in at the side and stop a try, Chichester get a yellow. Blues kick to touch and again put pressure on Chichester’s defence and think they have scored but the ref gives a penalty to Chichester which is cleared to touch. Blues get a scrum which has to be uncontested as Chichester have no fit front row replacements. For the remaining minutes Blues are camped in Chichester’s half but are unable to get the winning score

A classic game of two halves Blues just unable to overturn the first half deficit

MOM Seb Burgess

Thanks to the ref

Good luck to Chichester for the rest of the season hope we both survive and play next season

Newbury Blues Squad

Ben Hicks, Harry Waye-Branch (VC), George Robinson-Slater, Ben Davies, Duncan Craigen,
Seb Burgess, Charlie Lewis, Oli Keyse.
Tom Hunt, Dan Thorne (C), Jacob Checksfield, Will Osborne, Ali Magee, Christian Collett,
Toby Thorne (VC), Sam Bramhall, Jonny Lees, George Shakespeare.

Next Fixtures are Sat 13th Jan
Blues Away @ Guildford KO 2pm
Stags Home v Reading Abbey KO 2pm

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