Blues have to make 7 changes from last weeks squad due to injury and unavailability, Leroy Pyke playing his first game this season coming back after injury, Blues playing some good rugby but are unable to turn the spells spent in Guildford’s 22 into points

Blues kick off down the slight slope on a cold overcast afternoon, Guildford gather and kick clear, Blues return the kick which is gathered by Guildford and they try running out of defence a knock on halts their progress, Blues get a free kick at the scrum and run the ball but lose possession, Guildford run at Blues making ground but concede a penalty, Blues kick just drifts too long so back for a Guildford scrum just in their own half, Guildford get a penalty at the scrum they take a quick tap and go taking play up to Blues 22 when their kick and chase rolls into touch, Blues get a free kick which is cleared to touch.
Guildford win their lineout but a knock on just in their own half gives Blues a scrum, Blues knock on at the base, Guildford win their scrum and run, an accidental knock on at the tackle gives Guildford another scrum on half way, Blues steal possession at the scrum and attack but an unfortunate knock on gives Guildford a scrum on their 40m line. Scrum won they kick Blues gather and run the ball taking play into Guildford’s half and win a scrum, Blues attack from the scrum getting into Guildford’s 22 where a knock on gives Guildford a defensive scrum, Guildford hold their scrum and kick clear Blues gather and run taking play back into Guildford’s half before conceding a penalty at the tackle, Guildford kick to touch on Blues 30m line, from the lineout they spread the ball through hands to break through Blues defence and score, adding the conversion, 7-0 14 mins

Blues kick off Guildford gather and soon put up a high kick, a good chase results in a knock on so Blues have a scrum 10m in Guildford’s territory, Blues run at Guildford but cough up possession, Guildford return the favour and knock on just in own half. Blues get a penalty at the scrum which is kicked to touch on Guildford’s 22, Blues attack from the lineout but a knock on gives Guildford a scrum this time they get a penalty which is kicked to touch just in Blues half.

Will Osborne off Oscar Worsfold on
Sam Bramhall off Alex Du Sautoy on 21mins

Blues get a scrum at Guildford’s lineout, Blues win their scrum and run before a neat grubber kick is put through, Blues manage to gather and keep possession and get a penalty which is kicked to touch in Guildford’s 22, lineout won Blues put pressure on Guildford but lose the ball allowing Guildford to kick clear on their 22, Blues win the ball and attack across the pitch a last gasp tackle takes them into touch, Guildford get a free kick which is cleared to touch. Lineout won Blues attack and soon have a penalty which is kicked to touch, Guildford steal the lineout and soon have a penalty which is kicked to touch just in own half. Lineout won Guildford spread play wide getting another penalty, the tap and go taking play up to Blues 22 and get another penalty which is kicked to touch on Blues 5m line, Guildford lose their lineout allowing Blues to kick clear to touch, Guildford take a quick throw in and run at Blues before putting in a kick, Blues gather and kick clear, both sides kick before Guildford get a penalty which is cleared to touch still in their own half, lineout won Guildford don’t get far before a knock on gives Blues a scrum just in Guildford’s half, Blues try running before putting in a grubber kick which Guildford manage to kick to touch on own 22.
Guildford steal the lineout and kick, Blues attack taking play back into Guildford’s 22, Blues take play through several phases in Guildford’s 22 but are unable to break through but win a penalty, Blues tap and go getting up to the try line and soon have a penalty scrum and Guildford a yellow, Blues shove Guildford back getting another penalty scrum, Blues win their scrum and decide to spread play wide but a knock on ends their attack, Guildford win their scrum and kick clear getting hold of the ball, Blues force the error and the half time whistle is blown

Guildford kick off the second half Blues gather and kick back into Guildford’s half they run and get a penalty on half way which is kicked to touch in Blues 22, lineout won their forwards maul then pick and drive getting over to score plus the conversion 14-0 44 mins

Blues restart Guildford run back at Blues but a knock on halts their progress, Blues win their scrum but soon concede a penalty which Guildford tap and go taking play to half way before a knock on gives Blues a scrum, Blues attack from the scrum and a neat kick and chase is regathered but this time Blues knock on. Guildford have a scrum in their 22 which they win and run the ball before kicking into Blues half, Blues run the ball taking play across the pitch and back, another knock on halts their progress, scrum won Guildford run at Blues and soon have a penalty which is kicked to touch on half way.
Lineout won Guildford attack breaking Blues tackles before losing the ball allowing Blues to run out of defence, injury time out, Blues restart with a scrum and soon put a kick into Guildford’s 22 which Guildford kick to touch, Guildford steal the lineout and put up a high kick and manage to get hold of the ball, Blues intercept the pass but play is back for a Blues penalty, Blues kick doesn’t find touch allowing Guildford to kick clear Blues knock into touch giving Guildford a lineout in Blues 22, lineout won Guildford attack but concede a penalty at the tackle which Blues kick to touch on own 22.
Guildford get a scrum at the lineout and mount another attack but are penalised for crossing, Blues pack is shoved back giving Guildford a penalty which is kicked to touch, lineout won Guildford attack taking play across the pitch, a knock on gives Blues a defensive scrum, again Guildford shove Blues back and get a penalty scrum which they win and take play wide a loose pass drifts into touch giving Blues a lineout. Blues win their lineout and the forwards pick and drive getting a penalty which is kicked to touch, lineout won Blues run the ball before kicking Guildford run back at Blues and get a penalty which is kicked to touch in Blues 22, lineout won Guildford’s forwards maul getting up to the line and after a few phases are awarded a penalty try and Blues a yellow card, 68 mins 21-0

Blues restart Guildford clear to touch just in their own half, lineout won Blues try running but get tackled into touch, Guildford win their lineout and kick into Blues 22, Blues gather and try running but a knock on gives Guildford an attacking scrum, Guildford attack from their scrum but lose the ball allowing Blues to kick clear, Guildford run at Blues a knock on halts their progress, Blues win their scrum and put up a high kick and manage to get their hands on the ball, Guildford manage to steal possession and run but a knock on results in Blues playing the advantage and making good ground before they cough up possession, Guildford run the ball but a knock on means they don’t get far. Blues win their scrum and run before putting a crossfield kick and gathering taking play into Guildford’s 22 and soon have a penalty, Blues quickly tap and go Ali Magee scoring, Dan Thorne converts, 21-7 75 mins

Guildford kick off, Blues gather and some good running rugby takes play back into Guildford’s 22 before conceding a penalty at the tackle, Guildford clear to touch

Charlie Lewis on Alex Du Sautoy off 76 mins

Guildford get a penalty at their lineout which is kicked to touch in Blues half, lineout won Guildford run the ball, Blues manage to steal the ball and take play back into Guildford’s half, Guildford get a penalty for crossing, Guildford kick to touch in Blues 22, Blues get a scrum at the lineout but are unable to get out of their half and the full time whistle is blown

Blues unlucky not to get anything out of this game, but played much better than previous weeks, onwards and upwards

MOM Dan Thorne

Blues now have a week off before the vitally important home game against Salisbury, a must win game

Newbury Blues Squad

Ben Hicks, Harry Waye-Branch (VC), George Robinson-Slater, Ben Davies, Duncan Craigen,
Leroy Pyke, Dylan Stewart, Alex Du Sautoy.
Tom Hunt, Dan Thorne (C), Robin Swann, Will Osborne, Ali Magee, Harry Stevens,
Toby Thorne (VC), Sam Bramhall, Charlie Lewis, Oscar Worsfold.

Next Fixtures are

Sat 20th Jan
Blues have a free weekend
Stags Home v Henley II KO 2pm

Sat 27th Jan
Blues Home v Salisbury KO 3pm
Stags Away v Beaconsfield II 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