Following the success of the Red Roses being crowned World Champions, Newbury are showcasing their strength in depth as both the Women’s teams dug deep and provided convincing wins at their home ground of Monks Lane.

Saturday 4th October 2025 - Newbury Women 1st XV vs Cheltenham 2nd XV

Saturday saw the 1st XV play their first home game season of the league and despite gale force winds blowing end to end, the Blues showed control and composure from the off.
The initial kick off by Newbury, assisted by the wind, saw Cheltenham fumble the ball and to a misplaced attempt to hack the ball away to safety backfired as a return kick from the Blues followed by a tenacious charging run from Georgia Smith saw the Blues score in the first phase of play.

As the game continued, Cheltenham attempted to gain ground but when turn over came, Newbury tactically placed the ball into the back field forcing errors from the visiting team.

A combination of defensive pressure and high winds forced multiple knock-ons from both teams throughout the game. For Newbury though, this gave them the opportunity to showcase their scrummaging and walk Cheltenham back metres at a time. Ball control from number 8 Emma Robinson with ball at her feet, combined with her direct and strong lines gave her opposition’s player of the match, describing her as a threat.

It was an opportune section of play where Cheltenham found themselves in Newbury’s 22. With a penalty given to the opposition and a quick tap and go taken, the forward charge of ball carriers were too much for the Blues defence that close to the line and Cheltenham carried over the line to bring the score equal. A Cheltenham conversion brought them just ahead of the home team, 7-5.

Fast tries from the kick-off were on the menu once again for the Blues as once again a score by winger Ellen Thornton came from centre, Emily Phillips-Strudwick, catching the restart, gaining momentum and metres through the centre of the park. Identifying the space, she shipped the ball to a patient Thornton who busted around the remaining defence and carried the ball over the line.

Once again from the kick-off, Newbury chased down a lengthy kick from Phillips-Strudwick to apply defensive pressure to Cheltenham. Being rewarded for this tight work, it was Catherine Owen who forced the turnover giving blues back possession.

A well-connected section of play from the home team brought the forwards carrying tight around the ruck gaining metres towards the try line. It was at this point that scrum half Chloe Darby demanded ball and released the back line where Ellen Thornton cut through on a hard line and scored once again, under the posts.

Between Newbury’s fast paced tries, Cheltenham remained adamant to challenge Newbury with hard hitting carries into the Blue wall defence but they were shutdown time and time again by Newbury.

Cheltenham were left to look for space out wide and attempted a chip over to the winger to utilise a narrowing Newbury defence. An unfortunate knock on in the weather conditions by the ball gathering winger gave Newbury possession at the scrum in the red zone.

Despite such strength within the scrum, Darby identified the space on the wing and moved play away from Cheltenham’s heavy forward defence. The try did come but it was not until the ball returned back in the direction of the scrum with second row Lucy Mercer driving through the front row of Cheltenham to force the ball down and up the score for Newbury.

Cheltenham continued to provide a challenge and have significant possession, trying to control Newbury in all areas of the pitch and were successful in gaining a penalty before the Blues broke the defence once again.

A choice to kick to touch with the wind behind them would have put Cheltenham safely up the pitch if it was not for Georgia Smith who carefully received the catch and kept ball in play. Feeding the quickly reorganised back line, they marched towards the try line.
Being so close to the try line it was from phases of forwards carrying ball in towards the Cheltenham defence that continued the Newbury momentum. April Harding, forward of the match was the final carry of the set that crashed through on an inside line to dive over the try line for her first try for Newbury.

The Blues continued to fire on all cylinders as further quick succession tries came from the pair of flankers, Tilly Burn and Becks Reeves. The first, being fired through a gap in the defence to dive over the line; and the second who broke through the defensive line at the half way mark and shrugged off four defenders to ground the ball successfully.

The tries did not let up for Newbury as the home crowd roared in support for them. The next being from a scrum on the halfway. Darby made light work of distributing ball out to Thornton who, from behind the halfway line, once again sped on past defenders and flew over the try line.

Despite the ever growing points against them, Cheltenham did not give up the fight and continued the pressure on Newbury. This pressure was finally rewarded as they repeatedly attacked into the Blues defensive line. Newbury remained camped on their try line for phase after phase desperate to regain possession or cause a mistake. It wasn’t to be as Cheltenham forced their way through the Blues defence to dot down for their second try bringing the score to 48-12.

The Blues showed they had the upper hand with their fitness towards the latter stages of the game, breaking Cheltenham’s defence and discipline. A try for Sadie Mansell came from a quick tap penalty taken by Meg Mason who quickly shipped wide through the hands of the back line finding an overlap for Mansell to burst into.

The game ended with a final attempt of the Blues to track up the pitch but time on the clock was out before another try could be added. Final score, 53-12.
 
Sunday 5th October 2025 - Newbury Women 2nd XV vs Didcot

Sunday was the turn of the 2nd XV to dominate the pitch and maintain their winning streak, but initial play was shaky leaving room for Didcot to get in early. Although it was Newbury who were in possession, heading towards the try line, a perfectly timed interception from Didcot paired with their pace allowed the first points of the game to go to the opposition.
Newbury reset and attempted to force Didcot backwards but with the benefit of the wind, Didcot used their lengthy kick to move them from the middle of the park to edge closer to the try line.

Despite winning the lineout, the Blues utilised an exit kick to get into a position of safety but the ball was gathered by the opposition winger who charged through a disorganised Newbury line and gained a penalty. A quick tap put Newbury on the back foot and having identified the space away from the ruck, Didcot shipped the ball and touched down for a quick second.

Having now switched on in the attack, Newbury marched forward with hard hitting ball carries from the likes of Sarah Coleman and Leah Bertram but stolen possession by Didcot put an end to the initial hope of the Blues crossing the line.

A kick from Didcot to escape the red zone was collected by Newbury’s winger Eliza Holloway giving Newbury possession and momentum as she darted through tacklers advancing forward.

A further collection of dominant ball carrying followed by a well distributed ball by fly half, Fanny Fouin, moved Newbury towards their try line for their first points.
The ball found the width with a timely pass from Anna Barr to Ellie Armstrong who fended off the attempted tackles by the remaining Didcot defence to score.

Newbury were now moving forward and with a strong scrum and Bertram carrying ball out the back at the 8 position, the Blues were back in control of the game and were ready to commence their charge to victory.

A strong dummy pass from Fouin down the centre of the pitch paired with a sharp line cut through the Didcot defence stopped just short of the posts but quick reactions ensured ball reached Armstrong on the outside once again to touch down for a second Newbury try.
The half continued to be fought out with scrums and line-outs going both ways and weather conditions worsening. Both teams made successful attempts to break the gain line and look to advance but were often brought back for a knock on or were disrupted by a steal of possession in the ruck.

The rhythm of play continued but the Blues were beginning to find greater spaces and utilising their quick hands and dangerous side steps another try was to be given for the Blue with Armstrong cutting across the line for her third try of the game.

The Blues did have the momentum but this quick succession of tries was something Didcot remained adamant to disrupt.

The away team continued to fight at every ruck and took advantage of a penalty against the Blues. The quick reactions of Didcot allowed them to force Newbury onto the back foot and the ball was shipped into the overlap Newbury had provided on the outside. The try was scored as a runaway from the halfway line as no defence could match her pace.

The Blues remained dominant and the scoreboard continued to tick over for them as it was once again Fouin who carried the ball across the line for the home team.

The final try was to come from Inas Sillence. Having successfully won the lineout at the beginning of the phase of play, Newbury skimmed the sideline and managed to cross the try line just before Dicot were able to force Sillence into touch.

Final score, 27-19

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