Second friendly second close result

The game was made up of 4 x 25 minute periods with both Squads changing players for each period

Newbury kicked off the first period and managed to regain possession and attack through the backs, a chip through gives Salisbury a defensive lineout but Newbury manage to steal and then win a scrum, from the scrum the Blues attack the Salisbury line but a spilt ball allows Salisbury to kick back into Newbury territory. Josh Bartlett gathers and runs back at Salisbury, Newbury manage to keep hold of the ball through several phases and win a penalty, which Richard West kicks safely to touch well in Salisbury territory. Salisbury steal the lineout but the kick is straight into touch giving the Blues a second chance at the lineout, this time the lineout is won and the forwards keep it tight with a series of pick and drives which ends when Newbury are penalised for holding on. Salisbury kick to touch and win the lineout running the ball into Newbury’s half but are stopped when Newbury win a penalty which Dan Thorne takes quickly and some good running play takes Newbury back into Salisbury’s half but a mistake means Salisbury get the ball and can get out of their half. A series of mistakes means possession is handed over by both teams before they are able to make much ground, Salisbury get the closest but a good tackle from Josh Bartlett halts their progress and forces a knock on. Newbury win the scrum and relieve the pressure with a kick into the Salisbury half, both teams try the kicking game but to no avail. The last minutes of the first period are largely spent in midfield with neither side managing to mount a serious attack before either a mistake or good defence halts progress. The first period comes to an end with the score locked at 0-0

Both teams make wholesale changes for the second period which Salisbury kick off, Newbury gather and kick to safety. Salisbury win the lineout and get back over halfway, winning two quick penalties which takes play into Newbury’s 22, lineout won Salisbury attack the Blues try line but good defence then a mistake by the Salisbury forwards means Newbury are able relieve the pressure. Salisbury regain possession and keep up the pressure on the Blues defence, but luckily a chip forward by Salisbury beats attackers and defence and rolls out giving the Blues a defensive scrum, the Salisbury forwards shove the Newbury pack backwards forcing the knock on. Newbury repay the compliment and push Salisbury back forcing them to knock on and give Blues the scrum, which they win but some wayward passing when trying to run out of defence gives Salisbury an attacking lineout and more pressure on the Newbury defence. Salisbury win the lineout and then a penalty which they take quickly and run at the Newbury try line, the Newbury defence holds firm and win a penalty which is slotted up field and into touch, Newbury win a second pen when Salisbury go offside enabling Newbury to kick into touch in Salisbury’s half. Lineout won the forwards make more ground and win a penalty scrum, Blues lose possession at the scrum but very quickly regain the ball which is fed through several pairs of hands allowing Matt Maher to cross the line and score the first try, conversion is just wide 5-0. Both sides have good attacking chances over the next 5 or 10 mins but again mistakes mean possession is lost and both defences are able to clear their lines and take play back to the safety of midfield. The second period comes to an end when Salisbury lose the ball on Newbury’s 22, Tommy Martin gathers the ball and dodges several tackles making his way into Salisbury’s 22 before drawing the final defender and passing to Steve Denner who strides over to score close to the posts, Dan Thorne’s conversion brings the end to the second period 12-0 to the Blues

Again both sides ring the changes for the start of the third period, Newbury kick off and manage to regain possession, the Newbury backs attack and make good ground before a chip kick through is just gathered by Salisbury and kicked hurriedly into touch. Newbury win the lineout and mount another attack on the Salisbury line but lose the ball, Salisbury’s 11 gathers the loose ball in his own 22 and sets off on a weaving run breaking through several weak Newbury tackles on his way to a great solo try scored under the posts 12-7. Salisbury gain confidence from this score and put Newbury under pressure, Newbury’s tackling is weak and Salisbury attack at every opportunity but luckily for the Blues mistakes stop their progress including a knock on as they cross the try line. From Newbury’s 22 drop out Salisbury attack and crash through too many weak Newbury tackles to score under the posts 12-14. Salisbury keep up the pressure and try making ground through the forwards, penalty won they keep up the pressure and win another penalty which doesn’t make touch allowing the Blues to get out of danger and a good run from Josh Winfield takes play well into the Salisbury half, Newbury manage to keep possession and get into Salisbury’s 22 but progress is halted when they knock on. Salisbury manage to win their scrum and kick into Newbury’s half which the Blues return kick into touch in Salisbury’s half, Salisbury win the lineout but knock on giving Newbury an attacking scrum. Newbury’s scrum is turned through 90 giving Salisbury a scrum and the chance to get out of defence, Newbury’s scrum holds firm and forces the mistake allowing Matt Maher to make good ground before the ball is lost and kicked to safety by the Salisbury fullback. Newbury keep up the pressure from the lineout but again a mistake hands the ball back to Salisbury who mount an attack and get into Newbury’s half before a knock on halts their progress. From the scrum Newbury give away a penalty allowing Salisbury to take a quick tap and again break through poor Newbury tackling to score under the posts 12-21 and the end of the third period.

Both teams make their changes for the final period which Salisbury kick off, Newbury gather and set off up field where they quickly win a penalty, which is slotted into touch lineout won Blues attack and win another penalty which is kicked safely into touch. From the lineout the forwards attack and drive over the Salisbury line but are held up, Newbury keep up the pressure through several phase but are unable to break through the Salisbury defence who eventually win a penalty and kick to touch relieving the pressure. Newbury steal the lineout and set off again winning a penalty for a high tackle, again the attack is held up just short of the try line and this time Salisbury’s defence win the scrum. Newbury’s pack up the pressure and win the Salisbury scrum, the forwards now have the upper hand and they march forward allowing Tom McNamara to crash through the defence to score, the conversion from wide out just sailing past the posts 17-21. Newbury now have the upper hand and spend the next few minutes camped in the Salisbury half but cannot break the Salisbury defence to add to their point’s total. Salisbury win a penalty and manage to briefly get out of their 22 but the Blues win a penalty at the lineout and tap and go forcing Salisbury backwards, a good run from Dan Thorne nearly breaks the defensive line but Salisbury manage to hold out and concede a lineout. Newbury win the lineout and get up to the Salisbury try line but are held out by great Salisbury defence, changing the attack Newbury try a cross field attack through their backs but a knock on gives Salisbury some respite.
Salisbury win the scrum and kick out of defence, Tommy Martin gathers and runs back into the Salisbury half, Newbury keep possession and after a couple of phases spill the ball forward giving Salisbury the scrum. Again the Salisbury defensive kick is returned by Newbury into Salisbury’s 22 and after a cross-field kick just rolls out, play is brought back for a Newbury penalty scrum just outside the 22. Time is up and it is now down to time added on by the ref, Salisbury steal the scrum but the kick is straight out allowing Newbury one more chance to score, Newbury lose the lineout but Salisbury cough up possession and the Newbury pack march forward through several phases before Tom McNamara crashes through the Salisbury defence well into injury time to score his second try, Dan Thorne slots the conversion to make the final score 24-21 and Newbury have snatched the victory with the final play of a well fought friendly game.

Well done to both squads for an entertaining evening of rugby. Good luck to Salisbury and hope you bounce back at the first attempt

After playing nearly 200 minutes of rugby in 5 days, the coaches now have the difficult task of selecting 22 players for the final pre-season friendly match away at Wells RFC on Saturday 30th August. This is the final opportunity for the players to shine before the league campaign begins on the 6th September against Maidenhead at Monks Lane.

SQUAD
Forwards
Graham STEWART, Jack CAUNT, Rob DRYSDALE, Chris ROWLAND,
George ROBINSON SLATER, Max ELLINSON, Nathan THOMAS,
Ben HICKS, Alex WEEKES, Aaron JOHNSTON, Chris HAWKINS,
Tom MCNAMARA, Josh WINFIELD, Jack WALSH, Eddie FAREBROTHER,
George ANDERSON, Henry MAKA, Paul HACKETT, Dylan STEWART,
Chris GLADWIN, James GORACY, Matt MAHER,

Backs
Joe BINFIELD, Richard WEST, Steve DENNER, Dan THORNE, Iain HERRIOT,
Edward David, Tom MARTIN, Joe BERRETT, Josh BARTLETT, Elisi VINAPOLA,
Jamie FUTCHER, David HARSENT, Alex PRICE-RICHARDS, Tom CATCHPOLE,
Connor SEGRE, Callum MALONE, Daine HAMMOND, Cole BATES