NEWBURY BLUES 36 V 12 GOSPORT & FAREHAM

Last chance for the players to stake a claim to be picked for the first league game away at Trowbridge

Gosport kick off and keep possession when indecision by the Blues gives Gosport a penalty, which they kick to touch. Lineout won Gosport’s forwards maul towards the line before the ball is spread wide through their backs a forward pass halting their progress. Newbury win the scrum and kick up field to safety, Gosport win their lineout and maul up field winning a penalty which is kicked to touch in Newbury’s 22. Newbury steal the lineout and a good clearing kick by Ryan Trevaskis relives the pressure, Gosport win the lineout but cannot make any progress, eventually the Newbury defence force the error and the Blues have a penalty scrum on halfway. Scrum won the Blues run the ball but a mistake means Gosport gain possession and kick and chase the ball rolling in to touch, lineout won the Blues attack through the forwards then the backs getting into Gosport’s half, after several phases of play spent in Gosport’s 22 Blues make the break through allowing Josh Winfield to brush off the tackle to score Ryan Trevaskis converting 7-0, 10 min’s

From Gosport’s restart Newbury attack and a good Josh Winfield run takes play back into Gosport territory before a mistake gives Gosport the ball, Gosport try to run the ball but good Blues defence forces them to kick, the ball is gathered by Newbury and a good run by Josh Love takes play into Gosport’s half, before he chip kicks the defence and his chase wins the ball, Newbury’s support is quickly with him and force Gosport to concede the penalty.
Blues Kick to the corner and from their lineout the forwards take play up to the line before getting the ball back to Josh Winfield to score his second try wide out, the conversion just wide, 12-0, 15 min’s

The Gosport restart is taken safely by the Blues and kicked back into the Gosport half, Gosport run the ball then chase a chip kick over the Blue’s defence, Toby Thorne and runs out of defence making good yards before the Gosport defenders make the tackle and force the turnover. Gosport put pressure on the Blues defence and force a penalty which is kicked to touch in Newbury’s 22, a second penalty is given at the lineout which again is kicked to touch, lineout won Gosport win a penalty scrum in front of the posts. Gosport keep up the pressure on the Newbury defence winning another penalty which is tapped into touch, lineout won their forwards get up to the Newbury line but are unable to get the score being held up by the Newbury defence, Newbury are given a penalty when a decision is reversed by the ref, both teams getting a player sent to the bin for 10 mins.
Newbury kick the penalty safely to touch to relieve the pressure, Gosport steal the lineout and again attack the Blues defence but a knock on gives the blues a scrum just on their own 22. From the scrum the Blues run the ball with Richard West making ground before releasing Dan Thorne who makes good ground drawing the defender before passing to Richard West who quickly releases Jamie Futcher to make the final 25 yds up the left touchline to score, the long conversion attempt just wide, 17-0, 30 min’s

Newbury attack straight from the restart and after a couple of phases of play with the forwards the ball is released to Dan Thorne who breaks through the Gosport defence before passing on to Josh Love who releases Toby Thorne to dodge the last tackler to score under the posts, Ryan Trevaskis converting 24-0, 34 min’s

Rob Drysdale on for Josh Love, Gosport re-start and quickly have a scrum when the Blues knock on, Blues forwards make amends and win a penalty at the scrum, they tap and go and quickly have another pen which results in another 10m gain when Gosport have too much to say. The Newbury kick is just to far resulting in Gosport having a 22 drop out, Newbury take and run the ball back with their forwards Kyle Doel and Ben O’Shea making good yards before Gosport win a penalty then 10m as Newbury infringe, Gosport kick safely to touch. Lineout won Gosport maul up field but the Blues manage to turn the ball over allowing them to make good ground through Dan Thorne then Toby Thorne before Ryan Davis takes over getting into Gosport’s 22 before releasing Josh Winfield to crash over for his hat trick try wide out 29-0, 36 min’s

Neither side have an attacking opportunity in the remainder of the half

1st Half Squad
Ben Hicks, Josh Love, Aaron Johnston, Duncan Craigen, Kyle Doel,
Ben O’Shea, Ryan Davis, Josh Winfield, Andy Herriott, Richard West,
Josh Bartlett, Ryan Trevaskis, Dan Thorne, Jamie Futcher, Toby Thorne
Rob Drysdale

****

Newbury make wholesale changes for the second half, which they kick off, Gosport take and run the ball but are forced into touch, Blues win the lineout but knock on giving Gosport a scrum. Their forwards win the scrum and a penalty, which is kicked to touch on half way, they win the lineout and run at the Blues defence winning a penalty scrum, the Blues manage to turn the scrum through 90 gaining the put in, scrum won Blues run out of their half up to half way before a forward pass halts their progress.
Gosport win their scrum but under pressure a loose pass pushes them backwards, Newbury infringe allowing Gosport to kick the penalty safely to touch, they win their lineout but concede a penalty scrum allowing Newbury to escape the pressure when the Blues win their scrum and Josh Bartlett makes a good run before the Gosport defence regroups and turns the ball over.
Possession is regained when a great Dan Thorne tackle takes the Gosport player into touch and a Newbury lineout, from the lineout Iain Herriott sets off on a good run before releasing Dan Thorne who passes to Josh Bartlett who runs at the Gosport defence before chipping over the defender and chasing the ball as it rolls into touch well in Gosport’s half. Gosport win the lineout and kick up field and into touch, Newbury win the lineout but a knock on gives Gosport a scrum just in the Newbury half.
Gosport win their scrum and quickly get the ball wide for their winger to run up the touchline to score wide out on the right 29-5, 55 min’s

Newbury encroach in front of the kicker at the restart giving Gosport a scrum, Gosport win a penalty at the scrum which they tap and go winning another penalty which is kicked to touch well in Newbury’s half. The Blues manage to win a penalty scrum at the lineout giving them the chance to win the scrum and kick back into Gosport’s half, Gosport take and run back at the Blues and after several phases they have the upper hand and the pressure tells as they score a try close to the posts and convert 29-12, 65 mins

Blues restart and a good chase results in them keeping possession when Gosport knock on Blues play the advantage but they knock on so play comes back to the original offence Newbury’s scrum. Gosport infringe at the scrum giving Blues a penalty but the quick tap and go is knocked on, Blues redeem themselves at the scrum winning back possession and a reset scrum. Newbury make several changes, Gosport turn the scrum 90 giving them the put in, scrum won they try to kick out of defence put the kick is charged down rolling into touch, the Blues steal the lineout allowing newcomer Kyle Doel to break through and score his first try for the Blues 36-12, 73 mins

Gosport have the better of the remainder of the half but good Newbury defence prevents them from adding to their score.
Newbury make several substitutions throughout this half giving all game time

A good work out for a large Blues squad giving new players and those returning to the squad a chance to show what they are made of as well as the regulars showing how their form is after a summers rest
The Coaching staff now has a hard task picking the first squad for the league opener at Trowbridge on Saturday 5th September

Good to see a big crowd for this Thursday night friendly

Good Luck to Gosport for your league campaign this season

2nd Half Squad
Alex Weekes, George Anderson, Paul Sayers, Chris Hawkins, Jim Fryer, Kyle Doel
Daine Hammond, Jack Steffen, Ryan Davis, Joe Pigott Dan Thorne, Richard West
Jonathan Blaise, Aaron McDowell, Iain Herriott, Phil Simmons, Jack Harwood, Josh Bartlett
Josh Love, Greg Price, Matt Spencer, Will Hardcastle, Will Osbourne, Rob Drysdale