Mixed Squad friendly

WINCHESTER 5 v 10 NEWBURY BLUES

Mixed Squad friendly

Thursday 10th March 2016, Friendly, 7-45 KO

Newbury Blues took a large mixed squad to Winchester for this midweek friendly match played over 3 x 30 minute sessions

Winchester kick off the first session and manage to re-gather the ball, they put the Blues defence under a prolonged period of pressure keeping the Blues pinned in their own half, Blues defence holds firm and eventually steal the ball and kick to touch. Winchester win the lineout and again put the Blues defence under pressure but a knock on gives Blues a defensive scrum, from the scrum Blues kick to touch, Winchester again attack and win a penalty which is kicked to touch in Blues 22, lineout won Winchester attack and win another penalty which is taken quickly. Blues defence holds firm and after several phases of Winchester attacking play spent in Blues 22 Blues manage to steal the ball, Blues run out of defence getting into the Winchester half. Blues spread the ball wide Iain Herriott making the break getting well into the Winchester 22 getting stopped just short of the try line, Winchester manage to turn the ball over and kick out of defence, Blues take and mount another attack, again after several phases of Blues attacking play Winchester steal the ball and kick clear. Blues gather and spread the ball wide allowing Mike Walker to speed up the wing getting up to Winchester’s 22 before he is tackled, Winchester get their hands on the ball and kick to touch bringing the end to the first session and a well earned break, 0-0

1st Session Squad
George Robinson-Slater, Rob Drysdale, Aaron Johnston, Jim Fryer, Kyle Doel
Chris Guyatt, Louis Rosier, Matt Horne, Anthony Hackett, Will Carlisle
Grant Broom-Edwards, Josh Love, Iain Herriott, Mike Walker, Toby Thorne

****

Blues kick off the second session and manage to get possession at the break down the ball is spread out to Mike Walker who breaks a couple of tackles getting into Winchesters 22 before he is halted, Blues keep possession and spread the ball across the pitch through the backs allowing Toby Thorne to score wide out on the left, Dan Thorne’s long conversion just wide 0-5
Blues attack fro Winchester’s restart but don’t get far before they lose the ball when they concede a penalty, Winchester kick to touch and attack from their lineout getting well into Blues half before they lose the ball, the next few minutes are spent in the midfield area with either good defence or mistakes halting progress, Blues earning a yellow card. Winchester attack from their penalty getting into Blues 22 before winning a scrum, from the scrum Blues steal the ball and clear to touch, Winchester lose their lineout allowing Blues to make more progress up the pitch but knock on. Blues steal the scrum in midfield allowing Anthony Hackett to break a tackle and run 30 yds up the pitch into the Winchester 22 before releasing Tom Sanders who passes to Mike Walker to speed over and score Blues second try, Dan Thorne just wide with the long conversion, 0-10
Winchester have the better of the last few minutes of the second session keeping Blues in their own half and defending for long periods, Blues earn a second yellow, Winchester score a good forwards mauling try bringing the end of the second session 5-10

2nd Session Squad
Graham Stewart Tom Sanders, Paul Sayers, Duncan Craigen, Chris Hawkins,
Michael Lintin, Dylan Stewart, Ryan Davis, Anthony Hackett, Will Carlisle,
Dan Thorne, Andy Herriott, Joe Pigott, Mike Walker, Toby Thorne,

****

Winchester kick off the final session and manage to re-gather the ball putting Blues under pressure but infringe at the breakdown earning a yellow card, Blues kick the penalty to touch, lineout won Blues attack but lose the ball. The remainder of the game remains scoreless with both sides having chances but unable to score. Winchester edge possession in this session but good Blues defence keeps them out. Both sides make regular interchanges especially in this session. The game closes with Winchester on the attack, but a mistake brings the final whistle to this enthusiastically contested friendly match. A good work out for both sides in this league free weekend

Good luck to Winchester for the remainder of the season in London South West 2

3rd Session Squad
George Robinson-Slater, Rob Drysdale, Graham Stewart, Kyle Doel, Duncan Craigen,
Ryan Davis, Chris Guyatt, Matt Horne, Joe Pigott, Andy Herriott,
Mike Walker, Josh Love, Dan Thorne, Grant Broom-Edwards, Toby Thorne,