NEWBURY BLUES 22 v 15 OKEHAMPTON
Blues win pre-season friendly
Saturday 20th August Pre-season friendly, 3-00 pm KO
Newbury Blues entertained Okehampton at Monks Lane and a keenly fought friendly game brings Blues a narrow victory
Blues entertained Okehampton at Monks lane in this pre-season friendly, the regular Blues squad welcomed back Alex Millar and a couple of new faces, Rory Jones and Chris Palser-Thorne in this game.
Blues kick off the first of the three 30 min sessions, Blues put Okehampton under pressure with some good runs from Alex Millar and Josh Bartlett, Okehampton get out of defence and into Blues half, after a period of pressure Okehampton score a drop goal 0-3
Both teams have chances in the remainder of the first session but are unable to score
Okehampton kick off the second period, Blues counter attack and are soon in front when the backs spread the ball quickly wide to allow Mike Walker to score close to the corner flag, the conversion is just short, 5-3
Okehampton are next to score, after a couple of penalties they are in Blues 22 and their pressure pays off when they score a try wide out on their right hand side the conversion just wide, 5-8
Blues have the better of the next few minutes and some good attacking breaks from the forwards then backs Joe Pigott and Dan Thorne, are ended by a mistake or good Okehampton defence. Blues keep up the pressure and a good flowing move is just stopped by Okehampton when they tackle Mike Walker into touch on the try line, Blues manage to steal the ball and Oliver Spanswick crashes over to score, Dan Thorne converts 12-8
Blues attack from the kick off Toby Thorne out to Jamie Futcher who chips the ball forwards and chases, the ball rolls just out of touch and over the dead ball line on the hard ground.
Blues attack from the 22 drop out and after a couple of phases the ball is spread wide through hands to Mike Walker to score wide out on the right 17-8
Okehampton restart, Blues return the kick, after a couple of penalties Okehampton are in Blues half and putting Blues under pressure before the whistle is blown
Blues kick off the last period and have the better of the first few minutes, but the Okehampton defence keep them out then they put pressure on the Blues but are unable to score. Blues get into Okehampton’s 22, and after several phases of play they manage to score when Alex Millar picks up at a ruck and bursts through to score 22-8.
Okehampton have the best of the remainder of the game and get over to score and convert bringing the score to within one score at 22-15
Okehampton attack from the restart and get into Blues 22 but they are just shoved into touch and the final whistle is blown bringing the end to a equally fought friendly game
Good luck to Okehampton in the coming season
Squad
Ben Hicks, Rob Drysdale, Graham Stewart, George Robinson-Slater, Josh Winfield,
Kyle Doel, Ben O’Shea, Rory Jones, Ollie Spanswick, Dylan Stewart, Alex Millar,
Anthony Hackett, Joe Pigott, Dan Thorne, Toby Thorne, Josh Love, Chris Palser-Thorne,
Mike Walker, Jamie Futcher, Steve Denner, Josh Bartlett