NEWBURY BLUES 16 v 10 GROVE

Saturday 26th September 2015
South West 1 East League

On a sunny afternoon in front of a good crowd Grove kick the match off, Blues take and after several pick and drives by the forwards the ball is spun back to Ryan Trevaskis to kick well into Groves half, Grove gather and kick but the kick goes straight out so back for a Blues lineout. Blues win the lineout and run at the Grove defence but a spilt ball halts their progress allowing Grove to run the ball out of defence breaking several Blues tackles before they are penalised for holding on, Blues penalty doesn’t make touch allowing Grove to kick back into Blues territory, Blues take and run the ball but a knock gives Grove a scrum.

Blues win a penalty at the scrum, which is kicked safely to touch, the lineout won Blues attack and win a penalty 10m in Groves half, the kick just sails past the posts. Grove take the 22 drop out kicking long, Andy Herriott takes and sends a great kick over the Grove defence, Blues chasers are quickly there forcing Grove to run into touch.

Blues win the lineout and run at the Grove defence but lose the ball in the tackle and then concede a penalty allowing Grove to kick to touch, Grove win their attacking lineout but a knock on halts their progress. Scrum won Blues kick out of defence and into touch on half way, Grove under pressure just manage to win the lineout and try running at the Blues defence before changing tact and kick up field, Blues take and return the kick, Grove gather and kick, Blues catch and this time run the ball winning a penalty which Ryan Trevaskis kicks into touch.

Grove steal the lineout and run the ball winning a penalty which is kicked to touch just in their own half, Grove manage to hold onto the lineout but under pressure give away a penalty and a punch sends their 12 to the bin for 10 mins. Blues kick to touch, lineout won the Blues forwards maul up field but get held up giving Grove a scrum, their forwards win the scrum and Grove kick out of defence and the ball bouncing safely into touch.
Blues win the lineout and attack through their backs across field but get ushered into touch by the Grove defence 30m out, Grove win their lineout but the Blues defence keep them penned in their own half and are rewarded with a penalty which is slotted through the posts by Ryan Trevaskis 3-0, 20 mins

Grove restart and put the Blues straight under pressure winning the ball back, Grove win a penalty which earns Blues a team yellow, Grove kick to touch but lose the lineout, for the next few minutes neither side are able to break through the oppositions defence and play remains around midfield, Blues are first to make the breakthrough when they run the ball out of defence and after several phases of good attacking rugby have made it up to Groves 22 with a good Josh Bartlett run and win a penalty which is kicked to touch.
Lineout win Blues keep up the pressure and the ball is spread wide allowing Jamie Futcher to get over the try line but he is held up by good Grove defence, Blues win the 5m scrum and spread the ball quickly across field allowing Steve Denner to feed Iain Herriott who dodges the tackles before slipping the ball to Ryan Trevaskis who holds off the defence to touch down wide out on the left, he also kicks the long conversion 10-0, 38 mins

Grove chase the restart and win a penalty which is kicked to touch, Blues steal the lineout and kick to touch on half way, Newbury are deemed to have taken the catcher out at the lineout so earn their second yellow but stay at 14 as the first yellow returns, Grove kick the penalty to touch but a not straight throw gives Newbury a scrum, Blues win a penalty at the scrum and the half time whistle is blown.

****

Newbury kick off the second half long, Grove take and return the kick back into Blues territory, Andy Herriott takes and returns the kick, Grove gather and change tact running the ball but get overturned in the tackle, Blues run the ball before putting up a high kick which Grove take and again kick back into Blues half. Blues take and run the ball through the backs before Joe Pigott makes a darting run breaking several tackles and wins a penalty, which Ryan Trevaskis kicks to touch in Groves 22.

Blues win the lineout and the forwards rumble up to the try line but in their haste to break Groves defence and score they give away a penalty allowing Grove to relieve the pressure and kick to touch, lineout win they make further ground before spilling the ball. Blues gather the loose ball and run at the Grove defence winning a penalty, Blues kick to touch, lineout won they keep the pressure on Groves defence winning another penalty, Groves 8 getting a yellow for foul play, Ryan Trevaskis kicks the points 13-0, 50 mins.

Grove restart, Blues gather and run the ball passing through hands and making good ground through both forwards and backs getting up to the try line but good Grove defence holds them up and wins a penalty, Grove kick to touch win the lineout and run out of defence but again lose possession allowing Blues to counter attack. Blues win a penalty which is kicked to touch well in Groves half, lineout won Blues keep up the pressure but a knock on gives Grove a scrum just outside their 22 wide out, Groves scrum is under pressure and the Blues force them to concede a penalty, Groves 9 getting a yellow, Blues penalty kick just slides past the posts.

Grove take the 22 drop out long, Blues take and run the ball back at Grove before they put up a high kick into Groves half, Grove take and run the ball before they kick, Blues gather and Steve Denner runs before Blues kick and the ball loops into touch off a Grove hand. Blues win the lineout and again run the ball with both wingers linking before after a couple of phases Blue’s are penalised for holding on, Grove kick long into touch inside Blues 22.
Lineout won the Grove forwards maul over the line to score a good forwards try with the conversion successful the score is 13-7, 58 mins

The Blues restart kick is caught by Grove but they don’t get far before the ball is spilled, Blues gather and run at the Grove defence who infringe again giving Newbury a penalty in front of the posts which Ryan Trevaskis kicks and their 20 a needless yellow card for foul play 16-7 61 mins

Grove gather the Blues restart and put the Blues defence under pressure winning a penalty 10 m in Blues half and oddly gets Blues a yellow, Groves kick is just wide of the posts.
Tom Sanders and Chris Guyatt come off Josh Love and Rob Drysdale come on 65 mins
Blues take the 22 drop out long, Grove gather and run the ball back at the Blues getting into Blues half and win a penalty at the break down which their 10 converts 16-10, 68 mins

Newbury chase their restart kick and hold Grove in their half but Grove manage to win a scrum, they manage to win their scrum and run the ball getting into Blues half before a knock on halts their progress. Blues win the scrum but a foray down the blindside results in them stepping in touch.

Ben O’Shea off Duncan Craigen on 72 mins

Groves throw in at the lineout is not straight giving Blues a scrum just in their half, scrum won the forwards pick and drive but again they are ushered into touch, Blues win a scrum at Groves lineout and kick to touch. Grove mount one last attack on the Blues line but the Blues defence holds firm and the final whistle is blown 16-10 final score

Grove let their tempers spill over after the game had ended and a melee breaks out which earns their 20 a red card for serious foul play, once all dies down the players shake hands and leave the field

Both defences dominated the game keeping it a competitive but a low scoring match

Forwards MOM awarded to Ben O’Shea, a great all round performance
Backs MOM awarded to Iain Herriott, great tackling and pressure at the breakdown

Thanks to the great Blues home support

Next game is in two weeks time on 10th October away at Salisbury

Squad
Ben Hicks, Rob Drysdale, Graham Stewart, Kyle Doel, Ben O’Shea,
Chris Guyatt, Ryan Davis, Josh Winfield, Joe Pigott, Ryan Trevaskis,
Steve Denner, Iain Herriott, Josh Bartlett, Jamie Futcher, Andy Herriott
Josh Love, Rob Drysdale, Duncan Craigen

Newbury Stags travelled to Witney and kept up their winning ways with a great 30-14 victory over Witney III