Newbury Blues win on the road

Newbury Blues travelled to Windsor hoping to break the recent run of away defeats, Blues also having lost at Windsor for the last 3 seasons, time for a change

On a cloudy but dry afternoon Newbury Blues kick off the match with the strong cross wind slightly against them, kick drifts into touch giving Windsor the lineout in their own half, lineout won Windsor kick long into Blues half. Newbury gather and the forwards pick and drive before the ball is spun through the backs who make good ground and win a penalty which is taken quickly, Blues concede a penalty which Windsor kick, the wind results in the ball missing touch and rolling over Blues dead ball line giving Blues the 5m scrum.
Windsor steal the scrum and attack the Blues defence getting over the line but play is brought back for a forward pass, this time Blues hold their scrum and run out of defence but don’t get far before Windsor turn the ball over in the tackle but quickly concede a penalty, the wind keeps Blues kick in play allowing Windsor to gather and chip the ball over the Blues defence and re-gather. Blues defence win a penalty, which is kicked safely to touch, lineout won Blues attack but a knock on halts their progress, for the next few minutes both sides have phases of attacking play but mistakes halt their progress.
Blues are first to break this trend when after good defence in their own half they get possession and make good ground getting into Windsor territory with some good running rugby by both forwards and backs but are penalised for crossing, the long Windsor kick doesn’t make touch allowing Blues to run the ball getting close to Windsor’s 22 before they spill the ball, Windsor pass back into their 22 and the kick drifts straight out giving Blues an attacking lineout. Blues win the lineout their forwards driving towards the line before the ball is spun out through the backs allowing Toby Thorne to break the Windsor tackles to score under the posts, Dan Thorne kicking the conversion 0-7, 20 min’s

The Blues takes Windsor’s restart kick cleanly and the forwards make good ground through Ben O’Shea and Graham Stewart before Joe Pigott feeds Dan Thorne who makes one of his trademark runs getting into Windsor’s 22 before Blues knock on. Scrum won Windsor run out of defence getting up to half way before a grubber kick strikes a Blues player and rolls into touch. Windsor win their lineout and again run but don’t make much ground having to spread the ball across the pitch instead, Blues defence forces the error and Newbury run back at Windsor but again a knock on halts their progress. Windsor win their scrum and run at the Blues defence getting into Blues territory before a spilt ball is picked up by Blues and they run out of defence, another knock on gives Windsor a scrum just in Blues half.
The Windsor forwards win their scrum and they attack up the blindside but are ushered into touch by the Blues defence, Blues win the lineout and run the ball before they change tact and kick out of their half, the Windsor fullback catches but a foot in touch gives Blues the lineout well in Windsor’s half. Blues win their lineout and launch a forward’s attack getting into Windsor’s 22, Joe Pigott feeds the ball out to the backs Toby Thorne and Iain Herriott making good darting runs before Iain Herriott release’s the perfect pass allowing the rapid Josh Bartlett to break through the tackles to score on the left of the posts Dan Thorne slotting over the conversion 0-14, 33 mins

Windsor restart, Blues take and return the kick which rolls into touch, Windsor win their lineout and their forwards maul up the pitch making good yards and force the Blues defence to concede a penalty which is kicked to touch just in Blues 22.
Lineout won the Windsor forwards get up to the try line but cannot get over so they release the ball to the backs who try to make the break through but good Blues defence holds them out, the ball is back with the forwards who creep over the line but Blues hold them up winning a 5m defensive scrum. Blues win the scrum and run out of defence through Josh Winfield, Kyle Doel, Ryan Davis before a kick takes play into Windsor’s half.
Windsor gather the kick and a good attack takes them up to Blues 22 but a loose ball is hacked up field by the Blues defence bouncing into touch off a Windsor player, Blues win the lineout and send another kick well into Windsor’s half. Windsor gather and launch another attack but don’t quite get out of their half before they knock on giving Blues a scrum, Windsor steal the scrum and launch another attack getting into Blues half before they make a mistake and the half time whistle is blown.

*****

Windsor kick off the second half, Ryan Davis takes and sets off up the pitch aided by Chris Guyatt and Ben Hicks, Dan Thorne launches a high kick into Windsor’s 22 they take and kick to touch, Blues win the lineout and attack, Windsor infringe but Blues play the advantage with a deft chip kick over the defence, back for the penalty which just drifts past the posts.
Windsor take the 22 drop out, Blues gather and spread the ball quickly through the backs across the pitch, Blues keep up the pressure through several phases before the backs spread the ball out a through the legs pass from Toby Thorne is picked up by Josh Bartlett who breaks through the defensive line before releasing Steve Denner to make the final yards to score wide out on the left 19-0 48 mins

The Windsor restart is caught by Blues, who run at the Windsor defence through Graham Stewart, Ben O’Shea and Iain Herriott and Andy Herriott, before a kick is put into Windsor’s 22. The Blues chaser’s are quickly there and force Windsor to run across the pitch the mistake comes and Blues get possession, Blues chip the ball over the Windsor defence, Toby Thorne gets there first and gets the ball passing to Rob Drysdale who cuts through to score a well worked try which earns the try bonus point, 24-0 52 min’s.

Windsor’s kick off is taken by Blues, Chris Guyatt catches and releases Ben O’Shea who makes a great run well into Windsor’s half, Blues keep up the pressure through several phases of attacking play but concede a penalty then 10m for dissent which is kicked to touch, Windsor knock on at the lineout Blues play the advantage and run back into Windsor’s half through Dan Thorne. Blues progress is halted when they knock on giving Windsor a scrum and a chance to relieve the pressure.
Tom Sanders and Jamie Futcher on for Rob Drysdale and Steve Denner 62 mins
Windsor win the scrum but lose the ball in the tackle then they concede a penalty which Blues kick to touch, Blues win the lineout and the forwards pick and drive winning another penalty, again Blues attack from the lineout, the ball is spread through the backs getting into Windsor’s 22 but a mistake comes allowing Windsor to kick out of defence.
Blues manage to get possession and again attack the Windsor defence with Tom Sanders and Graham Stewart making good forward runs before another mistake hands possession to Windsor. Blues earn a harsh yellow card when chasing the ball with a Windsor player, which was rolling into touch
Windsor win the lineout but don’t get far before they lose the ball, Blues again attack through the backs Andy Herriott releasing Jamie Futcher who is tackled into touch, Windsor win the lineout and after several phases of play get out of defence and into Blues half. Blues earn a second yellow card for persistent offences, Windsor keep up the pressure and are eventually rewarded when their 9 breaks through to score a well worked try, the conversion is successful 7-24, 70 mins

Dylan Stewart on for Josh Winfield

Newbury’s restart kick is taken by Windsor who are now having their best period in the game against the Blues who are down to 14, Windsor run the ball but good Blues defence takes them into touch. Blues win the lineout and run at the Windsor defenders, Blues make the mistake allowing Windsor to again attack the Blues but they don’t get far before they are held up giving Blues the scrum. Windsor win the Blues scrum and get into Blues 22 before a last gasp tap tackle by Toby Thorne stops them from scoring
Blues win their defensive scrum and run out of defence Dylan Stewart and the forwards making good ground but they are held up in midfield and the final whistle is blown

A good Berks derby win for the Blues on the road, this win ending a 4 match losing run on the road and a 3 match losing run at Windsor, a great bonus point win

The Coaches now have some hard decisions to make with a couple of players not available for this match available for Saturdays home match.
Great situation for Newbury Rugby Club to now have a strong squad with good depth at most positions

Forwards MOM Graham Stewart, controlled the scrum and made some good yards
Backs MOM Toby Thorne, played all over the pitch in attack and defence scored and made a try

Thanks to the great Newbury support who out numbered the Windsor support, a good game to watch

Next game is a tough home game against Swindon who got back to winning ways with a thumping 52 – 23 victory over Maidenhead. This game brings to an end the first half of the season lets hope for a great win

Squad
Ben Hicks, Rob Drysdale, Graham Stewart, Ben O’Shea, Kyle Doel,
Chris Guyatt, Ryan Davis, Josh Winfield, Joe Pigott, Dan Thorne,
Steve Denner, Iain Herriott, Josh Bartlett, Toby Thorne, Andy Herriott,
Tom Sanders, Dylan Stewart, Jamie Futcher.