Newbury Blues draw with Swindon

NEWBURY BLUES 13 v 13 SWINDON

Newbury Blues draw with Swindon

Saturday 19th December 2015, South West 1 East League

Newbury Blues entertained Swindon and just manage to hold on to their unbeaten home record earning their first drawn match this season

Newbury Blues are looking to produce another home win against Wiltshire neighbours Swindon in front of a big home crowd many who had enjoyed a great Xmas lunch before the game and helped to raise money for the Matt Hampson Foundation through an auction and raffle

Newbury make a last minute change to the squad when Toby Thorne is ruled out through injury Dylan Stewart coming in to the squad.

Swindon kick off, Blues take and run the ball winning a penalty for a high tackle on Rob Drysdale who has to leave the field with a blood injury Tom Sanders coming on. Blues kick to touch win the lineout in Swindon’s half and attack the Swindon defence, after several phases Joe Pigott breaks through to score Ryan Trevaskis converting, 7-0, 3 mins

Swindon’s restart is taken by Blues who run back at Swindon but get held up Blues winning a scrum, Swindon steal the scrum and attack the Blues defence through several phases before a knock on halts their progress, scrum won Blues kick to touch. Swindon win the lineout but concede a penalty which Blues kick to touch, lineout won Blues run the ball but concede a penalty giving Swindon a chance to kick back into Blues half, Swindon’s kick doesn’t make touch allowing Blues a chance to counter attack with Josh Bartlett making ground the Jamie Futcher chipping the Swindon defence, a good chase by Blues means Swindon are taken back over their line giving Blues a 5 m scrum. Rob Drysdale back on Tom Sanders off
Blues win the scrum and spread the ball wide but the mistake comes allowing Swindon to kick to touch and clear their lines, Blues win the lineout and the forwards get up to the try line but Swindon manage to hold them out, Blues have a 5 m scrum, Joe Pigott spreads the ball wide from the scrum and again get up to the line but again Swindon’s defence holds firm but concede a penalty which Ryan Trevaskis kicks, 10-0, 20 mins

Blues return the Swindon re-start kick, Swindon gather and run before chipping the Blues defence and managing to keep possession getting into Blues 22, this time it is Blues defence who hold out, some great tackles from Blues defence before Swindon are awarded a penalty which Adam Westall kicks 10-3 25 mins

Blues restart kick is taken by Swindon but they lose the ball allowing Blues to attack but a knock on gives Swindon a scrum, Swindon win the scrum and kick, Josh Bartlett takes and runs back into Swindon territory but again Blues cough up possession giving Swindon a scrum. From the scrum Swindon’s kick is straight out giving Blues a lineout just in Swindon’s half, Blues win the lineout but lose the ball in the tackle allowing Swindon to attack getting into Blues 22 before a forward pass halts their progress. Blues win the scrum and kick to touch, Swindon’s throw is not straight at the lineout giving Blues a scrum, Blues are penalised at the scrum for feeding, Swindon tap and go and soon force Blues to concede the penalty which they kick through the posts, 10-6 34 min’s

Swindon attack from Newbury’s restart kick and win a long penalty which falls short of the posts, Blues take and Ryan Trevaskis kicks to touch, Swindon win their lineout and launch another attack but a loose pass hands the ball back to Blues who run at Swindon, Blues win a penalty which they tap and go and soon have another this time they kick, but the long attempt is just wide. Swindon take the 22 drop out Blues take and run back at Swindon who again give away a penalty this time their 8 is yellow carded, Ryan Trevaskis slots this long kick through the posts 13-6, 39 min’s,

Iain Herriott off with an elbow injury Josh Love on

Swindon take the restart kick Blues gather and kick, the kick is straight out so play comes back to just outside Blues 22, Swindon keep up the pressure getting into Blues 22 before they are held up, Blues defence holds out and Chris Guyatt steals the ball allowing Blues to relieve the pressure, Blues are awarded a scrum which brings the half time whistle and the end to the first half of a fairly even contest

*****

Blues kick off the second half, Swindon take and soon have a penalty when Blues infringe which they kick to touch in Blues 22, Blues steal the lineout and kick out of defence, Swindon gather and spin the ball through their backs but Blues defence force them into touch, Blues win the lineout and run out of defence getting well into Swindon’s half and win a penalty which is kicked to touch, Blues win the lineout but are penalised for accidental offside giving Swindon a defensive scrum, Swindon win the scrum and run out of defence but don’t get far before they lose the ball allowing Blues to mount another attack, a chip over the Swindon defence rolling into touch. Swindon win the lineout and kick out of defence and into touch, Blues win their lineout and a good Josh Love run takes play well into Swindon’s half before a knock on halts their progress, Both side make mistakes ending up with a Newbury scrum in Swindon’s half, Blues pack concede a penalty which Swindon kick to touch from the lineout their forwards maul and manage to drive over the line for their 18 to score Adam Westall kicking the conversion, 13-13, 52 mins

Rob Drysdale off Tom Sanders on

Blues restart is taken by Swindon and they win a penalty which is kicked to touch well in Blues half, Swindon’s throw is not straight giving Blues a scrum which they win and kick to touch in Swindon’s half, Swindon win their lineout but don’t get far before they lose the ball allowing Blues to run back into Swindon territory. Swindon manage to steal possession and kick back into Blues half, Swindon’s chase is good and they force Blues to concede a penalty, Swindon’s long kick for the posts is just wide 60 mins.
Blues chase their 22-drop out and force Swindon to kick, Blues gather and run the ball making good ground before they are penalised at the tackle, Swindon kick to touch.
Lineout won, Swindon’s forwards keep it tight and make good ground before a knock on gives Blues a defensive scrum. Dylan Stewart on for Ben O’Shea
Blues knock on at the scrum giving Swindon the chance to attack from their scrum; they win another penalty scrum in Blues 22 putting the Blues defence under severe pressure. Blues manage to hold firm and win a penalty at the scrum, the long kick doesn’t find touch so Swindon run the ball making good ground before they get penalised at the tackle allowing Blues to kick safely to touch. Lineout won Blues make good progress getting up to Swindon’s 22 before the ref blows for an injury to a Swindon player. Blues restart the game with their scrum and soon have a penalty, the long attempt just slides past the uprights 70 mins, Swindon take the 22 drop out, Blues take and set off on another attack but lose the ball. This is the story of the final minutes as good defence and mistakes snuffs out any scoring opportunities for both sides

A good well fought match with the draw probably reflecting the play on the pitch, both sides giving their all on a very heavy pitch

Thanks to the large Newbury crowd for your support today and for the first half of the season
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all

The next league game, which kicks off the 2016 half of the season, is away at High Wycombe on Saturday 2nd January, a great way to get over the Christmas and New Year celebrations

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

Sadly Drifters couldn’t raise a side so called off the Stags game

Don’t forget the annual charity game against Hungerford on Boxing Day 1pm KO at NRFC