Cheltenham 22 – 51 Newbury Blues

Blues get the Bonus point win

Saturday 13th Sept 3-00 pm KO
Regional 2 Tribute Ale Severn, South West Division

Congratulations to David Few and Malaki Tupoutoutai on their Blues debuts

Due to injury and unavailability Blues have to make 6 changes from last week’s match

Blues are forced into a late change when Michael Klichowicz drops out in the warm up due to a pulled hamstring, Head coach James McAvoy steps in and on to the bench and a late swop around in the backs.

Blues kick off is gathered by Cheltenham and a good run from them takes play into Blues half, Blues defence scrambles and they manage to steal the ball, Dan Thorne kicks to touch just outside Cheltenham’s 22, Cheltenham win their lineout, their clearing kick is straight out so a Blues lineout in Cheltenham’s 22, lineout won Blues forwards maul making good progress allowing Harry Waye-Branch to touchdown wide right, the long conversion is held in the wind and just short, 4 mins 0-5

Cheltenham restart, Blues gather and after a couple of drives kick clear, Cheltenham attack getting back into Blues half, Blues defence stops them from making much more ground, Cheltenham get a scrum and attack running across the pitch and into Blues 22 before a knock on gives Blues possession Dan Thorne clears to touch just in Cheltenham’s half, lineout won Cheltenham spread play wide getting into Blues half before knocking on. Blues hold their scrum and get a penalty deep in Cheltenham’s territory for obstruction after a neat chip kick and chase, Dan Thorne kicks the penalty 12 mins 0-8

Cheltenham’s restart kick is cleared to touch on halfway, lineout won Cheltenham run the ball but are pushed back by Blues defensive line and get a scrum when Cheltenham knock on, Cheltenham steal Blues scrum and take play into Blues half before a long pass drifts into touch, play is brought back for a Cheltenham penalty which is kicked to touch, Cheltenham attack wide from their lineout getting into Blues 22 before a knock on halts play, back for another Cheltenham penalty which is kicked to touch deep in Blues 22, Cheltenham’s lineout throw is not straight so a Blues 5m scrum which they win and clear to touch on their 22, Blues manage to steal a loose Cheltenham lineout and kick into Cheltenham’s half, Cheltenham gather and run the ball taking play back into Blues half and get a penalty which is kicked to touch deep in Blues 22, lineout won Cheltenham get over to score, the conversion is just wide 21 mins 5-8

Blues restart kick is gathered and kicked back into Blues half, Blues gather and run before Malaki changes direction and puts in a chip kick, a good chase results in Cheltenham being tackled in their own 22, they manage to get out of their 22 and their chip kick takes play into Blues 22, Blues gather and again put a kick deep into Cheltenham’s half, they put in a crossfield kick Blues gather and get a penalty for offside which is kicked to touch on Cheltenham’s 22, lineout won Blues attack before Dan Thorne puts a neat chip kick into Cheltenham’s 22, Ben Hurford-John manages to gather one handed and is over under the posts, Dan Thorne converts 27 mins 5-15
Cheltenham’s restart kick is gathered by Blues but they are tackled into touch on their own 22, lineout won they attack but concede a penalty and lose the ball, Blues play advantage and kick deep into Cheltenham’s 22, they gather and kick clear, Blues mount another attack taking play up to Cheltenham’s 22 through several phases, the ball comes wide left to Ben Hurford-John who jinks through Cheltenham’s defence to make the 30m and score, Dan Thorne adds the conversion 30 mins 5-22

Cheltenham take the restart kick and manage to gather the ball, they take play wide right before Blues steal possession just in their own half, Blues attack taking play up to Cheltenham’s 22 before a loose pass is gathered by Cheltenham, they run out of defence getting nearly to halfway before conceding a penalty at the tackle, 33 mins, George Robinson-Slater on Callum Varrell off
Blues kick to touch deep in Cheltenham’s 22, lineout won Blues maul then spread the ball wide before Blues cough up possession, Cheltenham have the ball under their posts and manage to clear to touch still in their own 22, Cheltenham steal the lineout and run out of their 22, a crossfield kick bounces backwards and they keep possession, another chip kick results in them taking play deep into Blues 22 before a great chase and tackle from Robin Swann stops them from scoring, Blues defence scrambles back and earns a penalty, Blues take a quick tap and try running before putting in a crossfield kick, a knock on gives Cheltenham a scrum just in Blues 22, Blues pack get a scrum penalty which is kicked to touch just in Cheltenham’s half. Lineout won Blues take play across the pitch making good ground before being tackled into touch on Cheltenham’s 30m line, Cheltenham take a quick lineout throw which is expertly read by Chris Harvey who gathers the ball and is gone to score Blues 4th and bonus point try, Dan Thorne adds the conversion and that is Halftime 5-29

Cheltenham kick off the 2nd half, Blues gather and try running out of there 22 but lose the ball Cheltenham attack but knock on giving Blues a defensive scrum, Blues run out of defence getting just short of halfway before a knock gives Cheltenham a scrum, 43 mins, Ashley Doel off David Few on for his debut

Blues steal the reset scrum and quickly spread the ball wide taking play into Cheltenham territory and win a penalty which is kicked to touch deep in Cheltenham’s 22, Blues get a penalty at the lineout, this time they tap and go getting up to the line under the posts and get another penalty, Blues play the advantage and the ball is spread through hands wide left for Fijian debutant Malaki Tupoutoutai to acrobatically stay in field and touch down, the conversion just drifts wide, 48 mins 5-34

Cheltenham restart Blues gather and kick into Cheltenham’s half, their 8 gathers and sets off on a run that breaks through several tackles taking play into Blues 22, their forwards pick and drive through several phases getting up to the line before a long pass to their winger lets him in to score wide right the conversion is just wide 50 mins 10-34

Blues kick off and get a penalty which is kicked to touch deep in Cheltenham’s 22, lineout won Blues forwards drive up close to the line before a long pass from Dan Thorne releases Ben Hurford-John who sprints over to score his third try, Dan Thorne kicks the long conversion 53 mins 10-41

Cheltenham restart and get a scrum when Blues knock on, Cheltenham hold their scrum going backwards and attack making good ground and break through Blues tackles to score under the posts, the conversion is kicked, 55 mins 17-41

Blues restart, Cheltenham kick after a couple of phases, Blues gather and run a neat chip kick is gathered and Blues attack getting into Cheltenham’s 22 before a knock on in the tackle gives Cheltenham a defensive scrum, Blues get a penalty at the scrum which is kicked to touch giving Blues a 5m attacking lineout, lineout won Blues forwards attack Harry Edwards breaks through Cheltenham’s defence to score, the conversion slides past the posts 58 mins 17-46, Ashley Doel on Chris Harvey off

Cheltenham restart Blues gather and run out of defence getting a penalty for a high tackle, the kick doesn’t find touch allowing Cheltenham to run back at Blues they lose possession in the tackle and Blues mount another attack getting to half way before conceding a penalty, Cheltenham don’t find touch, Blues run the ball getting back into Cheltenham territory before losing the ball Cheltenham try running before kicking into Blues 22, a great run from Ben Hurford John takes play back to halfway, Blues keep the ball live and Malaki
Breaks through the defenders and releases David Few who makes the final yards to score, the conversion is wide 65 mins 17-51 George Robinson-Slater off Callum Varrell on, Harry Edwards off Chris Harvey on

Cheltenham restart, Blues gather and a jinking run from Robin Swann takes play up to half way, Blues get a penalty which is kicked to touch in Cheltenham’s 22, lineout won Blues attack getting another penalty in front of the posts, they take the scrum and put pressure on Cheltenham’s defence, Blues spread the play wide but concede a penalty, Cheltenham tap ang go then try a kick which is charged down Cheltenham keep the ball and a great solo run takes play into Blues half, a neat kick and chase is kicked into touch by Blues, lineout won by Cheltenham their forwards put pressure on Blues defence before they spread the ball wide and get over to score their bonus point try, the conversion is wide 74 mins, 22-51

Blues restart and have the better of the last few minutes getting up to the line but are unable to add to their score, instead get penalised, Cheltenham try running but lose the ball allowing Blues to mount another attack, eventually a mistake brings the final whistle

MOM – Ben Hicks

New member Ben Hurford-John showed what a prolific try scorer he is with his second hatrick in his second league game for the Blues.

A good win for Blues over Cheltenham who never gave up and got their try bonus point, good luck for the rest of the season

Thanks to the ref who marshalled the game expertly.

Newbury Blues Squad
1-8, Ben Hicks, Harry Waye-Branch, Callum Varrall, Ashley Doel, David Barber, Chris Harvey, Will Osborne, H Edwards
9-15, Tom Hunt, Dan Thorne, Robin Swann, Christian Collett, Ben Hurford-John,
Malaki Tupoutoutai, Beau Power
16-18, George Robinson-Slater, David Few, James McAvoy

Blues next Fixture is Sat 20th Sept Home v Old Centralians 3pm KO

Big thanks to all our Player Sponsors and our Club Sponsors, your support is much appreciated

Big thanks to our fantastic travelling supporters, the team really appreciate your support

Big thanks to our match day photographer Peter Branch whose photos can be found on Facebook
Newbury RFC Seniors Supporters Photography Page
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063526195463