A magic try, a prop outpacing opposition wingers, a hooker chasing everything, an outstanding player of the match performance from Blues number seven, a final ten minutes when two Blues tries were scored. Effort, effort and more effort. Sounds like a good afternoon. And for any political spin doctor worth their salt there the story would end. However even Alastair Campbell, Prime Minister Tony Blair's special advisor both in and out of office between 1994-2003, would struggle to put too much of a gloss on Saturday's match with Blues coming out second best losing 17-76, conceding twelve tries in the process. Some of the tries were well constructed by Trowbridge, some from missed tackles and mistakes from Blues but even this early in the season it would appear the difference between the top and bottom teams of our league is going to be huge and key games will be against teams in a similar league position. And this is where Blues have shown they can compete and win games. As one life member said on the final whistle, "they didn't give up." Quite, and at 7-76 down with a few minutes remaining, to score two late tries was testimony to this sentiment.

The reality, of course, was that Blues were well beaten by a well drilled, skilful team team, a team whose attacking shape looked good, who moved the ball well and found edges a number of times. It is not difficult to see why they are league leaders and well done to Trowbridge. From the first whistle the visitors attack looked sharp and it took ten minutes for Blues to secure any attacking position. In that time Trowbridge scored their first try. Blues gave away a couple of penalties and from one of these the Trowbridge forwards rumbled over to make the score 5-0. What is great about live sport is that no one knows what will come next and boy what did come next was a try which would grace the highlights reel of any match at any level. Receiving the ball inside Blues half, Ben Hurford John used his pace, balance and change of direction to break clear of the initial defensive line. When challenged by a second wave of defenders he chipped ahead, won the race to the ball and touched down for the try. Wow. The successful conversion by Daniel Sanders put Blues up by two points. Trowbridge were then in front of the kicker at the restart and Blues were suddenly given another attacking opportunity. From here Beau Power made a break but nothing came of this and soon after Trowbridge attacked down the right and scored a try in Blues Corner. The conversion made the score 7-12 to the visitors and from here they did not look back. But then another moment of the match for Blues. The ball went loose in Blues twenty two, Ben Hicks picked it up and took off with the try line some eighty metres away. Ben does a lot of running outside of rugby and this showed as he was outpacing one of the Trowbridge wingers. Unfortunately the covering defence just caught him as he was about to score the try. What an effort though. And the effort kept coming. Player of the match Chris Harvey made a series of tackles but disaster was just around the corner in the form of a penalty try against Blues. It was unintentional but a trip on one of the Trowbridge players in Blues twenty two and the referee had no hesitation. Or did the Trowbridge player simply run into Ben Hurford John? Should it have been play on? Trowbridge supporters thought the former, some Blues supporters thought the latter. As always it was irrelevant what the supporters thought. The referee awarded the penalty try. And things then began to look ominous with Trowbridge securing their bonus point try not long before half time. What this try showed was the defensive effort being put in by a number of Blues players and on this occasion Harry Waye Branch made a valiant attempt at a cover tackle running some 30 or so metres but just failed to stop the try. The half time whistle sounded with Blues trailing 7-31.

Five minutes into the second half, Blues were pressing but a long pass was intercepted and Trowbridge ran in to score their sixth try and almost immediately afterwards their seventh. Replacement Ratu Malaki Tupoutoutai then made a break and was just hauled down as he was about to break clear. Trowbridge's eighth try came soon after. Harry Edwards then made a powerful surge and Blues won a penalty. Unfortunately nothing came from this and when Trowbridge regained the ball their outside half saw Blues were defending too narrowly and put in a kick pass for the winger to score out wide. Blues were now under incessant pressure and after a series of attacking scrums Trowbridge scored their tenth try. Within another seven or so minutes Blues went further behind and going into the final thores of the game were 7-76 down, having not scored since the eleventh minute. For most rugby teams giving up is rarely if ever an option and so it proved for Blues on Saturday. Firstly the forwards took control of a maul close to the visitors line and GRS claimed the score in Blues Corner. From the restart Blues gained control of the ball and worked a position from which Ratu Malaki went over. A few minutes remained and thoughts turned towards the possibility of a bonus point try which was almost unthinkable ten minutes earlier. It was not to be though and the final whistle went with the visitors jubilant at their victory 76-17. As for Blues players they would have felt an acute disappointment at the result but they go again next week at Chippenham and the journey along the A4 is one of the most picturesque for many miles around. The vista from the top of the hill looking west between Beckhampton and Cherhill, overlooked by the White Horse, is worth the journey on its own. No political spin needed for that one. It is simply glorious.

As always thanks to the players, to everyone who turned up to support, to all our sponsors and to referee Mat Edwards. And a well done to Dan Sanders and Joe Davis for making their Blues debut on Saturday. President Trevor Coles always says in his announcements how much the players appreciate the support both home and away and Saturday was no different. "Come on You Blues."

Brian Lee