Wootton Bassett kick off on a wet murky afternoon the kick is straight out so back for a Blues scrum, Blues hold their scrum and a good kick rolls into touch in Wootton Bassett’s 22 giving Blue’s the lineout, Wootton Bassett steal the line out and have to work their way out of defence, after several phases they clear to touch, they again steal Blues lineout and manage to break through some poor Blues tackles taking play deep into Blues half, Blues manage to steal the ball and kick clear, Wootton Bassett attack making good ground breaking several Blues tackles and after several phases they make the breakthrough to score the opening try and convert 5 mins, 0-7
Blues restart, Wootton Bassett again break through Blues defence getting back into Blues 22 and putting pressure on Blues defence through several phases, Blues eventually manage to gain possession and kick clear into Wootton Bassett’s half, Wootton Bassett gather and after a couple of phases break through the Blues defence getting deep into Blues half and get a penalty which is kicked to touch. Lineout won Wootton Bassett attack spending several phases in Blues 22 before Blues get possession and clear to touch, Wootton Bassett attack from their lineout and get back into Blues 22 and get a penalty and Blues a harsh yellow card, the penalty is kicked 0-10 15 mins

Blues restart and manage to get possession allowing them to attack taking play deep into Wootton Bassett’s 22, Blues are unable to make the break through but get a penalty scrum, Blues pack win another penalty scrum which is reset, Blues attack from the scrum through several phases but cannot make the break through, Blues get a penalty which Dan Thorne kicks, 3-10 25 mins

Wotton Bassett’s kick off is straight out so Blues scrum on halfway, scrum won Blues attack then kick, Wootton Bassett return the kick, Blues attack and a chip kick is just gathered by Wootton Bassett who take play into Blues half winning a penalty, lineout won Wootton Bassett put pressure on Blues defence which manages to hold out and eventually clear to touch, lineout won Wootton Bassett attack but soon lose possession allowing Blues to kick deep into Wootton Bassetts half, Blues concede a penalty at the tackle allowing Wootton Bassett to clear to touch on halfway, Blues get a scrum at the lineout and run the ball before kicking deep into Wootton Bassetts 22, a good chase results in Blues getting a penalty at the tackle which Dan Thorne kicks 6-10 36 mins

David Few on Joe Davis off

Wootton Bassett restart Blues gather and soon get a penalty which is kicked to touch on halfway, lineout won Blues attack then put up a kick and chase, Wootton Bassett’s kick is straight out so back for a Blues lineout, Blues knock on giving Wootton Bassett a scrum just outside their 22, they win the scrum and get a penalty which they tap and go getting to halfway before Blues steal the ball and attack, a mistake brings halftime.

Blues kick off the second half, Wootton Bassett clear to touch, lineout won Blues attack across the pitch then put in a crossfield kick, Wootton Bassett run the ball spreading play wide but are tackled into touch, Blues attack from the lineout and get a penalty which is just wide of the uprights. Wootton Bassett gather and run out of defence, a dropped ball gives Blues a scrum in Wootton Bassetts 22, Blues attack from their scrum taking play across the pitch, Wootton Bassett steal the ball and run out of defence put are pushed back by Blues eventually they kick clear Blues mount another attack taking play back into Wootton Bassetts 22, Blues forwards make ground before Michael Klichowicz makes a dart, releases Dan Thorne who spins a long pass to Jamie Futcher he releases Christian Collett who breaks the tackles to score a great team try wide left 50 mins 11-10

George Robinson-Slater on Jamal Watson off

Wootton Bassett kick off Blues gather and put up a high kick, Wootton Bassett run at Blues a knock on giving Blues a scrum, Blues spread the ball wide getting into Wootton Bassetts half before being tackled into touch, play comes back for a Blues penalty which is kicked to touch. Wootton Bassett steal the lineout and run at Blues getting a penalty which is kicked to touch on Blues 22, lineout won they attack getting into Blues 22 and get a penalty which they tap and go getting a 5m penalty scrum, they just hold their scrum then a knock on gives Blues a scrum, Blues run from their scrum before kicking deep into Wootton Bassetts half, they gather and run the ball getting up to Blues 22 through several phases before Daniel Sanders intercepts a pass just outside Blues 22 and is gone sprinting the 80m to score under the posts, Dan Thorne adds the conversion 18-10 62 mins.

Wootton Bassett have the best of the next few minutes missing one penalty and scoring with the next one on 68 mins 18-13

Joe Davis on Ashley Doel off

Blues restart Wootton Bassett take play back into Blues half before conceding a penalty at the tackle, Blues kick to touch in Wootton Bassetts half.

Morgan Gray off Euan Baird on 70 mins

Lineout won Blues soon have a penalty the long kick is just wide, Wootton Bassett take the 22 drop out which is straight out so back for a Blues scrum, which is reset, Blues pack earns a penalty which Dan Thorne kicks 21-13 72mins

Wootton Bassett restart Blues gather and then kick, Wootton Bassett run back at Blues taking play across the pitch and back but are not making much ground so they try a chip kick, Blues gather and run the ball, Dave Few makes the break taking play back into Wootton Bassetts half, Blues keep the ball live and attack down their right, the ball is passed through hands to Daniel Sanders who beats the defenders to score his second try, bit of handbag swinging by the players, Dan Thorne converts 75 mins 28-13

Michael Klichowicz off Morgan Gray on

Wootton Bassett restart Blues gather and run before putting in a crossfield kick, Dan Thorne being hit hard just after he kicked, injury time out, Wootton Bassett yellow

Dan Thorne off Jamal Watson on 79 mins

Play restarts with a Blues scrum, Blues win and kick clear to touch bringing full time

Well done to both sides who played some good rugby on a wet and cold afternoon

Thanks to the ref who kept control of fiercely fought contest

Scorer’s 1st Half
25 mins Dan Thorne – Pen. 36 mins Dan Thorne – Pen

Scorer’s 2nd Half
45 mins Christian Collett – Try. 62 mins Daniel Sanders – Try, Dan Thorne – Con.
72 mins Dan Thorne – Pen. 75 mins Daniel Sanders – Try, Dan Thorne – Con.

MOM – David Few

Newbury Blues Squad
1-8, Ben Hicks, Harry Waye-Branch, Callum Varrall, Joe Davis, Ashley Doel, Chris Harvey,
Jamal Watson, Will Osborne.
9-15, Beau Power, Michael Klichowicz, Daniel Sanders, Dan Thorne, Christian Collett,
Morgan Gray, Jamie Futcher.
16-18, George Robinson-Slater, David Few, Euan Baird.

Blues next Fixture is Sat 29th Nov Away v Cleve 2-30pm KO
There is a coach for the trip to Cleve
Stags at Home v Wheatley KO TBC

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

Big thanks to our fantastic 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

Also big thanks to our match day photographer Ian Jack whose photos are on the Pitchero website
https://www.newburyrugby.co.uk/photos

Big thanks to Kennet Radio for their support, https://kennetradio.com/category/sport/

Big thanks to the NWN for their match reports https://www.newburytoday.co.uk/sport/rugby/