Witney kick off on a damp dark Saturday afternoon with the cross wind behind them, both teams at the wrong end of the league and both teams needing the victory, Blues start slightly the better getting into Witneys 22 but cough up possession allowing Witney to clear to touch just outside their 22, from the lineout Blues attack taking play back into Witneys 22 a good run by Ed Gavin, and get a penalty at the tackle which Dan Thorne slots between the uprights 6 mins 3-0

Witney kick off Blues clear to touch just in their own half, lineout won Witney attack getting up to Blues 22 before Blues steal possession Blues try running out of defence but lose the ball, Witney attack then put a neat grubber kick bouncing into touch deep in Blues 22, Blues win the lineout and clear to touch Witney win the lineout but concede a penalty which Blues kick to touch just inside their own half lineout won Blues put up a high kick Witney gather and their kick is charged down by Junior Delai who manages to kick the ball which takes play into Witneys 22.
Witney manage to get their hands on the ball and clear to touch outside their 22, lineout won Blues attack but concede a penalty which Witney kick to touch in Blues half. Lineout won Witney take play across the pitch but concede a penalty at the tackle Blues kick to touch just outside Witneys 22, lineout won Blues attack Kyle Doel breaking tackles to get into Witneys 22, Blues spread play wide left but are stopped just short of the try line, Blues get a penalty at the tackle which is kicked to touch, Blues win the 5 m lineout and their forwards maul but lose possession allowing Witney to clear to touch on their 40m line.
Witney steal the lineout and kick deep Blues captain is flattened and the end result is Blues get a scrum in their own 22, Blues try running out of defence but cough up possession allowing Witney to attack they get over the line but are held up, Blues take the goal line drop out kick, Witney gather and attack taking play across the pitch and back through several phase’s eventually they make the break through to score and add the conversion 24 mins 3-7

Blues restart Witney gather and kick Blues gather and some good attacking play takes them into Witneys 22 before a knock gives Witney a scrum, Witney hold their scrum and kick to touch still in their own 22, Blues maul from the lineout then try running but knock on Witney have the ball and clear to touch just in their own half.
Witney steal the lineout and run an attempted kick is snaffled by Blues who attack and get a penalty which is kicked to touch just outside Witneys 22, lineout won Blues attack and soon have a penalty the kick is blown just wide.
Witney take the drop out kick Blues gather and run getting into Witney territory but are penalised Witney kick to touch win their lineout but have soon knocked on giving Blues a scrum

Sam Bramhall off George Robinson-Slater on 33 mins.

Blues kick from the scrum, Witney gather and run getting back into Blues half but concede a penalty at the tackle, Blues kick to touch stays in play Witney return the kick Blues gather and kick Witney gather and put in a crossfield kick, Blues gather and run before putting up a high kick and chase, Blues get there but knock on, Witney hold there scrum and a good kick bounces into touch just outside Blues 22.
Lineout won Blues maul then put up a high kick Blues are penalised for offside allowing Witney to kick to touch on Blues 22, lineout Witney soon have another penalty which is kicked to touch in Blues 22, they attack from their lineout and after several phases they make the break through to touch down, the conversion brings the halftime whistle 3-14

Tom Hunt off Kris Ford on at halftime

Blues kick off the second half with the advantage of the cross wind and need to get on the score sheet first, the kick rolls over the try line and Witney dot it down, Blues Chris Harvey charges down Witneys drop out kick and regathers, Blues attack getting into Witneys 22 and after several phases get a penalty which Dan Thorne kicks, 6-14 42 mins

Witney restart Blues gather and soon have a penalty at the tackle which is kicked to touch on half way, lineout won Blues attack taking play into Witneys half and up to their 22 before a loose ball and a Witney knock on halts their progress, Blues pack earn a penalty at the scrum, Blues take a penalty scrum, they take play wide from the scrum but are forced back by Witneys defence and eventually knock on in the tackle on Witneys 22, Witney win a penalty at the scrum which is kicked to touch on halfway, lineout won Witney attack and make a break getting into Blues 22 before being stopped, they keep the ball live for a couple of phase’s but a loose pass is caught by Blues who clear to touch just in Witneys half.
Lineout won Witney run at Blues before a neat grubber kick rolls into touch just outside Blues 22, Blues just win a scrappy lineout and kick up to halfway, Witney gather and run back at Blues before kicking, the kick drifts straight out so back for a Blues lineout just in Witneys half. Lineout won Blues attack across the pitch getting a penalty for offside, the kick stays in play and Witney return the kick, Blues gather and attack getting another penalty just in Witneys half the kick finds touch on Witneys 22. Witney get a yellow card
Lineout won Blues attack across the pitch another good Ed Gavin run takes play up to Witneys 22, Blues keep the ball live and take play left through hands Dan Thorne to Kris Ford to Christian Collett to Jamie Futcher and the final pass to Daniel Sanders who dodges the tackles to run the touch line and make the final 10m and return to score, the conversion hits the upright, 11-14 58 mins

Jamal Watson on Ed Gavin off Blood

Witney restart Blues gather and clear to touch just short of halfway, Witney attack from the lineout taking play wide, a good tackle from Junior Delai stops them and he manages to steal possession, Blues kick clear into Witneys half, Witney gather and run before Witney put up a high kick Blues touch it before it rolls into giving Witney a lineout still in their own half.

Ed Gavin on Jamal Watson off 62 mins

Lineout won Witney attack getting into Blues half before a neat kick rolls into touch in Blues 22 Blues hold their lineout and try running out of defence before a good clearing kick finds touch just in Witneys half, lineout won Witney take play across the pitch but concede a penalty at the tackle still in their own half, which is kicked to touch on Witneys 22, Blues again win a scruffy lineout and their forwards run Kyle Doel bouncing off tacklers taking play into Witneys 22, Blues get a penalty but play the advantage and some good running rugby takes them close to the line but they are just held out, the ref comes back for the penalty just in Witneys 22 wide right, Blues tap and go putting pressure on Witneys defence who stray offside giving Blues a penalty in front of the posts Dan Thorne slots the kick between the posts on 68 mins 14-14 and now all to play for in the last 10 mins

Witney kick off Blues gather and return the kick Witney attack and get a penalty which is kicked to touch in Blues 22, lineout won Witneys forwards maul getting close to the line before being stopped, their forwards then pick and drive through several phases, Blues defence holds firm and eventually forces a knock on giving Blues a 5m defensive scrum, Blues hold their scrum and kick clear to touch just outside their 22, lineout won Witneys forwards getting into Blues 22 before Blues defence holds them out and wins a scrum.
Blues hold their scrum and try running out of defence getting a penalty at the tackle which is kicked to touch still10m in their own half, again Blues just hold their lineout and put a kick into Witney territory, Witney gather and run getting just back into Blues half before being tackled and knocking on.
Jamal Watson on Ed Gavin Off 72 mins

Scrum won Blues attack but a loose Blues pass is kicked forwards by Witney Blues gather but lose possession in the tackle allowing Witney to mount another attack they cough up possession and Blues kick deep into Witneys half they gather but a good chase forces them to kick Blues gather and run back into Witneys half, Witneys defence pushes Blues back and wins a penalty which they kick to touch, lineout won Witneys forwards maul getting into Blues 22 before good Blues defence manages to stop them and kill the ball giving Blues a scrum, Blues hold their scrum and kick deep, Witney gather and manage to break tackles getting close to Blues 22 before getting a penalty for a high tackle they kick to touch deep in Blues 22. Lineout won Witneys forwards pick and drive through numerous phase’s, resolute Blues defence holds them out and wins a penalty, the kick doesn’t find touch allowing Witney to mount another attack taking play across the pitch and 10m into Blues half, good Blues defence holds them out and wins another penalty at the tackle, Blues tap and go and the ball is passed quickly through hands to Daniel Sanders who dodges tackles making a good run taking play into Witneys 22, Blues keep the ball alive and attack Witneys defence who infringe giving Blues a penalty in front of the posts, Dan Thorne slots the kick and the final whistle is blown Blues sneaking the win 17-14 with the final kick of a hotly contested and even game. Blues second half performance keeping Witney scoreless and Dan Thorne’s kicking just winning Blues the game.

Well done to Witney who participated in making it an exciting game in poor conditions, good luck for the 2nd half of the season and look forward to the return at yours at the end of March

Thanks to the ref who kept control of a even fiercely fought contest

Scorer’s 1st Half
6 min Dan Thorne – Pen

Scorer’s 2nd Half
42 min Dan Thorne – Pen
58 min Daniel Sanders – Try.
68 min Dan Thorne – Pen
80 min Dan Thorne – Pen

MOM – Ed Gavin

Newbury Blues Squad
1-8, Ben Hicks, Harry Waye-Branch, Sam Bramhall, Ashley Doel, Kyle Doel, Chris Harvey,
Ed Gavin, Will Osborne.
9-15, Tom Hunt, Dan Thorne, Beau Power, Christian Collett, Jamie Futcher,
Sakiusa Junior Delai, Daniel Sanders.
16-18, George Robinson-Slater, Jamal Watson, Kris Ford.

Blues next Fixture is Sat 13th Dec Home v Cheltenham 3pm KO
Stags have a free weekend

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https://www.newburyrugby.co.uk/photos

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