Newbury Blues 50 – 14 Cheltenham

Blues get a try bonus point win scoring 8 try’s

Saturday 13th Dec 3 pm KO
Regional 2 Tribute Ale Severn, South West Division

Big congratulations to George Robinson-Slater who made his 150th cap
Also, congratulations to Ashley Doel who made his 50th cap

Blues make 4 changes for the Cheltenham match welcoming back, Callum Varrell, Joe Davis,
Michael Klichowicz and top try scorer Ben Hurford-John

Cheltenham kick off and within a couple of minutes Blues have broken the Cheltenham defence to score, from a penalty at a Blues scrum on halfway, Blues tap and go, a neat crossfield kick is gathered by Junior Delai who takes play deep into Cheltenham’s 22, Blues keep the ball live and another Dan Thorne crossfield kick is gathered by Daniel Sanders, a neat infield pass releases top try scorer Ben Hurford-John to score wide right, the conversion is just wide, 3 mins 5-0

Cheltenham restart Blues get up to halfway before a forward pass halts their progress, Cheltenham hold their scrum but a knock on gives Blues a scrum on halfway, Blues attack from their scrum getting a penalty at the tackle which is kicked to touch deep in Cheltenham’s 22, lineout won Blues forwards take play close to the try line before the ball is spread right allowing Daniel Sanders to side step the defender and score wide out right, the long conversion is just wide 8 mins 10-0

Cheltenham kick off Blues run out of their 22 before a knock on gives Cheltenham a scrum, they attack from their scrum and get a penalty which is kicked to touch in Blues 22, lineout won Cheltenham attack through several phase’s getting close to the try line before a knock on gives Blues a 5m defensive scrum. Blues hold their scrum and get a penalty which is kicked to touch still in Blues half, lineout won Blues spread play wide right a neat chip kick is hacked forwards deep into Cheltenham’s 22 their defence holds firm and they clear to touch just outside their 22, Cheltenham get a scrum at the lineout, Blues pack return the favour getting a penalty the kick drifts dead so back for a Cheltenham 22 drop out they tap and go making progress and soon have a penalty which is kicked to touch in Blues territory.
Lineout won Cheltenham attack making some ground before Ben Hicks intercepts a pass and Blues attack getting into Cheltenham’s half and get a penalty at the tackle which is kicked to touch in Cheltenham’s 22, Cheltenham steal the lineout and clear to touch on halfway, Blues take a quick lineout but a knock on gives Cheltenham a scrum in Blues half. Scrum won Cheltenham run at Blues before a neat kick bounces into touch in Blues 22, Cheltenham again steal Blues lineout and attack through several phases before a long pass is knocked on giving Blues a 5m scrum.
Blues win their scrum and put in a crossfield kick which is gathered by Blues and they take play up to halfway, Cheltenham get possession at the tackle and run back at Blues and soon have a penalty, Cheltenham tap and go getting into Blues 22 and get another penalty which is kicked to touch giving them a 5m lineout, Blues manage to get their hands on the ball and clear to touch just outside their 22, lineout won Cheltenham knock on giving Blues a scrum Blues get a penalty at scrum which is kicked to touch 10m in Cheltenham’s half.
Cheltenham steal Blues lineout and kick deep into Blues half Blues return the kick, Cheltenham gather and run getting a penalty at the tackle which is kicked to touch 10m in Blues half lineout won Cheltenham attack before kicking into Blues 22, Blues gather and try running out of defence before a long kick find s touch in Cheltenham’s 22. Lineout won Blues attack through their forwards before the ball is spread wide right, Beau Power picks up the ball at a tackle and dodges the Cheltenham defence to score Dan Thorne adds the conversion, 33 mins 17-0

Cheltenham kick off and soon have a penalty they tap and go but a knock on gives Blues a scrum just outside their 22

Blues make a double substitution, Sam Bramhall and Joe Davis on Callum Varrell and Kyle Doel off 34 mins

Scrum won Blues run getting a penalty which is kicked to touch just in their own half, lineout won Blues run the ball getting another penalty which is kick to touch just outside Cheltenham’s 22, lineout won Blues take play left but a knock on in the tackle gives Cheltenham a scrum 10m in their own half, Blues pack wins a penalty at the reset scrum which is kicked to touch in Cheltenham’s 22, Blues forwards maul but infringe and Blues get a yellow card. Cheltenham kick to touch 10m in their own half, lineout won Cheltenham take play across the pitch but cannot make any ground eventually a knock on brings the half time whistle, 17-0 to Blues

Blues kick off the second half drifts straight out back for a Cheltenham scrum, Cheltenham get a penalty at the reset scrum and kick to touch deep in Blues 22, Cheltenham knock on at the lineout giving Blues a defensive scrum, Cheltenham get a penalty at the scrum, they tap and go taking play left where they break through Blues defence to score close to the posts, plus the conversion 17-7 43mins

Blues restart Cheltenham gather and kick up field, Blues gather and some good running rugby from their backs takes play up to Cheltenham’s 22, Blues keep the ball live Harry Waye-Branch breaks tackles taking play deep into Cheltenham’s 22, Blues keep up the attack and a long pass to Ben Hurford-John frees him to run the touch line to score wide right the bonus point try, Dan Thorne drop kicks the long conversion 24-7 45mins

Cheltenham restart Blues gather and run before putting in a chip kick, Cheltenham gather and run back at Blues getting into Blues territory, they put in a crossfield kick, Blues knock on giving Cheltenham a scrum, Blues get a penalty at the scrum, Blues kick to touch in Cheltenham’s half, Blues win their lineout but a knock on gives Cheltenham a scrum still in their own half. From their scrum Cheltenham run the ball before kicking deep into Blues 22, Blues clear to touch just in Cheltenham territory, lineout won Cheltenham kick, the ball rolls over the try line and Blues touch down for the goal line drop out, Blues kick Cheltenham gather and run at Blues, a great interception by Daniel Sanders 20m in his own half and he is gone outpacing the Cheltenham defenders to score under the posts a great individual try, Dan Thorne converts 31-7 50mins

Cheltenham restart with a grubber kick Blues knock on giving Cheltenham a scrum they attack from the scrum and some good running rugby takes they deep into Blues 22, Blues defence earns a penalty which is kicked to touch still in their own half, Cheltenham steal the lineout and attack getting a penalty at the tackle, the kick gives them a 5m lineout, lineout won their forwards maul making it to the try line to score, the conversion is added 31-14 60mins

Kyle Doel on Jamal Watson off

Blues restart, Cheltenham kick up field Blues gather and run before putting in a chip kick, Cheltenham return the kick Blues run the ball getting into Cheltenham’s 22 before conceding a penalty, Cheltenham tap and go getting another penalty which is kicked to touch 10m in Blues half, lineout won Cheltenham attack before putting a kick into Blues 22, Blues gather and get a penalty at the tackle Blues kick to touch 10m in their own half.

Michael Klichowicz on Christian Collett off 65 mins

Lineout won Blues forwards maul making good ground before Harry Waye-Branch makes a good run taking play into Cheltenham’s 22, Blues take play right, Cheltenham manage to steal possession and run out of defence getting a penalty, injury time out, Cheltenham kick to touch just in Blues half, Blues steal the lineout and take play right a knock on gives Cheltenham a scrum in Blues half, Blues pack win a penalty at the scrum, Blues tap and go and some good rugby takes them into Cheltenham’s 22 they keep the ball live through several phases before Dan Thorne breaks a tackle and releases Will Osborne is over to score, Dan Thorne adds the conversion 38-14 68 mins

Cheltenham restart Blues gather and clear to touch, Blues steal the lineout and attack a good charging run from Kyle Doel takes play into Cheltenham’s half and into their 22, Blues get a penalty they take the scrum and attack right getting close to the try line, the ball is brought back left through hands for Jamie Futcher to bounce off the tackle and score wide left, the conversion drifts just wide, 43-14 74 mins

Ben Hicks Off Jamal Watson on

Cheltenham restart and get hold of the ball they attack taking play left and into Blues 22 before being tackled into touch, lineout won Blues forwards maul before a high Beau Power kick, Daniel Sanders chases and the bounce is good he gathers at full pace just in Cheltenham’s half and is gone to score his hatrick try, Dan Thorne converts 50-14 78 mins

Michael Klichowicz off Ben Hicks on

Cheltenham’s kick off isn’t 10 m and the final whistle is blown, 50-14

Well done to Cheltenham who kept going to the final whistle, they have the same problems as we had lots of players out injured or unavailable. All the best for the second half of the season and hope 2026 is better for you

Thanks to the ref who kept control of a hard-fought contest

Scorer’s 1st Half
3 min Ben Hurford-John – Try
8 min Daniel Sanders – Try
33 min Beau Power – Try, Dan Thorne – Conv

Scorer’s 2nd Half
43 min Ben Hurford-John – Try, Dan Thorne – Conv
50 min Daniel Sanders – Try, Dan Thorne – Conv
68 min Will Osborne – Try, Dan Thorne – Conv
74 min Jamie Futcher – Try
78 min Daniel Sanders – Try, Dan Thorne – Conv

MOM – Daniel Sanders

Newbury Blues Squad
1-8, Ben Hicks, Callum Varrell, George Robinson-Slater, Ashley Doel, Kyle Doel, Jamal Watson,
Harry Waye-Branch, Will Osborne.
9-15, Beau Power, Dan Thorne, Daniel Sanders, Christian Collett, Jamie Futcher,
Sakiusa Junior Delai, Ben Hurford-John.
16-18, Sam Bramhall, Joe Davis, Michael Klichowicz, TR Michael Duppa-Miller

Blues next Fixture is Sat 20th Dec Away at Old Centralians 2pm KO TBC
Stags at Home against Abingdon 2pm KO

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/

There is a coach to Old Centralians RFC on Sat 20th Dec,
All welcome
Seats available, Cost £20 per person
Depart NRFC 11am Prompt!!
Depart Old Cents RFC approx. 17-30pm
To book you seat please contact Newbury RFC Reception
01635 230023 - reception@newburyrfc.org.uk
Hope you can join us on our match day travels