Blues kick off and after a couple of penalties they are in North Dorsets 22, lineout won Blues spread play wide left, a loose pass is kicked sideways by Dan Thorne then passed out through the backs a long pass from Michael Klichowicz to Jamie Futcher who releases Daniel Sanders to go over and score wide left, the long conversion is just wide 3 mins 0-5

North Dorset manage to regain possession at the restart and take play into Blues 22 before knocking on, Blues just hold their scrum going backwards and take play out of their 22 before conceding a penalty at the tackle, North Dorset kick to touch in Blues 22 win the lineout and their forwards maul getting up to the try line before the ball is moved left to score wide out the conversion is just wide 8 min 5-5

Blues restart and after a couple of kicks from both teams North Dorset clear to touch on their 22, North Dorset knock on at the lineout giving Blues a scrum, Blues just hold their scrum but lose possession, North Dorset attack getting into Blues half and get a penalty for offside which is kicked to touch deep in Blues 22, lineout won North Dorsets heavier forwards maul making the meters and getting over the line to score and add the conversion, 14 mins 12-5

Blues restart and get an attacking scrum when North Dorset knock on, Blues just hold their scrum and attack spending several phases in North Dorsets 22, Blues get a penalty which they tap and go their forwards picking and driving but cannot break through North Dorset’s defence, eventually Blues concede a penalty which is kicked to touch, line out won North Dorset attack but a knock on halts their progress still in their own half. Blues again just hold their scrum going backwards and attack a neat grubber kick takes play into North Dorsets 22, North Dorset run out of defence before kicking deep, Michael Klichowicz gathers a weaving run takes play back into North Dorsets territory, Blues get a penalty, Sidney Adams taps and goes before sending a neat grubber kick bouncing into the 22, a good chase is just beaten by the ball rolling dead. North Dorset win their 5m lineout and after a couple of phases clear to touch, Blues win their lineout and the forwards drive up field but concede a penalty, North Dorsets kick doesn’t find touch allowing Blues to attack across the pitch then back, play is stopped for an injury and restarts with a Blues scrum in the middle of the pitch, Blues win their scrum under pressure and a neat kick from Chris Laidler bounces into touch deep in North Dorsets 22. North Dorset win their lineout and after a couple of phases clear to touch, North Dorset steal the lineout and run out of defence before kicking into Blues 22. Blue gather and run the ball taking play across the pitch and back before sending a grubber kick into North Dorsets 22, play comes back for a Blues penalty which is kicked to touch, lineout won Blues spread the ball to Chris Laidler who breaks through the North Dorset defence to score under the posts Dan Thorne adds the conversion 30 mins and the scores are level 12-12

North Dorset restart Blues gather and return the kick, North Dorset attack down the touchline but lose possession Blues hack the ball up field and chase the ball a knock on gives North Dorset a scrum which they win but concede a penalty at the tackle, Blues kick to touch in North Dorsets 22, lineout won Blues forwards maul before Harry Waye-Branch breaks away side steps the defender to score Dan Thorne adds the conversion 35 mins 12-19

North Dorset restart Blues gather and clear to touch still in their own half, lineout won North Dorset attack taking play across the pitch and back into Blues 22, they win a penalty which they slot between the posts 38 mins 15-19
Blues restart, North Dorset gather and try running the ball before clearing to touch and bringing th half time whistle, a tight first half and all to play for in the second half

Blues kick off the second half North Dorset gather and kick, Blues gather and kick and a good chase puts North Dorset under pressure and forces them to kick, Jamie Futcher gathers in his own half sidesteps the defender getting to the 22 before a neat inside pass releases the ever-present Sidney Adams to run clear and score the bonus point try, Dan Thorne converts 42mins 15-26

North Dorset restart Blues gather and run out of defence a god run from Will Osborne takes play up to North Dorsets 22, Blues keep possession and a good crossfield kick is knocked dead by North Dorset

44 mins Sidney Adams off, Beau Power on

Play is brought back for a Blues penalty which is kicked to touch, North Dorset knock on at the lineout so an attacking Blues scrum, Blues knock on at the base of the scrum, North Dorset win the reset scrum and clear to touch just outside their 22. North Dorset get a scrum at Blues lineout then a penalty at the scrum which is kicked to touch in Blues half, lineout won North Dorset attack taking play wide left and get a penalty which is kicked to touch in Blues 22.

49 mins Sam Bramhall off George Robinson-Slater on, Joe Davis off Kris Ford on

Lineout won North Dorset’s forwards maul but get held by Blues who get the scrum, Blues hold their scrum and clear to touch on their 22, Lineout won North Dorset attack but concede a scrum, Blue hold their scrum and run their clearing kick is charged down into touch giving Blues a lineout still in their own half.
Lineout won Blues put up a high kick and manage to get hold of the ball they spread it wide left but get tackled into touch still in their own half, North Dorset knock on giving Blues a scrum, Blues hold their scrum and run the ball before kicking North Dorset gather and return the kick, Blues gather Dan Thorne making a good run, Blues keep possession and get a penalty which is kicked to touch in North Dorsets 22.
Blues win their lineout and maul before Kris Ford breaks off the rear and beats the defenders to score wide left, Dan Thorne kicks the long conversion, 59 mins 15-33

North Dorset restart Blues gather and kick a good chase and Blues tackle puts pressure on North Dorset they try running the ball but a knock on gives Blues the loose ball they play advantage and spread the ball wide right, Blues Dan Sanders makes ground and puts a pass back infield, the loose ball is pounced on by Beau Power to touch down wide right the long conversion is just wide, 62 mins 15 38

North Dorset kick off Blues gather and soon put up a high kick and chase, North Dorset gather but are tackled, they keep possession taking play left and back into Blues territory and get a scrum, North Dorset attack right and get a penalty which is kicked to touch

65 mins Kyle Doel off Joe Davis on

Lineout won in Blues 22 North Dorset attack getting another penalty which is kicked to touch deep in Blues 22, lineout won their big forwards maul getting close to the try line and win a scrum, their pack easily hold their scrum allowing them to breakoff the rear and score the conversion is just wide 70 mins 20-38

Blues restart North Dorset gather and kick Blues attack getting up to the 22 before losing the ball North Dorset run out of defence and get a penalty which is kicked to touch in Blues half, Blue get a scrum at the lineout, scrum won Blues kick is caught by North Dorset and their kick is straight out so a Blues lineout on halfway. Lineout won Blues take play across the pitch but lose possession at the tackle North Dorset run the ball but they cough up possession allowing Blues to attack, they put in a neat chip kick and chase which is knocked on by North Dorset giving Blues a scrum just in North Dorset’s 22, North Dorset steal the scrum but a knock on gives Blues another scrum just outside the 22, Blues hold their scrum and spread play wide right they keep possession and take play left across the pitch getting close to the try line Blues keep up the pressure getting over the line under the posts but are held up. North Dorset steal Blues 5m scrum and clear to touch just short of halfway, lineout won Blues take play right before coming back several passes reach Harry Waye-Branch who makes yards before putting up a deft chip kick, Jamie Futcher chases catches the ball and outruns the defender to score under the posts, Dan Thorne adds the conversion and the final whistle is blown 20-45

Thanks to the ref who kept control of the game

Big thanks to our touch judge for running the touch line at North Dorset

Thanks to North Dorset for hosting us and all the best for the remainder of the season

Scorer’s 1st Half
3 min Daniel Sanders Try
30 min Chris Laidler Try, Dan Thorne Conv
35 min Harry Waye-Branch Try, Dan Thorne Conv

Scorer’s 2nd Half
42 min Sidney Adams Try, Dan Thorne Conv
59 min Kris Ford Try, Dan Thorne Conv
61 min Beau Power Try
79 min Jamie Futcher Try, Dan Thorne Conv

MOM – Harry Waye-Branch

Newbury Blues Squad
1-8, Ben Hicks, Harry Waye-Branch, Sam Bramhall, Joe Davis, Kyle Doel, Dave Few,
Chris Harvey, Will Osborne.
9-15, Sidney Adams, Dan Thorne, Daniel Sanders, Chris Laidler, Christian Collett,
Jamie Futcher, Michael Klichowicz.
16-18, George Robinson-Slater, Kris Ford, Beau Power

Blues next Fixture is PINK DAY Sat 28th Feb Home v Keynsham 3pm KO

Stags next Fixture is Sat 28th Feb Away at Faringdon KO TBC

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

Big thanks to our fantastic supporters who made the trip to North Dorset, 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/