Blues travelled to Wootton Bassett expecting a tight game going on their previous meeting and it was the case Blues taking the lead for the first time in the 74th minute and holding on untill the final whistle

Blues kick off on an overcast damp afternoon, Wootton Bassett gather and several strong runs takes them into Blues half, they win a penalty which is kicked to touch on Blues 22, lineout won Wootton Bassett attack through several phases taking play left then back right and are rewarded when a tackle breaking run rewards them with a try, the long conversion is kicked 3mins 7-0

Blues restart, Wootton Bassett gather and clear to touch just short of halfway, Blues win the lineout but a knock on gives Wootton Bassett a scrum, they get a free kick at the scrum and mount another attack getting into Blues 22 before being tackled into touch couple of meters short of the try line, Blues just win their 5m lineout but are pushed back over the try line giving them a try line dropout, Blues kick is gathered by Wootton Bassett and their attack is rewarded when they spread the ball right to score 10 mins 12-0.

Blues kick off having not had hold of the ball for most of the first 10mins, this theme continues as Wootton Bassett attack through numerous phases taking them into Blues half and get a penalty which is kicked to touch in Blues 22, lineout won they attack but concede a penalty at the tackle, Blues kick to touch just in their own half, lineout won Blues take play left before kicking into Wootton Bassett’s 22 they gather and run the ball getting just into Blues half before conceding a penalty at the tackle, Blues kick to touch win their lineout and attack crossfield, Blues put in a chip kick and chase Wootton Bassett clear to touch, the kick is straight out so Blues have a lineout in Wootton Bassett’s 22.
Blues knock on at the lineout giving Wootton Bassett a scrum, Wootton Bassett win their scrum and soon have a penalty which is kicked to touch just in Blues half, lineout won Wootton Bassett taking play across the pitch and back before conceding a penalty.

Kris Ford on George Robinson-Slater off 20 mins

Blues kick doesn’t find touch allowing Wootton Bassett to run back at Blues they knock on still in their own half giving Blues a scrum. Blues attack from their scrum taking play left then right getting into Wootton Bassett’s 22 and win a 5m penalty scrum, Blues win their scrum and the forwards pick and drive Kris Ford driving over, Dan Thorne adds the long conversion 22 mins 12-7

Wootton Bassett restart and get a scrum when Blues knock on, they attack from their scrum taking play into Blues 22 before conceding a penalty at the tackle Blues kick to touch win their lineout and maul up to halfway, a knock on gives Wootton Bassett a scrum, Blues pack get a penalty at the scrum which is kicked to touch in Wootton Bassett’s half, Blues concede a penalty at the lineout allowing Wootton Bassett to kick to touch just outside Blues 22, they attack from the lineout through several phases but cannot break through the Blues defence eventually getting tackled into touch 5m out.

Joe Davis on Kris Ford off 30 mins

Lineout won Blues forwards maul before kicking clear Wootton Bassett gather and run back at Blues but concede a penalty at tackle, Blues kick finds touch just outside Wootton Bassett’s 22, lineout won Blues spread play wide and back again getting close to the try line and get a 5m attacking scrum, Blues win the reset scrum and their forwards pick and drive, Sam Bramhall burrows over to score the conversion drifts just wide 34 mins 12-12 and all to play for

Wooton Bassett kick off and manage to get hold of the ball, they spend the remaining minutes camped in Blues 22 but cannot break through the Blues defence who eventually win a scrum, Blues try running out of defence before kicking to touch bringing the half time whistle, the score reflecting an equal and hard fought first half

Wootton Bassett kick off the second half, Blues run the ball before kicking back into Wootton Bassett’s half, they gather and run the ball back into Blues half, Chris Laidler intercepts and takes play back into Wootton Bassett’s half before a knock on halts their progress, Blues steal the scrum and take play into Wootton Bassett’s 22, a grubber kick deflects off a Wootton Bassett player and into touch

George Robinson-Slater on Will Osborne off 43 mins

Wootton Bassett steal the lineout and clear to touch, Blues win the lineout but a lose the ball, Wootton Bassett run the ball before kicking taking play into Blues 22, Jamie Futcher gets there first and Blues are able to clear to touch just in their own half. Lineout won Wootton Bassett attack taking play across the pitch, Blues manage to steal possession and after a couple phase’s put a kick deep into Wootton Bassett’s 22 they gather and have soon kicked to touch.
Lineout won Wootton Bassett take play left and get up to Blues 22, Blues defence has to organise quickly and a loose pass is snaffled by Blues, they try running the ball before a crossfield kick is gathered by Blues and they get a penalty for being tackled in the air which is kicked to touch just outside Wootton Bassetts 22, lineout won Blues attack across the pitch and into Wootton Bassetts 22, play comes back for a Blues penalty which is kicked to touch deep in the 22.
Blues win their lineout but are penalised allowing Wootton Bassett to clear, Blues steal the lineout and attack taking play wide right before a great kick bounces into touch in Wootton Bassett’s 22 giving them a 5m defensive lineout which they win and soon have a penalty which is kicked to touch just in their own half, lineout won they attack through numerous phase’s getting in to Blues half and get a penalty which is kicked to touch in Blues 22.
Lineout won Wootton Bassett attack across the pitch and back getting another penalty which is kicked to touch giving them an attacking lineout, Wootton Bassett win the lineout and manage to break through Blues defence to score and add the conversion 56 mins 19-12

Blues restart kick is cleared to touch, Wootton Bassett manage to steal Blues lineout and attack getting into Blues territory and get a penalty, the kick doesn’t find touch allowing Blues to gather and kick up field, Wootton Bassett and try running the ball, Blues concede a penalty allowing Wootton Bassett to kick to touch. Lineout won Wootton Bassett attack but good defence from Blues forces a knock on so scrum to Blues which they win and run at Wootton Bassett making ground before kicking deep into Wootton Bassetts 22 a good chase forces Wootton Bassett to kick to touch on their 22

63 mins, Sidney Adams and Will Osborne on, Beau Power and Sam Bramhall off

Lineout won Blues attack making good ground and scoring but the ref deems crossing, Wootton Bassett tap and go then kick, Blues gather and run getting back into Wootton Bassetts half and get a penalty which is kicked to touch deep in Wootton Bassetts 22, lineout won Blues forwards maul making ground before Harry Waye-Branch breaks away evading tackles to score close to the posts, Dan Thorne adds the conversion 68 mins 19-19

Wootton Bassett restart Blues gather and run before kicking into Wootton Bassetts half they run back at Blues getting int Blues half before losing the ball Blues kick the ball bouncing into touch just outside Wootton Bassetts 22. Lineout won Wootton Bassett run the ball, Blues manage to steal the ball and attack but are just tackled into touch deep into Wootton Bassetts 22, lineout won Wootton Bassett try running but lose the ball in the tackle Blues take play wide right then back left allowing Harry Waye-Branch to score wide left, the conversion is just wide, 75 mins 19-24
Wooton Bassett restart Blues gather and return the kick getting a scrum when Wootton Bassett knock on, scrum won Blues attack taking play into Wootton Bassetts 22 before losing possession, Wootton Bassett run out of defence and have soon got a penalty, their kick doesn’t find touch allowing Blues to kick deep into Wootton Bassetts 22 a good chase forces Wootton Bassett to kick to touch on their own 22, Blues attack from their lineout getting up to the try line but are held up, Wootton Bassett take the try line drop out Blues gather and run the ball getting into Wootton Bassetts 22, Wootton Bassett manage to steal the ball and get a penalty which is kicked to touch on their 22, lineout won Wootton Bassett try running out of defence but can’t get out of their 22, Blues manage to steal the ball and are tackled into touch bringing the final whistle. Blues just pinching a narrow win in a hard fought tight game, a credit to both squads.

Thanks to the ref who kept control of the game

Thanks to Royal Wootton Bassett for hosting us and all the best for the remainder of the season

Scorer’s 1st Half
22 min Kris Ford Try, Dan Thorne Conv
34 min Sam Bramhall Try

Scorer’s 2nd Half
68 min Harry Waye-Branch Try, Dan Thorne Conv
74 min Harry Waye-Branch Try

MOM – Chris Harvey

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

Blues next Fixture is Sat 21st Home v Cleve 3pm KO

Stags have a free weekend

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/