Blues are forced into one change for the trip to Old Centralians who were relegated from Div 3 SW last season, George Robinson-Slater coming in for James Macauley who is unavailable. The last time Blues visited Old Cents in the 2012/13 season it resulted in a heavy 41-3, defeat, Old Cents have a good home record so a tough game is in prospect.

Old Cents kick off down the slope on a cold grey but dry afternoon, Blues return the kick to touch, Old Cents win their lineout and run the ball but concede a penalty for crossing just outside Blues 22, Blues kick doesn’t quite make touch allowing Old Cents to launch another attack, this time they spill the ball allowing Blues to run out of defence Josh Bartlett making good ground before chipping a kick over the defence, he is taken out as he chases the ball giving Blues a penalty where the ball has landed. Dan Thorne is wide with the kick, Old Cents kick long from the 22 drop out, Blues take and run the ball before Dan Thorne slots a kick bouncing into touch in Old Cents 22, Old Cents kick out of defence from the lineout Blues take and put up a high kick and chase.
Old Cents run the ball getting just into Blues half before a knock on gives Blues a scrum, Old Cents forwards pinch the scrum and run at Blues before after several phases of sideways progress they kick into Blues 22, Blues counter attack then a good kick and chase results in Old Cents knocking on, Blues pack is under pressure at the scrum and they concede a penalty when the get shoved backwards, Old Cents kick to touch in Blues 22 winning the lineout Old Cents forwards get up to the line but are held up giving them a 5m scrum.
Old Cents pack have the upper hand and shove Blues backwards, the scrum collapse’s meaning back to the 5m line for a reset, again Blues are pushed backwards this time Old Cents get the ball out to score wide out on their left, the conversion is wide making the score 5-0 on 12 mins

Blues restart kick is taken by Old Cents who run straight back into Blues half, Dan Thorne steals the ball at the tackle and Blues set off running into Old Cents territory, Josh Winfield and Toby Thorne making good yards through several phase’s, Old Cents concede a penalty which Blues slot into touch, lineout won Blues forwards Dylan Stewart and Kyle Doel make ground before they spread the ball across the pitch through the backs allowing Toby Thorne to get over the line but a really hard tackle dislodges the ball resulting in a knock on. Old Cents pack has the upper hand and win a penalty at the scrum which is kicked to touch, lineout won Old Cents run at Blues but a knock on gives Blues a scrum in their own half, Blues just manage to hold their scrum and kick, sadly the sliced kick is straight out so back for an Old Cents line out.
Old Cents win the lineout and their forwards maul towards the line, Blues infringe but Old Cents play the advantage and spread the ball wide before a mistake brings play back for the earlier penalty which is kicked to touch giving them a 5m attacking lineout. Old Cents forwards maul towards the line before it collapses giving them a penalty, they play the advantage and spread the ball out wide through their backs then bring it quickly back to split the Blues defence, scoring a well worked try the conversion is successful making the score, 12-0 25 min’s and Blues also earning a yellow card.

Blues restart kick is good and Old Cents under pressure get a hand on it before it rolls into touch, Blues win a penalty at the lineout which Dan Thorne takes a kick at the posts, the ball is just wide and Old Cents touch down for the 22 drop out. Old Cents kick long from the 22 drop out Blues gather and run the ball but a knock on halts their progress, Old Cents are dominant at the scrum and kick deep well into Blues half, both side kick before Blues kick rolls nicely into touch.
Old Cents win the lineout and run the ball making good ground and getting into Blues 22 before they concede a penalty at the tackle allowing Blues to relieve the pressure and kick to touch, Blues win their lineout and the forwards pick and drive before the ball comes out to the backs Dan Thorne making ground before Josh Winfield breaks a tackle he releases Josh Bartlett who rounds a defender before releasing Mike Walker who is off up the touchline, as he is tackled in Old Cents 22 he slips a pass to Toby Thorne who makes the final 20m and is over to touch down close to the posts, Nick Wackwitz kicks the conversion 12-7 33 mins

Old Cents have the better of the last few minutes of the half and put the Blues under pressure spending most of the time camped in Blues half but are unable to make the break through some good tackling from Rob Drysdale, Graham Stewart, Rory Jones and Ben Hicks preventing them from adding to their score, the whistle comes bringing half time and the chance for the coaches to put the wrongs right

******

Blues kick off the second half Old Cents return the kick, Blues run through a couple of phase’s before kicking deep into Old Cents half, Old Cents run the ball making good ground getting into Blues 22 before Blues manage to steal the ball in the tackle and kick clear, Old Cents run back at Blues before kicking the ball it rolls nearly up to the try line, Blues gather and run and win a penalty at the tackle which is kicked to touch still deep in their own half, Blues win the lineout but get penalised at the tackle, Old Cents take a long shot at the posts which is wide. Blues tap it down and take the 22-drop out, Old Cents return the kick Blues catch and run the ball getting into Old Cents half before they are penalised, Old Cents kick to touch.
Old Cents win the lineout and again put pressure on Blues getting into the 22 before Blues get a penalty scrum, Old Cents still have the upper hand at the scrum and win Blues put in, they spread the ball wide then bring it back across the pitch quickly through hands to break through some weak Blues tackling to score under the posts, the easy conversion is kicked giving Old Cents a 19-7 lead on 49 mins

Josh Love off Jamie Futcher on and a small reshuffle in the back line

Blues restart kick is returned by Old Cents; Blues run this time getting into the opposition half before Mike Walkers run is halted when he is tackled into touch, Old Cents win the lineout and put a high kick back into Blues half, Blues take and run out of defence the backs making good ground. Joe Pigott makes a break and gets well into Old Cents half before he is stopped, Blues support is quickly there and Kyle Doel is up to the line before he is held up, Blues keep possession and put Old Cents under a period of pressure before they lose the ball allowing Old Cents to kick clear.
Blues gather and again run at Old Cents winning a penalty at the tackle Nick Wackwitz just wide with the kick at the posts 55 min’s, Old Cents take the 22-drop out long, Dylan Stewart gathers and sets off, he releases Rory Jones then forwards Jon Bastable and Ben Hicks keep possession before Dan Thorne makes a good run getting up to Old Cents 22 before he his tackled and injured, time out

Dan Thorne off Ben O'Shea on, Ben Hicks off George Robinson-Slater on 58 mins, and another positional reshuffle to suit

Blues have a scrum in Old Cents 22, which they win, Blues pack is now holding its own, and from the scrum they attack the try line George Robinson-Slater making ground, Joe Pigott makes a dart for the line but is held, Blues get a penalty when Old Cents infringe trying to keep Blues out, Blues tap and go their forwards picking and driving up to the line, Rory Jones picks up and crashes over to score, Nick Wackwitz is just wide with the long conversion making the score 19-12 63 mins

Blues are now playing their best rugby of the game and straight from the Old Cents restart kick Ben O'Shea catches and sets off on a great run breaking several tackles and making good yards getting well into Old Cents half before he releases Josh Bartlett who also makes good ground draws the defender before releasing Jamie Futcher who is off down the touch line to beat the defender and score wide out on the left, Nick Wackwitz steps up and a great conversion kick brings the scores level, 19-19 66 mins

Josh Bartlett off Josh Love on

Old Cents take the restart kick, Dylan Stewart catches and runs, Blues win a penalty at the tackle which is kicked to touch just in Old Cents half, Blues knock on at the lineout giving Old Cents a scrum, Old Cents don’t have the dominance in the scrum and just hold on to possession but don’t get far before they are held in the tackle giving Blues a scrum, Blues now have the better of the game and another good attack from the scrum takes them down the slope and well into Old Cents half before a knock on halts their progress.
Old Cents get a free kick at the scrum and trying running out of defence before kicking clear, Blues needlessly infringe at the tackle giving Old Cents a penalty which they kick to touch to give themselves an attacking lineout

Josh Love off Josh Bartlett on

Old Cents win their lineout and their forwards maul up to the line but good Blues defence holds them out and, their forwards pick and drive but still cannot break the Blues defence who hold them out, Old Cents win a 5m scrum and try spreading the ball wide but again no success so the chip kick over Blues defence, Blues win the race and touch down for the 22 drop out. Blues take quick and chase, Old Cents under pressure from Blues at the tackle get a penalty which they kick to touch, lineout won they get up to Blues 22 before Blues manage to steal the ball and kick clear, Old Cents take and keep up the pressure on the Blues defence who again hold firm and manage to steal the ball, Blues spread the ball wide to Jamie Futcher who kicks long and a good chase and tackle takes play into Old Cents 22.
Blues keep Old Cents penned close to their own 22 for several phases before they manage to break out and get up to half way, Old Cents manage to keep hold of the ball and win a cheap penalty at the tackle which they kick to touch.
Lineout won Old Cents put Blues under pressure getting well into their 22 but Blues defence again holds out and gets a penalty when Old Cents get over eager and infringe at the tackle, Blues clear to touch, Blues just win their lineout but make a mistake which allows Old Cents to keep up the late pressure and attack getting back up to Blues 22, Blues defence manages to hold firm and an Old Cents mistake brings the final whistle and a 19-19 draw.

On reflection a draw probably being a fair result, both sides missing kicks which could have won the game and both sides having reasons why they should have won. Old Cents managed to disrupt the normal flow of the Blues game and put them under pressure that no other teams have done so far this season especially their dominance at the tackle

Good luck to Old Cents for the remainder of the season

MOM really hard choice this week but it goes to Robbie Drysdale for his fearless tackling and who as usual just keeps going

Blues Squad
Ben Hicks, Rob Drysdale, Graham Stewart, Jon Bastable, Kyle Doel, Josh Winfield,
Dylan Stewart, Rory Jones, Joe Pigott, Nick Wackwitz, Toby Thorne, Josh Love,
Dan Thorne, Mike Walker, Josh Bartlett, George Robinson-Slater, Ben O'Shea, Jamie Futcher

Next week Saturday 26th Nov Blues are at home to new league leaders Old Patesians who had a narrow home win over previous leaders Maidenhead, another big game at Monks Lane

Match details

Match date

Sat 19 Nov 2016

Kickoff

14:30

Location

Old Centralians RFC

Competition

South West 1 East

League position

Newbury Blues

Old Centralians

Team overview

Blues share points