Newbury Blues welcomed Banbury Bulls to Monks Lane for the first time and knowing this would be a tough game as Banbury had risen to 4th in the league after an 8 match unbeaten run and their great victory over league leaders Maidenhead last Saturday filling them with confidence
Blues make two changes to last week’s squad Josh Winfield and Alex Millar coming in for Chris Guyatt and Duncan Craigen

Banbury kick off on a firm pitch in front of a big crowd, Banbury have the best of the first minutes of the game and keep the Blues defence under pressure, they are rewarded with a penalty on 7 mins which hits the posts. Banbury launch another attack from the 22 drop out and again put the Blues defence under another period of sustained pressure, after several minutes spent in Blues 22 they manage to break through to score and convert 0-7, 14 mins

From the restart Banbury run the ball and win the penalty, their kick is to long so Newbury have a 22 drop out, Banbury run the ball getting back into Blues 22 before they lose the ball which allows Toby Thorne to run 80m to score a great breakaway try, Nick Wackwitz converting 7-7 18 mins

Banbury take the restart kick and get a penalty scrum when Blues are penalised for accidental offside, Blues win the scrum and kick into Banbury’s half and are unlucky when a great chase results in a lineout when they knock the ball into touch, Banbury win a penalty at the lineout and kick to touch, they mount another attack from the lineout but are stopped when Alex Hackett steals the ball and makes good yards, his kick just drifts straight into touch so Banbury have a lineout which they win and run before kicking well into Blues half.
Blues gather and a good break by Toby Thorne who release’s Jamie Futcher takes play back into Banburys half, he takes the tackle and ships the ball inside to Toby Thorne, he is up to Banburys 22 but tackled into touch. Banbury kick clear from the lineout, Blues counter attack getting back into Blues 22 before a knock on halts progress,

Kyle Doel off Alex Millar on 30 mins

For the remaining 10 mins Banbury probably have the best chances to score but cannot break the Blues defence, they have a penalty on half time but the kick is just wide so both teams go into half time level and the coaches can now do there best to produce the win.
Banbury probably feeling that they should have had a good lead after all the possession and the time they had spent in Blues 22 in the first half

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Newbury kick off the second half and nearly regather the ball, Banbury try running but resort to the kick but players are in front of the kicker so back for a Blues pen which is just wide of the posts
Banbury take the 22 drop out Alex Millar takes and sets off one of his charging runs before the ball is spread through the backs, Dan Thorne sends a grubber kick through the Banbury defence and he is there as the ball bounces up to gather and break the last defender to score close to the posts, Nick Wackwitz converts 14-7 47 mins

Banbury manage to regather the ball from their own kick and put the Blues under pressure winning a penalty, their kick is to long so Blues have a 22 drop out, Banbury gather but are penalised for crossing, Blues kick doesn't make touch allowing them to get back into Blues half and win a penalty which is kicked to touch, lineout won the again put Blues under pressure but cough up possession giving Blues a penalty scrum, Blues win the scrum then a penalty which is kicked to touch.

Dylan Stewart off Kyle Doel on 50 mins

Banbury steal the lineout but get tackled into touch, Blues run from the lineout getting up to half way Ryan Davis and the forwards making good yards, and win a penalty at the tackle, Blues kick to touch win the lineout but lose the ball in the tackle which allows Banbury to kick clear, Blues take and kick to touch on halfway. Banbury attack from the lineout but are unable to break through the Blues defence, Banbury win a scrum when Blues knock on in the tackle

Nick Wackwitz off Cameron Golby Barr on 56 mins

Blues win a penalty at the scrum which is slotted into touch, from the lineout Joe Pigott breaks several tackles making good ground, the ball is out through the backs Josh Love and Dan Thorne to Jamie Futcher, Banbury make the tackle but the Blues support is there and the ball is kept alive, Kyle Doel sends a long pass to Dan Thorne who steps the defender and is over to score under the posts Joe Pigott converts 21-7 59 mins

Blues are now playing the better rugby and from the restart are soon back into Banburys half some good running rugby takes play into Banburys 22 before a knock on halts their progress, Blues pack is now dominant at the scrum and forces a penalty scrum, Blues win the scrum and are up to the 5m line but are held up giving Banbury a scrum.

Aaron Johnston on James Macaulay off 65 mins

Banbury under pressure win their scrum and kick up field, Blues gather and launch another attack but spill the ball allowing Banbury to kick to touch,

Dylan Stewart on Jon Bastable off 67 mins

Blues win the lineout and again put Banbury under pressure getting up to the 5m line when a chip kick from Dan Thorne rolls into touch, Banbury win the lineout and kick to touch in own 22, Blues win the lineout and set up another attack, Josh Winfield and Alex Millar making ground before the ball is spread wide a loose pass results in a knock on, Banbury's scrum. Blues put pressure on at the scrum, Banbury just hold and kick clear. Blues gather and mount another attack but sadly a knock on stops a certain try, Banbury win the scrum then a penalty which is kicked to touch, lineout won Banbury run the ball from the lineout before kicking, Blues charge the kick down and manage to get their hands on the ball Toby Thorne sets off he releases Josh Love who makes ground before passing to Cameron Goby Barr who is down the touchline to score in the corner the conversion just wide, 26-7 77 mins

Banbury take the restart kick, Blues take and return the kick, Banbury gather and run at Blues winning a penalty for a high tackle, Banbury tap and go before putting a kick into Blues 22, Cameron Golby Barr gathers and sets off through the gap which has opened and he is free, he makes the 80 m to score a great solo try, the conversion is wide and the final whistle is blown
31-7 and a great win

Blues have a much better second half and manage to score 24 unanswered points, a game of two halves as the saying goes.

Forwards MOM is Ben Hicks
Backs MOM is Dan Thorne

Blues Squad
Ben Hicks, Rob Drysdale, James Macauley, Kyle Doel, Jon Bastable, Josh Winfield, Dylan Stewart, Ryan Davis, Joe Pigott, Nick Wackwitz, Jamie Futcher, Josh Love, Dan Thorne, Anthony Hackett
Toby Thorne, Aaron Johnston, Alex Millar, Cameron Golby Barr

Thanks to the great Blues support who turned out to cheer on the boys, and witnessed a great game

Blues are away to Chippenham next week Sat 28th 2-15 KO who will be smarting after losing to Maidenhead 80-17

Match details

Match date

Sat 21 Jan 2017

Kickoff

14:15

Location

Newbury RFC

Competition

South West 1 East

League position

Newbury Blues

Banbury

Team overview

Blues tame the Bulls