Blues edge past Grove

NEWBURY BLUES 16 v 5 GROVE

Blues edge past Grove

Saturday 11th Feb, South West 1 East League, 2-30 pm KO

Newbury Blues entertained local Oxfordshire neighbours Grove and a tight game ends with a narrow Blues victory

Blues make two changes in the backs Mike Walker coming into the starting 15 and Toby Pearce coming onto the bench
A single try is enough for the Blues to continue their unbeaten run.
Blues versus Grove rarely produces a high scoring game and this match was the same, with some testing snowy and cold conditions.
Blues started the brighter and from the kick off ran the ball through the phases. Groves defence held strong and the Blues turned the ball over to allow Grove to clear their lines.
Grove then decided they wanted a piece of the action and launched a series of attacks and were then camped on the blues line. Despite multiple attempts to get over the line, the Blues defence held firm and they won a penalty to clear their line.
Blues then started attacking again and Grove gave away a series of penalties, the second of which Nick Wackwitz converted to open the Blues account 3-0.

Blues continued to attack and Grove continued to get on the wrong side of the referee, by giving away penalties in their 22. The ref issued a formal warning for tackle height, but unfortunately the Grove centre didn’t heed the referee’s advice and was shown a straight red card for a high tackle on Dan Thorne. Nick Wackwitz took the 3 points on offer to make it 6-0.

Grove now playing with 14 men seemed to wake up and started attacking the Blues line again, but the defence was resolute and with Groves indiscipline letting them down, Blues could clear their line again. Late in the half Blues attacked the Grove line and after multiple phases, Grove again infringed at the breakdown and Nick Wackwitz made it a hat-trick of penalty’s to make the Half time score 9-0.

*******

The Blues needed to change their game plan to break down the Grove defence and from the kick off, attacked with width and pace. The Grove coaches had also changed their game plan and Grove were now attacking the Blues contact areas, slowing the ball down.

45 mins Dylan Stewart off – Ryan Davis on

Blues continued to attack especially in set apiece and the scrum, which was in control started to exert some pressure on Grove’s scrum, which meant the Grove were always on the back foot.

50 mins Ben Hicks off – Graham Stewart on

Blues now had the upper hand and Grove were having to defend. After a series of drives and plays, the ball was passed blind by scrum half Joe Pigott to prop Graham Stewart, who showed the passing skills of a fly half, with a beautiful miss pass to put centre Josh Love away for the Blues opening try, Nick Wackwitz adding the extras making it 16-0

Blues attacked from the kick off and again found themselves on the Grove line, Grove then flooded the ruck and the blind side and Blues had a 6 v 1 overlap and could have walked in for the next score under the posts, unfortunately the Blues game away a penalty for a double movement as the pack thought they were over the line.

60 mins Jamie Futcher off – Toby Pearce on

Blues were now threatening to score again, but several opportunities were missed with either the ball being dropped or the wrong option taken. It was only a matter of time before the next score.
But it was Grove who were to score next with their winger intercepting the Blues pass and sprinting down the pitch, he was hunted down by the Blues but some great support from the Grove full back sent him over in the corner. 16-5

70 mins – Kyle Doel off, Ben Hicks on

This woke up Grove and they then believed they could get a bonus point or even more. The launched a sustained attack on the Blues line and with the Blues now becoming the focus of the referees whistle a series of penalties were given. Grove kicked to the corner on numerous occasions but could not get over the line.
With the final minutes of the game remaining another Grove attack was launched but the Blues defence held tight and the referee blew the final whistle. FT 16-5

The game won’t be remembered as a classic, but for the weather and England’s win over Wales; but most importantly it was a win for the Blues to continue their assault on the top 2 spots.

Attention now turns to Maidenhead on Saturday 18th Feb in the first of top of the table clashes. This has been on the radar of many in recent weeks. A win for the Blues may see them move to 2nd or even top. It’s going to be a special occasion and what’s certain is that a big crowd will be in attendance.
Who wouldn’t want to be involved in this one……..

Report courtesy of Lee Goodall

Blues Squad
Ben Hicks, Rob Drysdale, James Macauley, Jon Bastable, Kyle Doel, Josh Winfield,
Dylan Stewart, Alex Millar, Joe Pigott, Nick Wackwitz, Jamie Futcher, Josh Love,
Dan Thorne, Mike Walker, Toby Thorne, Graham Stewart, Ryan Davis, Toby Pearce