Blues make one change to the squad Kyle Doel coming back for Dylan Stewart, due to the rain at the end of the week the game is played on pitch 4 as pitch 1 is waterlogged.

Witney kick the game off, Blues gather and return the kick, Witney run the ball and get back into Blues half before a knock on halts their progress. Blues win their scrum and run at Witney making good ground before they lose the ball, Witney gather and attack Blues winning a penalty, their kick doesn’t find touch allowing Blues to counter attack, Josh Bartlett chips the defenders and re-gathers his kick, Blues knock on in Witney’s half giving them a scrum, a big shove by Blues turns over the scrum and they advance into Witney’s 22, Blues keep up the pressure and swap play back across the pitch quickly through hands which allows Toby Thorne to slide through the defensive line to score Nick Wackwitz converts, 7-0 10 mins

Blues return the Witney restart kick and a knock on gives Blues a scrum, Witney win a penalty at the scrum which they tap and run making good ground and win another penalty which they kick to touch, lineout won they don’t get far before a knock on gives Blues a scrum. Blues win the scrum but struggle to get any momentum, Witney manage to steal the ball and put Blues back under pressure but cannot break through the Blues defence, Witney lose the ball allowing Blues to kick to touch and clear their lines. Blues steal the lineout and kick into Witney’s half, Witney run the ball but again good Blues defence forces the mistake and the loose ball is hacked forward by Dan Thorne who is first there to catch the bouncing ball and get into Witney’s 22 and passing to Josh Love who takes it one handed and scores under the posts, Nick Wackwitz kicking the conversion 14-0 18 mins.

Witney’s restart kick is returned by Blues, Witney catch and kick back into Blues half, Josh Bartlett runs back at Witney making good ground before Ryan Davis keeps the move going, Joe Pigott takes the ball at the tackle and makes the break getting into Witneys 22 before releasing Dan Thorne is over to score close to the posts, Nick Wackwitz converts 21-0 21 mins

Witney kick off Blues take and kick but play is brought back when the kick sails straight out, Blues regain possession when the Witney throw is not straight, Blues win the scrum put again the kick is straight out giving Witney the lineout, Witneys forwards maul from the lineout making good ground before the ball is spread wide, Witney win a penalty at the tackle which their 10 slots between the posts 21-3 26 mins

Blues take the restart kick, after a couple of kicks Witney put pressure on Blues and manage to steal the ball getting into Blues 22 before coughing up possession, both teams play the kicking game before Blues kick rolls nicely into touch. Blues win a penalty at the lineout which they kick to touch, lineout won Ryan Davis sets off on one of his trademark runs before passing to Josh Love who is past the defenders and over to score the bonus point try, Nick Wackwitz nails the conversion to make the score 28-3 32 mins

Witney get a scrum from their restart kick and put pressure on Blues defence spending several phases of play camped in Blues 22 before a knock on gives Blues a chance to get out of defence, from the scrum Blues kick to touch, Witney run the ball from the lineout and slot a kick through the Blues defence, Blues manage to gather and win a scrum, from the scrum Blues run the ball but Witney steal possession at the tackle and get a penalty scrum, Blues win the scrum and run the ball out of their half, Toby Thorne, Josh Winfield making good yards, the ball reaches Josh Love who runs to the corner to score his hatrick try , Nick Wackwitz kicks the long conversion to make the score 35-3 39 mins

Witney kick off Blues gather and run the ball before kicking deep into Witney territory, a couple of plays later the whistle is blown for half time.

******

Blues kick off the second half, Witney return the kick which allows Blues to run the ball then kick to touch in Witneys 22, Witney win the lineout and get a penalty at the tackle which they kick to touch, Witneys lineout is not straight giving Blues a scrum, Blues hold their scrum and run the ball through a couple of phases before they get a penalty which Dan Thorne kicks to touch

Alex Millar on Josh Winfield off 45 mins

Lineout won Blues launch another attack with forwards Kyle Doel, Ben Hicks and Rob Drysdale making strong runs before the ball is spread wide but a knock on gives Witney a scrum and a chance to get out of their 22. Witney win their scrum and kick clear into Blues half, Blues run the ball back and again spend several phases camped in Witneys 22 crossing the line they are held up, scrum won Blues again get over the line but the ref says held up so back for the scrum. Blues get a penalty at the scrum and after taking quickly again are held, this time Blues lose possession after winning the scrum but Witney under pressure knock on, Blues win a penalty at the scrum which this time is kicked to touch,

Graham Stewart on Ben Hicks off 52 mins

Lineout won Blues forwards maul the 5m from the lineout allowing Alex Millar to drop over the line to score the try, Nick Wackwitz just wide with the long conversion, 40-3 54 mins

Blues return Witneys restart kick and put Witney under pressure but infringe giving them a scrum,

Toby Thorne off Mike Walker on 56 mins

Witney win their scrum and run at Blues but lose the ball, Blues return the favour when they knock on, Witney win the scrum and now play some of their best rugby getting into Blues 22 and putting the Blues under a sustained period of pressure, a great Rob Drysdale tackle forces a knock on and gives Blues a chance to get out of their 22. Witney steal the scrum and again test the Blues defence who manage to hold firm and force a knock on

Kyle Doel off Ben Hicks on 60 mins

Blues hold this scrum and kick clear, Witney run the ball through several phases before kicking deep into Blues 22 who clear to touch, Witney win the attacking lineout and keep Blues penned in their own 22 winning a scrum, Witney keep up the pressure from the scrum and after several forward drives they manage to shove the Blues defence backwards far enough to score a well earned try the conversion just wide, 40-8 65 mins

Rory Jones off Josh Winfield on

Blues restart kick is gathered by Witney and they are soon into Blues 22 when they run straight through the sleeping Blues defence, Josh Bartlett saving the day with a great tackle taking the man into touch and getting a cut ear so off for blood

Josh Bartlett off Toby Thorne on 67 mins

Blues win the lineout and kick up field, Witney take and are soon back into Blues 22, Blues defence holds firm and they manage to steal the ball and a good James Macauley run takes play back into Witneys half, Joe Pigott keeps the move going but as they spread the ball wide they spill the ball and in the melee to get hold of the loose ball Blues are penalised for foul play and earn a red card.
Witney kick the penalty to touch and win the lineout but soon cough up possession allowing Jamie Futcher to make good ground he releases Toby Thorne who lets Mike Walker loose, he gets into Witneys 22 before a great tackle halts his progress, Blues keep the ball live and Alex Millar crashes through a couple of tackles before a great pass to Jamie Futcher lets him break through the Witney defence to score under the posts Nick Wackwitz adds the easy conversion 47-8 75 mins

Josh Bartlett on Dan Thorne off

Straight from the kick off Blues score again when they run the ball straight back at Witney Ryan Davis releasing Alex Millar who flicks a pass out to his right James Macauley just unable to gather the bouncing ball but Jamie Futcher does and rounds the defenders to score Nick Wackwitz hits the upright with the conversion 52-8 79 mins

Just time for the restart but a couple of phases later the ref blows the final whistle

Well done to both teams for producing a great game of Rugby in wet and windy conditions

Well done to the lady ref Laura Pettingale from East Mids who had a great day and refereed the game with great expertise and authority which kept the game flowing

Backs MOM hatrick man Josh Love
Forwards MOM Rory Jones

A great win for Blues their biggest ever over Witney and the double this season

Thanks again to the great Blues support who braved the wind and rain to cheer on the Blues

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

Next Saturday Blues have another tough home match against Old Centralians whose game against Maidenhead was postponed this weekend

WITNEYS REPORT

Ouch.
By paul copperwheat

This week Nick Brown's report does not make great reading, as he uses up all his descriptive powers mostly on the home side.

NEWBURY BLUES 52 – 8 WITNEY

A very kick- influencing wind blowing diagonally to the opposite corners of a pitch exposed to the elements and showers threatening. Witney, 4th in the League, visiting Blues, one place above them, but with a 19 points gap. Witney knew it would be a tough one but Blues had won the game at Witney in the Autumn.
Witney kicked off against the wind and Blues immediately showed their intention to use the wind with a high kick which was knocked on.
(5 mins) Witney had possession and kicked long into Blues Half. The ball was returned with a high kick and Witney lost possession. Blues speedy Backs broke through and Wing Toby Thorne touched down, Fly Half Nick Wackwitz converting. 7 – 0
(11 mins) With forceful play Witney had got to Blues 5m but a knock on gave a scrum to Blues which they won and cleared with a high kick.
(14 mins) Blues Centre Josh Love following up another high kick and an awkward bounce, collected the ball and went over for the second converted Try. 14 – 0
(17 mins) 3 minutes later Centre Dan Thorne got the third, again converted. 21- 0
(21 mins) Witney had shown they were not giving up and ran the ball into Blues 22 on a number of occasions, and had looked dangerous, but, just short of the line, errors lost them possession. Blues went off-side and Fly Half Henry Lamb converted a penalty. 21 – 3
(25 mins) A long penalty kick gave Blues a lineout in Witney’s 22. The ball was spun out to Wackwitz who passed to Love, coming in at an angle, who steamed right through the Witney defence to score under the posts. 28 – 3
Flanker Sam Collins subbed by Lloyd Allen and Prop Adam Copperwheat , injured, replaced by Mark Fuller.
(37 mins) Love’s third Try and Makcwitz’ 5th conversion. 35 – 3
The Half ended with a Witney attack, Right Wing Rhys Morgan, in the 22, rounding his wing but tackled just before the line. HALF TIME
Oh Dear ! The wind had played havoc with Witney. Blues long high kicks putting them under tremendous pressure. Witney had done a fair amount of attacking which did threaten Blues but they just could not finish. A number of lineout throws went awry, and in the tight scrums Witney were being pushed back. Centre Dan Boshell had had some defence-bursting, ground-making runs.
Blues soon gained possession after the restart kick and were back into Witney’s Half.
(46 mins) Blues got over Witney’s Try Line, but the ball was held up. After the scrum Witney’s Defence held out. Fullback Arrun Lambourne replaced by Carl Strutt.
(49 mins) Following a Witney offside Blues kicked for touch. From the lineout on the 22, Blues mauled and it trundled forward until it crossed the Try |Line. Sub Alex Millar claiming the Try. 40 – 3
(54 mins.) Witney now had a lot of possession and were pinning Blues in their Half. Time and again Witney had scoring chances but Blues kept them out.
(64 mins) At last after attack after attack inside Blues’ 22 with rucks and ball left and right and charges to try to burst through to the line, Captain and Scrum Half Gareth Campbell found a narrow gap and dived over the Try line for an unconverted try. 40 - 8
(67 mins) Blues Flanker Josh Winfield – Red Card.
In last ten minutes Blues’ Wing Jamie Futcher scored two Tries, Wackwitz converting the first. 47 – 8 52 – 8
This was Witney’s heaviest defeat in a long time. If they had had the finishing touches as Blues, Witney would have scored more Tries – but they still would not have won. The score and the standard of play by Blues showed the difference in the Rugby of the Top3 in SW 1E and those below them, AND the strong wind in the first Half dropped at times to ‘unnoticeable’ in the 2nd Half.

Match details

Match date

Sat 04 Mar 2017

Kickoff

15:00

Location

Newbury RFC

Competition

South West 1 East

League position

Newbury Blues

Witney

Team overview

Blues back on song