Blues one step closer

READING 5 v 78 NEWBURY BLUES
Blues one step closer
Saturday 8th April, South West 1 East League, 2:30pm KO
Newbury Blues turn on the style scoring 12 try’s in one of their biggest wins over Berks rivals Reading
Newbury Blues score their biggest win since beating Manchester 90-5 in Nat 1 Mar 10th 2010 with their expansive running style of rugby

Blues are forced into 3 changes from last week’s squad Kyle Doel unavailable, Josh Love and Josh Bartlett out injured, Ryan Davis, Cameron Golby Barr and Anthony Hackett coming in

Blues kick of this Berks derby needing a win to stay in second place; Reading however can play without any pressure as sadly they have already been relegated, the sun is shining and a big Blues crowd are there to cheer on the Blues. Reading return the kick, Blues gather and run back at Reading, the ball is spread across the pitch taking play into Readings 22, Blues keep the ball live and take it back across the pitch getting up to the try line but cannot break through. Blues win the scrum and again put pressure on the Reading defence but get taken into touch, Reading win their lineout and kick out of defence, Blues gather and again run back at Reading good runs from the backs Cameron Golby Barr, Toby Pearce, Jamie Futcher, Toby Thorne and Dan Thorne keep Reading penned in their own 22, eventually the ball is passed to Rory Jones who cuts a great line to score under the posts, Dan Thorne converting, 0-7 4 min’s

Reading restart and again Blues run straight back at them before putting up a high kick which Reading knock into touch, Blues win the lineout and again after several phases put in a kick and chase, Reading gather and break the Blues tackles getting up to Blues 22 before they are stopped, Blues win a penalty which Dan Thorne kicks to touch. Blues win the lineout but lose the ball in the tackle, Reading attack and take play into Blues half before play is halted for an injury

Dylan Stewart off Ryan Davis on 12 mins

Play is restarted with a Reading scrum, which they win and attack before sending a bouncing kick into Blues 22, Blues knock on giving Reading an attacking scrum, Reading win the scrum and attack Blues but a loose pass forces a knock on under Blues pressure. Blues win the scrum and run the ball getting into Readings half before James Macauley makes a great run into Readings 22 before the ball is spread quickly through hands reaching Toby Thorne who is round the defender and down to score under the posts, Dan Thorne converts from in front of the posts 0-14 14 mins

Reading kick off and within a couple of minutes Blues have scored their 3rd try, from the kick off Blues run the ball getting into Readings 22 before it is passed out through the backs for Cameron Golby Barr to catch and score Dan Thorne converts, 0-21 16 mins

Blues are now running straight through the Reading defence and from the kick off Blues make good ground before Rory Jones brushes off several Reading tacklers to run 50 yds to score the bonus point try, Dan Thorne again converting 0-28 19 mins

Reading manage to gather their restart kick and manage to keep possession and play in Blues half, Blues after several phase manage to kick the loose ball up field but Reading gather and mount another attack, a loose pass is intercepted by Cameron Golby Barr who is gone running 60 yds and over to score a great opportunist try, Dan Thorne slots over the conversion 0-35 28 mins

Reading restart and have an attacking scrum when Blues knock on, Reading now have their best period of the game and keep Blues under pressure for several phase of play, a chip kick over Blues defence is touched down by Blues who take the 22 drop out. Blues defence remains firm and forces Reading backwards and eventually they knock on, Blues win a penalty at the scrum which is slotted into touch, lineout won Blues put pressure on Reading and a good Rob Drysdale run takes play into Readings 22, Dan Thorne reaches the line but cannot touch down the ball is kept live and a long looping pass bounces nicely for Cameron Golby Barr to gather and touch down, conversion is just short 0-40 36 mins

Reading again re gather their restart and put Blues under pressure, they spend several minutes camped in Blues 22 but cannot make the break through, Blues manage to steal possession and a good kick is well chased meaning Blues regain possession and win a penalty, Joe Pigott takes quick and makes a good run before it is spread wide through hands for Toby Pearce to break through and score conversion is wide 0-45 and Half Time

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Graham Stewart on Ben Hicks off

Reading kick off the second half and manage to keep the ball but soon cough up possession allowing Blues to run out of defence and get into Readings 22, Blues knock on giving Reading a scrum, Reading try running out of defence but a knock on halts their progress, Blues win the scrum and put Reading under pressure a certain try goes begging when the final pass is ruled forwards. Reading have a scrum on their own 22, Blues pack put them under pressure and force the mistake allowing Joe Pigott to get hold of the ball which is spread quickly wide for Toby Pearce to go over to score, Dan Thorne converts 0-52 44 mins

Readings restart kick is returned by Blues, Reading try running through several phases before a good kick rolls into touch in Blues 22, Blues win the lineout and clear up field, Reading gather and again try running at Blues making ground and getting back into Blues half before a knock on halts their progress. Blues win the scrum and a long kick drifts straight out so back for a Reading lineout, Reading attack from the lineout but cannot break through the Blues defence so they try a chip kick over the Blues defence which rolls over the dead ball line, Blues take the 22 drop out and have soon got possession back when Reading spill the ball, Blues go back to their running game and put Reading under pressure which results in a high tackle giving Blues a penalty which is slotted into touch

Rob Drysdale off Ben Hicks on 52 mins

Blues win the lineout and the backs Nick Wackwitz and co run at Reading, the ball is kept live and a good run by Ryan Davis splits the Reading defence before Joe Pigott darts over under the posts, Dan Thorne converts 0-59 54 mins

Blues return Readings restart kick and soon regain possession when Reading cough up the ball allowing Blues to attack through the backs Cameron Golby Barr onto Toby Thorne who releases Dan Thorne to score the conversion just wide 0-64 57 mins

Joe Pigott off Anthony Hackett on

Blues don’t ease up and from the restart a run By Jamie Futcher takes play back into Readings half Blues keep the ball live but a few phases later infringe giving Reading a scrum, Reading win the scrum and kick clear, Blues attack again and a good kick and chase is spoilt when Blues infringe giving Reading a scrum then a penalty. Reading’s penalty kick doesn’t find touch and Blues are off running again, Cameron Golby Barr gets up to the 5m line before he is stopped, the ball is kept live and Alex Millar crashes over to score Dan Thorne adding the conversion 0-71 62 mins

Dylan Stewart on Ollie Spanswick off

Reading have the better of the next 10 or so minutes and manage to keep hold of the ball getting into Blues 22 stealing a lineout but although they get up to the line they cannot get over and score, Blues win the scrum and kick clear to touch, lineout won Reading again attack Blues defence but a chip kick is charged down and Blues get the ball and kick long well into Readings 22, Reading under pressure manage to win a penalty and clear to touch. Lineout won Reading now playing their best rugby take play back into Blues half and several phases later they manage to split the Blues defence to score wide out on their left, the conversion wide 5-71 76 mins

Robbie Drysdale on Rory Jones off

Blues manage to force a Reading mistake from the restart kick and run the ball across the pitch through their backs Toby Thorne and Jamie Futcher before the forwards take over and Dylan Stewart dives over under the posts Dan Thorne converts 5-78 78 mins

Play restarts with Reading getting a chance to run the ball but a mistake brings the final whistle

Congratulations to Jon Bastable on the recent birth of young Freddie and still playing on Sat that’s commitment!!! A big thanks to your wife for being so understanding

Thanks to the young ref who kept the game flowing

This was probably Blues best exhibition of running rugby produced this season, a great Squad performance, difficult to pick MOM so go for Best Squad Performance

Credit to the Reading side who never gave up and should have been rewarded with more points on the board

And again a big thanks to the fantastic Blues support who make the away games seem like home games outnumbering the home support by miles

Blues Squad
Ben Hicks, Rob Drysdale, James Macauley, Rory Jones, Jon Bastable,
Ollie Spanswick, Dylan Stewart, Alex Millar, Joe Pigott, Nick Wackwitz,
Jamie Futcher, Dan Thorne, Cameron Golby Barr, Toby Pearce, Toby Thorne,
Graham Stewart, Ryan Davis, Anthony Hackett

Blues have a week off before their final league match at Monks Lane against Reading Abbey whose defeat on Sat meant they are relegated, another Berks derby and potential banana skin game that Blues have to win to guarantee the play off place