Blues muddy the Devon All Whites

NEWBURY BLUES 27 v 12 NEWTON ABBOT
Blues muddy the Devon All Whites
Saturday 02nd Dec 2017, 3 pm KO South West Premier

Newbury Blues play some of their best rugby this season to beat second in the table Newton Abbot, a great game and result

Blues are led out by mascots and ball boys from Newbury RFC U11’s

A minute’s silence is held for life patron Ted Brook who sadly died after a short illness

Blues are forced into a late change on Friday when Jon Bastable pulls out, Dylan Stewart coming in

Blues kick off this league game on a damp afternoon in front of a big crowd, 200 of who had enjoyed the pre-match Xmas lunch, Newton gather and return the kick to Blues who fly hack the ball back into Newtons half, they gather and run at Blues but get tackled into touch, Newton win a penalty when Blues infringe at the tackle, Newton kick to touch win the lineout but knock on giving Blues a scrum in their own half, Blues win the scrum and kick upfield, Newton return the kick, Blues gather and clear to touch Newton win the lineout and run the ball but a knock on halts their progress on Blues 40m line.
Blues win their scrum and attack before sending a good kick bouncing into touch, Newton win the lineout and kick, Blues gather and run the ball before sending a high kick into Newtons 22, Newton clear to touch, Blues win the lineout and run the ball back at Newton, Joe Pigott making good ground before sending a neat grubber kick bouncing through Newtons defence, Duncan Craigen is first there and touches down to score the opening try, the long conversion is just wide, 5-0 9 mins

Newton take the restart kick and a Blues knock on gives Newton a scrum, from the scrum Newton attack getting into Blues 22 but lose the ball allowing Blues to kick clear, Blues chase the kick and good tackling forces Newton to knock on in their own half, scrum won Blues run the ball getting into Newtons half before they knock on, Newton win the scrum but a loose pass is gathered by Jamie Futcher, Blue’s launch another attack Kyle Doel, Ben Hicks and James Macauley driving up field before they release Josh Bartlett who weaves through the Newton defence to score a great try, the conversion is just wide, 10-0 16 mins

From the Newton restart kick both sides try kicking before Joe Pigott sets off on a darting run, he releases Josh Bartlett who breaks several tackles then onto the forwards who drive the ball up field they release Josh Winfield who is brought down 5m short, Blues keep the ball live and it is spread quickly through hands to Dan Thorne who breaks through the tackles to score a good team try, Richard West converts 17-0 20 mins

Newton restart and manage to get their hands on the ball winning a scrum when Blues knock on at the tackle, Newton win a penalty at the scrum which they kick at the posts 22 mins, the kick hits the uprights and Blues manage to get their hands on the ball and clear to touch. Newton attack from their lineout but spill the ball Blues fly hack up the pitch and a good chase is spoilt when Blues infringe giving Newton a penalty which they kick to touch in Blues half. Newton again attack from the lineout, the ball is spread wide across the pitch then back, Blues defence holds out and is rewarded with a penalty which is long but doesn’t find touch, Newton attack from deep in their own half, win a penalty which is slotted into touch in Blues half.
Newton win the lineout and attack before kicking, the ball rolling nicely into touch in Blues 22, Blues win their lineout and the forwards maul but concede a penalty scrum, Newton win the scrum and put Blues defence under sustained pressure through several phases of play getting up to the line but cannot break the Blues defence, Blues get a yellow card for an attempted interception and Newton a penalty which is kicked to touch. Newton win the lineout and again put pressure on the Blues defence but a knock on gives Blues a scrum and a chance to clear their lines, Blues win the scrum and kick touch just in their own half.
Newton win the lineout and get a penalty which they kick to touch, lineout won they again put pressure on Blues getting up to the try line but cannot score instead win a 5m scrum, from the scrum Newton mount another attack and manage to make the break through when the ball is spread wide allowing their winger Max Snowdon to score wide out on the left the long conversion just wide 39 mins 17-5

Blues have the better of the last minutes of the first half and are unlucky not to add to their score when they are camped in Newtons 22, the final play ends with the Blues forwards driving over the line but are held up Half Time

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Newton restart the second half and Blues are back to 15, both teams then kick. Josh Bartlett gathers and sets off before putting up a high kick, Newton gather and run before kicking into touch, Blues win the lineout and put up a high kick and chase, Blues knock on giving Newton a scrum, Newton win and run the ball getting into Blues half before conceding a penalty which Blues kick deep, Newton gather and run the ball before kicking, Blues get hold of the ball and kick to touch the ref deems the kick was marginally outside the 22 so back for a Newton lineout on Blues 22.
Newton win the lineout and attack getting a penalty at the tackle and Blues get a harsh yellow card, 45 mins, Newton kick to touch win the lineout and their forwards maul into the 22, Blues hold them and get the scrum, Newton win a free kick at the scrum which they tap and go getting back into Blues 22 before they lose the ball in the tackle, Blues gather and kick up field, Newton gather and get another penalty which they kick to touch.
Newton win the lineout and their forwards maul up to the try line before a knock on gives Blues a 5m scrum, at the scrum Blues win a penalty which is kicked to touch, Blues lineout is not straight giving Newton a scrum, Newton win the scrum but a knock on halts their progress, Blues play advantage and run before they kick, Newton gather and attack, after several phases they get into Blues 22 then manage to make the break through their 4 Luke Mingo crashing over the Ollie Avery-Wright conversion is successful 17-12 56 mins

Newton just get hold of Blues restart kick but get penalised at the tackle Richard West attempts the long penalty which is just short, Newton gather and run the ball making good ground getting back into Blues half before conceding a scrum

Alex Millar off Dylan Stewart on 59 mins

Blues win the scrum and kick Newton catch and run back at Blues before kicking, Jamie Futcher gathers and a good run takes play back to half way, Blues keep the ball live and after several phases they manage to split the Newton defence, Dan Thorne makes a great run breaks the tackles and is over to score the 4th and bonus point try under the posts Richard West converts 24-12 61 mins

George Robinson-Slater on Rob Drysdale off

Newton kick off Blues gather and return the kick, Newton run the ball and get a penalty which they kick to touch, lineout won they attack but lose the ball Blues clear to touch, Newton again attack from the lineout but a knock on gives Blues a scrum, from the scrum Blues kick deep, Newton gather and run but good defence from Blues forces the knock on just in Blues half, Blues win the scrum and run the ball making good ground through several phases of play getting back into Newtons half and win a penalty at the tackle, Richard West steps up and kicks through the posts 27-12 71 mins

Joe Pigott off Anthony Hackett on, Alex Millar on Duncan Craigen off

Blues run the restart kick back at Newton getting back into their half before losing the ball, Newton run the ball but play is brought back for a Blues knock on, Newton win the scrum and keep hold of the ball for several phases, Blues get a penalty in their own 22 which they kick to touch, lineout won Blues kick high and deep and a good Josh Love chase puts Newtons defender under pressure, Newton win a scrum on their own 5m line, the scrum is reset and eventually Newton win the scrum and try running getting a penalty in their own 22, the kick reaches touch still in their own half, lineout won they attack but lose the ball and the ref blows full time

A great all-round performance by the Blues squad in attack and defence to earn a great win over second in the table Newton Abbot, one of their best performances at Monks Lane

Forwards MOM Duncan Craigen
Backs MOM Josh Bartlett

Thanks to the Mascots and ball boys for the day Newbury RFC U 11’s

Thanks to the great Blues support, nearly 200 having enjoyed a great Christmas pre-match lunch

Newbury Squad
Ben Hicks, Rob Drysdale, James Macauley, Kyle Doel, Duncan Craigen, Josh Winfield,
Ollie Spanswick, Alex Millar, Joe Pigott, Richard West, Jamie Futcher, Josh Love, Dan Thorne,
Toby Pearce Josh Bartlett, George Robinson-Slater, Dylan Stewart, Anthony Hackett

Sat 9th Dec Blues have another tough away game against Exmouth. COYB