Stratford kick off and straight away Blues are on the attack, Ryan Davis catches the kick and the forwards are quickly with him earning a penalty which is slotted into touch, lineout won Blues forwards maul towards the line before the ball is released allowing Kris Ford to crash through the defence to score, Dan Thorne converts 0-7 on 3 mins

Once again from the kick off Ryan Davis claims the ball and sets off another rapid attack, Duncan Craigen, Rory Jones, Max Hayman make good yards and a sweet offload to Kyle Doel allows him to break through the defence to score Dan Thorne converts, 0-14 5mins

Blues have now got their tails up and again Ryan Davis takes the restart kick allowing Max Hayman to get into Stratford’s half with a good run, Blues keep the ball live and it is spread wide through quick hands allowing Alex Bancroft to round the defender to score wide out the conversion hits the upright, 0-19 8 mins

Blues get their hands on the loose ball from the kick off and earn a penalty at the tackle which Dan Thorne slots into touch, Stratford concede a scrum at the lineout which Blues win and set off on another attack but lose the ball forwards giving Stratford a scrum on half way, injury time out. Stratford under pressure and after a reset scrum just keep possession run the ball but are tackled into touch, lineout stolen Stratford attack before a neat grubber kick rolls into touch, Stratford steal the lineout but good defence by Blues forces them backwards, Stratford win a scrum just in Blues half which they win under pressure from the Blues pack but lose the ball. Ryan Davis makes a good run but Blues get a bit sloppy and Stratford turn it over in their own half and kick clear, Tommy Martin cuts through the defenders before releasing Alex Sparks, Blue keep the ball and this time the backs make the metres before Kris Ford takes the direct route and he breaks through to score the bonus point try, Dan Thorne converts, 0-26 18 mins

Blues gather the restart kick and get a penalty which is slotted into touch, lineout won Blues attack but concede a penalty allowing Stratford to clear to touch, lineout won Stratford are kept in their own half by good Blues defence which earns a scrum, Blues win their scrum and set off on another attack but again concede a penalty at the tackle, Stratford kick to touch win their lineout and get up to half way before a knock on at the tackle by Blues gives Stratford a scrum, Stratford win a penalty at the scrum which they kick to touch, Stratford win the lineout but good Blues defence wins a penalty which is kicked to touch, Blues lose the lineout but some forceful play regains possession and after a couple of phases are over to score but play is brought back for offside, Stratford kick the penalty to touch, win the lineout but get turned over in the tackle, Blues spread the ball wide quickly allowing debutant Harvey North to power over to score a good try, the conversion again hits the upright, 0-31 32 mins

Duncan Craigen off Tom Erskine on

Straight from the restart Blues run getting up to the line before losing the ball, Stratford kick clear to touch, Blues concede possession at the lineout allowing Stratford to again try to kick clear to touch but a good charge down rolls into touch, Stratford win the lineout and kick clear up field, Blues gather and return the kick, Stratford gather and try running the ball but good Blues defence forces the turnover and they set off on another attack but concede a penalty, Stratford’s kick doesn’t find touch allowing Blues to run the ball, a knock on halts their progress just in their own half.
Stratford’s pack is shoved back but they get a penalty which is slotted into touch 8m out, lineout won Stratford run at Blues getting up to the line, Blues defence holds firm and they manage to steal the ball and win a penalty which is kicked to touch, Stratford steal the lineout and a good attack results in them making the break through to score under the posts, the conversion is kicked 7-31 38 mins

Blues take the restart kick long and are put in an attacking position when Stratford knock on, Blues manage to get their hands on the loose ball and play the advantage, good rugby by Blues results in several phases of attacking play before Max Hayman makes the break and is over to score Dan Thorne kicks the conversion making the half time score 7-38

Blues kick off the second half, Stratford return the kick, Blues gather and run the ball winning a scrum.

Tommy Martin off Tom Hunt on 42mins

Blues win the scrum and kick deep, Stratford return the kick, Blues run the ball before a chip kick is put over the defensive line and a good chase forces a knock on, Blues lose the scrum at the base but manage to push Stratford backwards with some good defensive work, Blues disrupt at the tackle and the loose ball is kicked sideways which is nearly gathered by Blues but a knock on ends with a Stratford scrum. Blues shove the Stratford pack backwards but the ref blows for a reset scrum, Stratford just hold on to possession at the scrum and clear to touch, Stratford steal the lineout and run the ball going across the pitch, a big Blues tackle forces the mistake, Alex Bancroft gathers the loose ball and a neat chip and chase results in him getting to the ball first and scoring a good try Dan Thorne converts 7-45 48 mins

Steve Ansell on Ben Hicks off

Stratford take the restart kick which is gathered by Blues and a good kick and chase takes play back into Stratford’s 22, Blues over eagerness gives Stratford a penalty which they clear to touch, Blues steal the lineout and some good attacking play takes them well into Stratford’s 22, where a brave tackle stops Harvey North, injury time out for the Stratford player who has to leave the field
Stratford restart with a scrum but a great shove by the Blues pack wins the scrum and Alex Millar peels off the back to score the try, the long conversion is just short, 7-50 54 mins

Duncan Craigen on Kyle Doel off

Stratford kick off, Blues run the ball back Kyle Doel and Ryan Jones make good ground before a knock on halts their progress, Stratford win the scrum and attack getting into Blues half and win a penalty, which is kicked to touch, lineout won Stratford attack in to Blues 22 and keep up the pressure through several phase’s but the Blues defence holds firm and they manage to steal the ball, Blues run the ball out of defence getting back into Stratford’s half before they lose the ball, and concede a penalty which Stratford kick to touch. Stratford win the lineout but get turned over at the ruck and Blues are straight into attack, Harvey North gets over the line but the ref deems held up so back for a 5m scrum, Blues win the scrum and spread the ball wide a neat chip and chase forces Stratford to touch down and take the 22 drop out, Blues run the ball back at Stratford and some good rugby takes them into Stratford’s 22, after several phase’s of play Max Hayman spots the gap and is over to score Dan Thorne converts 7-57 64 mins

Ben Hicks on Kris Ford off

Stratford’s restart kick is gathered by Alex Millar who breaks a couple of tackles before Ryan Davis makes ground he releases Dan Thorne who takes play well into Stratford’s half, Blues keep the ball live and a good cross field kick just drifts into touch before Harvey North can get his hands on it.
Stratford win the lineout and clear to upfield, Blues run the ball back but a knock on gives Stratford a scrum, Stratford win the scrum and get a penalty which they kick to touch, lineout won they spread the ball wide through their backs but cough up possession allowing Blues to break out, a good Ryan Jones run takes play well into Stratford’s half before Blues backs spread the ball wide and Harvey North is over in the corner, the long conversion is just wide, 7-62 70 mins

Stratford take the restart kick and Blues manage to gather the loose ball. Ryan Davis makes a good run before the ball is chipped over the Stratford defence, Blues chase is good and the Stratford player is driven back nearly to the try line, Stratford manage to keep possession and kick clear, Blues run the ball back getting up to the 5m line before they are tackled into touch.
Stratford win the lineout and their forwards maul upfield before they kick deep, Blues gather and mount another attack but a knock-on on half way gives Stratford a scrum, Blues pack shove Stratford off the ball and Dan Thorne makes the break from inside his own half to score a great solo try, the conversion is wide making the final score 7-67

Blues MOM went to Duncan Craigen

A good squad performance and a good start to the new season

Newbury Squad
Stephen Ansell, Alex Bancroft, Duncan Craigen, Ryan Davis, Kyle Doel, Tom Erskine
Kris Ford, Max Hayman, Ben Hicks, Tom Hunt, Rory Jones, James Lewis, James Macaulay
Tom Martin, Alex Millar, Harvey North, Gregor Ross, Alex Sparkes, Dan Thorne

Thanks to the great Blues support that travelled in numbers to Stratford Upon Avon

Quote of the week
It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves. - William Shakespeare

Thanks to Stratford for your great Hospitality, the after-match meal one of the best, Good luck for the remainder of the season and see you at the end of the season at Monks Lane

Blues next game is at Monks Lane against Swindon 3pm KO on Sat 8th September