Blues make 2 changes from last week’s squad, James Lewis starting at 11, Alex Sparkes on the bench, back after his ankle injury.
Strange low scoring day in the league today, no other team scored more than 17 points, other results also helped the Blues who are now 19 points clear at the top of the league

Blues kick off into the wind on a dry but windy afternoon, Beaconsfield knock on, Blues play the advantage getting in to Beaconsfield’s 22, Blues attack through several phases taking play across the pitch and back, Beaconsfield manage to steal the ball at the tackle and kick long, Blues gather in their own 22 and run the ball getting back into Beaconsfield’s half before being tackled into touch. Blues steal the lineout and take play across the pitch, Beaconsfield get a scrum when Blues knock on, Beaconsfield win their scrum and put another kick deep into Blues 22, Blues run out of defence getting a penalty at the tackle which they kick to touch still in their own half, lineout won Blues forwards maul before the ball is released to the backs taking play back into Beaconsfield’s half before a knock on gives Beaconsfield a scrum.
Beaconsfield get a penalty at the scrum, they tap and go taking play back into Blues half, they knock on, Blues win their scrum and some good play takes them up to Beaconsfield’s 22 before coughing up possession, Beaconsfield play out of defence and get a penalty at the tackle which they kick to touch, their throw is not straight so Blues have a scrum, from the scrum Blues attack getting a penalty at the tackle which is kicked to touch, Beaconsfield steal the lineout and some good attacking play takes them into Blues 22, they lose the ball allowing Blues to run out of defence, they lose the ball in the tackle and Beaconsfield mount another attack getting a penalty scrum. Beaconsfield win their scrum and are soon back in Blues 22, after several phases of attacking play Beaconsfield spread the ball wide allowing their winger to score wide out on their right, the conversion is good 7-0 18 mins

Blues kick off Beaconsfield catch and run the ball getting back into Blues half, Beaconsfield keep up the pressure and some good running rugby takes them into Blues 22, Beaconsfield take play across the pitch through several phases but cannot make the breakthrough, eventually they get a penalty at the tackle which they slot between the posts, 10-0 22 mins

Kyle Doel off Max Hayman on

Blues restart kick is taken by Beaconsfield who run back at Blues taking play through several phases and making good ground with some attacking running rugby before putting in a good kick into Blues 22, a good chase is rewarded when Beaconsfield hold Blues up in the tackle getting a scrum, from the scrum Beaconsfield get a pen they play the advantage and a drop goal attempt is just wide so back for the penalty which their 9 slots over 13-0 28 mins

Beaconsfield are now playing the better rugby and putting Blues under severe pressure, Blues restart kick is gathered by Beaconsfield and they put up a high kick which is claimed by Blues who attack getting into Beaconsfield’s 22 after several phases of play, Blues keep the ball live and a neat pass releases Alex Millar who charges through the tackles to score wide out left the conversion is wide, 13-5 31 mins

Beaconsfield kick off and are first to the ball and put pressure on Blues defence, Beaconsfield send a neat grubber kick through which Blues gather and run out of defence, a knock-on halts their progress and gives Beaconsfield a scrum in Blues 22, Beaconsfield attack from the scrum taking play wide but are tackled into touch, Blues win their lineout and kick clear, Beaconsfield are straight back on the attack taking play back into Blues 22 and win a penalty at the tackle which is slotted between the posts, 16-5 35 mins
Blues restart kick is returned by Beaconsfield, Blues gather and run the ball getting into Beaconsfield’s half, Blues keep hold of the ball through several phases of play moving across the pitch and back, Beaconsfield’s defence holds firm until they concede a penalty which Blues kick to touch in Beaconsfield’s 22. Lineout won Blues forwards pick and drive getting up to the line but cannot quite get over to touch down, after numerous phases the ball is released out to Alex Millar who makes the break through to score his second try, the conversion is taken wide by the wind 16-10, 39 mins

Blues have managed to withstand Beaconsfield’s first half pressure and keep within one score, Beaconsfield have time to restart, Blues gather and after a couple of phases decide to kick to touch to bring half time. Beaconsfield have been the better team in the first half and deserve their lead, all now depends on the second half, Blues have the wind advantage

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Beaconsfield kick off the second half into the wind, Blues gather and kick deep into Beaconsfield’s half they gather and try running out of defence before putting in a kick to touch, Beaconsfield win a penalty at the lineout and kick to touch, lineout won they kick high up field and manage to get hold of the ball putting pressure on Blues defensive line taking play into Blues half, Blues manage to steal the ball and set off Toby Thorne making ground, Kris Ford gets the ball and charges through several tackles getting into Beaconsfield’s 22 before offloading to Toby Thorne who is in under the posts, Dan Thorne adds the conversion to put Blues 1 point in the lead for the first time in the match, 16-17 45 mins

Ben Hicks on Stephen Ansell off

Beaconsfield restart Blues gather and kick deep, Beaconsfield gather but don’t get far before conceding a penalty at the tackle, Blues kick to touch, win the lineout and run at Beaconsfield’s defence, Beaconsfield’s defence holds firm and forces the mistake when Blues spill the ball, Beaconsfield kick into Blues half, Blues run the ball getting back into Beaconsfield’s half, a forward pass gives Beaconsfield a scrum, Blues get a free kick at the scrum, Blues take play across the pitch getting into Beaconsfield’s 22, Beaconsfield’s defence holds firm and manages to push Blues backwards and get the ball, Beaconsfield try running out of defence before putting in a good kick into touch, injury time out.

Alex Sparkes on Tom Hunt off 48 mins

Beaconsfield steal the lineout and take play across the pitch, Blues manage to steal possession just in Beaconsfield’s half, Blues spread the ball wide but are not making much ground until Josh Winfield breaks through the defensive line taking play into Beaconsfield’s 22, Blues keep the ball live and soon have another try when the ball is spread through hands to Josh Bartlett who rounds the defender to score the bonus point try Dan Thorne converts, 16-24 52 mins.

Blues are now in control of the game and straight from the restart have taken play back into Beaconsfield’s half kicking a penalty into touch, Beaconsfield steal the lineout and take play across the pitch but concede a penalty at the tackle, Blues kick doesn’t find touch allowing Beaconsfield to return the kick, Blues gather and kick deep, Beaconsfield run the ball but a Beaconsfield player is injured in the tackle and the ref stops play, Beaconsfield restart with a scrum and run at Blues, a knock on gives Blues a scrum, they win a penalty and take another scrum, Blues lose the ball even though their scrum is going forward and Beaconsfield then get a penalty. Beaconsfield miss touch with their kick, Blues gather and some good flowing rugby results in a well worked try Toby Thorne going over to score, the conversion is blown wide, 65 mins 16-29

Beaconsfield manage to regain possession from their restart kick but don’t get far before James Macaulay rips the ball in the tackle, Blues run out of their half and get a scrum which they win, Josh Winfield makes the break and takes play up to the line, Blues concede a penalty which Beaconsfield take quickly and send a grubber kick through the Blues defensive line, Alex Sparkes makes a break, injury time out for a Beaconsfield player, Blues restart with a scrum and Josh Winfield picks up and breaks through to score close to the posts, Dan Thorne converts 70 mins, 16-36
Stephen Ansell on Dylan Stewart off

Blues have the better of the final 10 minutes but the final pass is not forth coming leaving a couple of try’s unscored, Beaconsfield don’t give up and some good play in the final minutes gets them into Blues 22, they spill the ball allowing Blues to run out of defence Beaconsfield tackle them into touch and the final whistle is blown

This was a game of two halves, Beaconsfield bossed the first half to lead 16-10, Blues coming back in the second to use the wind and blow Beaconsfield away scoring 26 unanswered points

MOM went to Stephen Ansell
DOD went to Toby Thorne; wizard photos have to come back from his skiing holiday!!!!

Newbury Squad
Stephen Ansell, Rob Drysdale, James Macaulay, Kyle Doel, Duncan Craigen, Josh Winfield,
Dylan Stewart, Alex Millar
Tom Hunt, Alex Bancroft, James Lewis, Kris Ford, Dan Thorne, Toby Thorne, Josh Bartlett
Ben Hicks, Max Hayman, Alex Sparkes

Big thanks as always to the Blues supporters who travelled to Beaconsfield in numbers to support the Blues

Big thanks to Ian Jack for the great matchday photo’s

Blues next match is @ home against Chippenham, Feb 9th 3pm KO.