Blues suffer their first loss for 22 games when Marlborough kick a penalty on full time to take the victory, Blues having trailed for most of the game had just edged ahead with a penalty with a few mins to go

Marlborough kick off down the slope and manage to get hold of the ball putting Blues straight under pressure, they win a penalty which is kicked into touch and from the lineout their forwards pick and drive and make the break through to score close to the posts the conversion is kicked 7-0 3 mins

Marlborough have the better of the next few minutes and play is spent mostly in Blues half, Marlborough increase their lead when they get a penalty on 12 mins 10-0

Blues restart and again Marlborough take play into Blues half and stay there through several phases, a period of midfield play ends when Marlborough get into Blues half and get another kickable penalty making the score 13-0 20 mins

Marlborough gather Blues restart kick but soon lose the ball James Macaulay ripping free in the tackle, Blues win a scrum then a penalty which is kicked to touch in Marlborough’s 22, Blues keep up the pressure and even though they lose possession put Marlborough under pressure, their kick is charged down and Blues get a scrum, from the scrum Blues attack and a neat pass releases Tom Hunt to score, Rory Jones adds the long conversion 13-7 27 mins

Both sides have chances to make the break through over the next 10 mins but good defence and mistakes ends the attacks, both sides are giving it their all-in defence and attack, Marlborough make the break through when the ball reaches their winger and the Fijian flyer runs the touchline to score wide out on their right, the conversion is kicked, 20-7 38 mins

Blues restart and get a penalty at the tackle which Rory Jones kicks between the posts and brings the half time whistle, 20-10

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Blues kick off the second half, Marlborough return the kick and soon have a penalty which is kicked to touch, Marlborough keep Blues penned in their own half and get another penalty which is kicked 23-10 44 mins

Rob Drysdale off Max Hayman on

Blues have the better of the next 5 mins keeping play in Marlborough’s half and get a penalty which Rory Jones kicks 23-13 49 mins

Marlborough restart Blues gather and run, injury time out, Blues restart with a scrum and soon have a penalty which is kicked to touch, another pen takes them closer to the line, from the lineout Blues are up to the line but cannot get over, injury time out, Blues again restart with a scrum win and make progress, a knock on halts their progress, Marlborough win their scrum and a penalty which they kick to touch

Kris Ford on Dylan Stewart off 58 mins

Blues steal the lineout and Kris Ford charges through he slips and collides with a Marlborough player, injury time out
Kris Ford off Dylan Stewart on 59 mins

Blues win the scrum and attack but knock on, Marlborough win and kick clear to touch in Blues 22, lineout won Blues get a penalty which is kicked to touch, win and attack getting a penalty which Rory Jones kicks between the posts 23-16 62 mins

Blues run from the restart kick then thread a grubber kick through, a good chase puts Marlborough under pressure and the clearance kick is partly charged down, Blues gather and spread the ball wide for Harvey North to score wide out on the right, the long conversion drifts wide, 23-21 66 mins

Marlborough kick off and soon have the ball back, getting a penalty then quickly another, from the lineout they attack, play is held up for an injury

Dylan Stewart off Rob Drysdale on 69 mins

Marlborough attack from the scrum getting into Blues 22, again play is held up for an injury

Alex Millar off

Blues run out of defence from their scrum then put a kick into Marlborough’s 22 a good chase holds them there, yet another injury time out, Marlborough win their scrum and kick, blues win the lineout but cough up possession, Marlborough have a scrum and run from their 22 but get penalised at the tackle, Rory Jones slots between the posts and Blues have the lead for the first time, 23-24 76 mins

Blues run Marlborough’s restart kick before putting in a kick deep into Marlborough’s half. They run back at Blues keeping the ball for several phases, eventually they win a penalty and kick for the posts, the kick goes over and the final whistle is blown, 26-24 full time

MOM James Macaulay
DOD Kris Ford

A good hard-fought game which was a great advert for this league, Marlborough just having the edge on the day, good luck for the rest of the season

Blues have a week off before getting back to league action at home against Witney, Blues are now chomping at the bit to get back to winning ways

Newbury Squad
Ben Hicks, Rob Drysdale, James Macaulay, Kyle Doel, Duncan Craigen, Josh Winfield,
Dylan Stewart, Alex Millar
Tom Hunt, Alex Bancroft, Alex Sparkes, Rory Jones, Harvey North, James Lewis, Toby Thorne,
Max Hayman, Kris Ford

Big thanks as always to the Blues supporters who again turned out in numbers

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

Thanks to Jess for the match video

Blues next match is Home against Witney, March 2nd, 3pm KO.