Witney kick off on a dry, grey afternoon with the strong wind in their favour and get a lineout when Blues knock into touch, lineout won Witney attack, a forward pass gives Blues a scrum on their own 22, Blues win a penalty but play the advantage and some great running rugby between Alex Bancroft, Alex Sparkes, Dan Thorne and Toby Thorne results in Harvey North charging 50m up the touch line breaking several tackles to score wide out left, the long conversion is blown wide, 5-0 4 mins

From the restart Blues take play back into Witney’s half, Ben Hicks, Ryan Davis and Max Hayman charging through the Witney tacklers, a knock on gives Witney a scrum, Witney win their scrum and kick which drifts straight out so back for a Blues lineout, Blues attack from the lineout spreading the ball wide and Harvey North is over, the ref brings play back for a forward pass. Witney’s scrum on their own 22, Witney win their collapsed scrum under pressure and clear to touch, injury time out

James Macaulay off Duncan Craigen on 8 mins

Witney have the lineout as Blues had touched the clearance kick, they run the ball, a knock on gives Blues a scrum, Blues get up to Witney’s 22 before a short pass is knocked on, Witney hold their scrum and kick clear the ball rolling into touch in Blues 22. Blues take play across the pitch from the lineout conceding a penalty at the tackle which Witney kick to touch in Blues 22, Lineout won Witney attack and after several phases they manage to drive over to score through Jamie Burke, Arron Lambourne kicks the conversion 5-7 14 mins

Blues restart kick is returned by Witney, Blues gather and run but lose the ball allowing Witney to gather and attack some good running rugby taking play into Blues 22 before they get a penalty which Arron Lambourne slots between the posts 5-10 18 mins

Blues restart kick is not 10 giving Witney a scrum on half way, Witney win their scrum and send a kick bouncing into touch in Blues 22, Blues win their lineout and run out of defence taking play into Witney’s half winning a penalty at the tackle, the kick is held in the wind and doesn’t find touch Witney run the ball before putting in a kick which is straight into touch so back for a Blues lineout. Witney steal the lineout and after a couple of phases but a long kick well into Blues 22, Blues gather and kick clear, Witney attack taking play into Blues 22 getting a scrum when Blues rip the ball knocking on. Scrum won Witney put pressure on the Blues defence put some great defence pushes Witney backwards eventually getting a penalty when Blues stray off side, Witney take quick and put in a grubber kick, Blues touch it down and take the 22 drop out quickly the ball running well into Witney’s half, Witney gather and run back at Blues before putting a chip kick into Blues 22, Witney get an attacking scrum when a Blues pass is adjudged forwards.
Witney attack from the scrum but a dropped ball gives Blues a defensive scrum, Blues win the reset scrum and soon have a penalty at the tackle, Blues tap and go getting another penalty, Blues play the advantage but play is brought back Blues kick to touch on half way, lineout won Blues spread the ball wide taking play into Witney’s 22 before being stopped, Blues are judged to be touch so Witney have a defensive lineout, Witney clear to touch from their lineout, Witney get a scrum at the lineout, scrum won Witney put up a high kick, Blues gather and run back at Witney conceding a penalty at the tackle on half way, Witney kick to touch on Blues 22 win their lineout and a good run takes play up to Blues line before a last gasp Toby Thorne tackle stops the try, Witney manage to keep hold of the ball and soon have a penalty which Arron Lambourne kicks 5-13 35 mins

Blues kick off Witney return the kick, Blues run the ball getting a penalty on half way, Blues tap and go and a good run from Ryan Davis and offload to Rob Drysdale taking play up to Witney’s 22, Blues keep the ball live
and take it left before a knock on gives Witney a scrum in their own 22, Witney kick clear to touch from their scrum getting the lineout deep in Blues half when Blues touch the ball, lineout won their forwards maul, play is stopped for an injury. Witney restart with a scrum and after a couple of phases kick deep into Blues half, Blues knock the ball into touch giving Witney an attacking lineout, Blues get their hands on the ball and a charging run from Kyle Doel takes play close to half way and Blues get a penalty at the tackle, Blues tap and go and soon have another penalty which they kick to touch in Witney’s 22.
Lineout won Blues forwards maul making ground and getting a penalty which is kicked to touch, lineout won blues spread play across the pitch Rory Jones dragging the defenders and reaching out to score the conversion just blown wide 10-13 half time

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Blues kick off the second half with the wind advantage and have soon made it pay when they manage to steal the ball from Witney and some good attacking play from Dan Thorne takes them into Witney’s 22, Blues keep the ball live, Ryan Davis picks up at the tackle and bursts through to score close to the posts, Dan Thorne adds the conversion 17-13 42 mins

Witney restart Blues gather and run straight back at Witney Kyle Doel crashing through the defenders before a great kick from Dan Thorne rolls into touch deep in Witney’s 22, Witney win their lineout and clear to touch still in their 22, Blues win the lineout and spread the ball wide Alex Bancroft releases Harvey North who is over to score his second and the bonus point try, Dan Thorne converts 24-13 44 mins

Witney’s restart kick is not 10 but Kyle Doel takes and runs into Witney’s half, Blues are know looking dominant and some good rugby takes them up to Witney’s 22, Blues change tact and a chip kick is gathered by Witney and after a couple of phases they clear to touch, Blues take a quick lineout and set off on another attack getting a penalty at the tackle and Witney a yellow card, Blues kick to touch, Blues lineout isn’t straight so Witney take a lineout and clear to touch, Blues again take quickly and a silky run from Alex Bancroft takes him across the pitch dodging the Witney tacklers to score a great try, the conversion hits the uprights 29-13 52 mins

Tom Hunt off James Lewis on

Witney kick off, Blues catch and some great rugby through Kyle Doel, Tom Erskine Josh Winfield, Alex Sparkes, Ryan Davis makes good yards and his off load is picked up by Max Hayman to dive over and score a great team try Dan Thorne converts, 36-13 53 mins

Witney restart and get there to knock the ball back, they run across the pitch but don’t get far before knocking on in the tackle, injury time out, Blues win the scrum Josh Winfield picking up at the base and making a good run taking play deep into Witney’s 22, Alex Sparkes picks up the ball at the tackle and is over to score Dan Thorne converts, 43-13 56 mins

Blues run the ball from the restart kick through Ryan Davis, Witney steal the ball at the tackle and attack taking play up to Blues 22 before a knock on halts their progress, Blues win their scrum and take play through several phases getting into Witney’s half before conceding a penalty at the tackle, Witney kick to touch on half way, they knock on in the lineout giving Blues a scrum, from the scrum Blues attack getting a penalty at the tackle which is kicked to touch in Witney’s 22. Lineout won Blues run at Witney spreading the ball wide but a knock on halts their progress and Witney have a scrum on their own 22

Alex Weeks on Kyle Doel off 61 mins

Witney win their scrum and take play up to halfway before spilling the ball at the tackle, Blues gather and after a couple of phases the ball reaches Alex Bancroft who dodges the defenders before releasing Alex Sparkes just out side the 22, he rounds the last defender to score under the posts, Dan Thorne adds the conversion, 50-13 65 mins

Blues run the restart kick back getting into Witney’s half before conceding a penalty at the tackle, Witney kick to touch deep in Blues half, Lineout won Witney attack taking play across the pitch through several phases eventually they get a penalty at the tackle which is kicked to touch in Blues 22, lineout won their forwards maul towards the line, a great steal from Alex Weekes lets Blues run out of defence then put up a chip kick, a good chase keeps Witney from making much progress but Blues concede a penalty.
Witney tap and go getting another penalty which is kicked to touch, Witney knock on at the lineout but a Blues knock on brings play back for Blues scrum, from the scrum Blues spread the ball out and a good Alex Bancroft run takes play up to halfway, Blues keep the ball live, Alex Sparkes makes the break he releases Alex Bancroft who takes play into Witney’s 22 before sliding a pass to Rory Jones who cuts a good line to score under the posts, Dan Thorne converts 57-13 70 mins

Tom Hunt on Ryan Davis off

Witney restart and soon have a penalty when Blues infringe at the tackle they kick to touch in Blues 22 win the lineout and attack taking play across the pitch, injury time out, Witney restart with a scrum and get a penalty which is kicked to touch, Witney win the 2 man lineout and spread the ball across the pitch winning another penalty which they take a scrum, from the scrum Witney keep up the pressure their forwards picking and driving but they cannot breakthrough, they win another penalty scrum and soon have another, this time Blues pack holds firm and Witney knock on at the base. Blues win the scrum and a penalty at the tackle which is kicked to touch, lineout won Blues play some great passing rugby taking play up to halfway, Blues take play back across the pitch, James Lewis cuts a great line then sends a long pass out to Max Hayman who keeps the momentum going he pops a pass up to Tom Erskine who draws the defender and slips a pass to Toby Thorne who is over to score a great team try, the conversion just misses, 62-13 Full Time

A good hard fought game of rugby, Witney just shading the first half score wise but Blues producing a totally dominant second half display scoring 52 unanswered points

MOM Alex Sparkes
DOD Alex Weekes for getting his Blues debut

Newbury Squad
Ben Hicks, Rob Drysdale, James Macaulay, Kyle Doel, Tom Erskine, Ryan Davis, Max Hayman, Josh Winfield,
Tom Hunt, Alex Bancroft, Harvey North, Rory Jones, Dan Thorne, Alex Sparkes, Toby Thorne,
Duncan Craigen, Alex Weekes, James Lewis

Thanks to the ref who kept the game flowing in difficult windy conditions

Thanks to the great Blues support who witnessed an 8 try second half

As always thanks also to Jess for the match video and Ian Jack and Alex Drysdale for the match photos

Blues next match is Home against Old Centralians March 9th, 3pm KO. The Big One!!!

Witney's report https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/witneyrfc/teams/79398/match-centre/1-3676049