Blues make 2 changes giving prop Jon Grieve his Blues Debut for this first v second top of the table clash.
Strangely the scores for both games are identical

Blues kick off with the wind on a clear but windy afternoon, Old Cents catch and after several phases trying to run out of defence put up a chip kick, Blues gather and attack getting a penalty which is kicked to touch in Old Cents 22, lineout won Blues take play wide a knock on gives Old Cents a scrum on their own 22, scrum won Old Cents run for a few phases before kicking into Blues half, Blues run and put a good kick bouncing into Old Cents 22, they under pressure clear to touch. Blues win the lineout but don’t get far before they lose the ball, Old Cents try running out of their half, Blues get a scrum when Old Cents knock on, scrum won Blues launch another attack before Dan Thorne puts in a precise cross field kick which Harvey North catches and strolls over to score, the conversion is blown wide, 5-0 7 mins

Old Cents restart and soon have a penalty which they kick to touch, from the lineout Old Cents forwards pick and drive taking play deep into Blues 22, Old Cents continue the attack and their forwards eventually make the break through to score, the conversion is kicked, 5-7 10 mins

Old Cents attack from Blues restart kick getting a penalty at the tackle, lineout won they take play into Blues half before conceding a penalty at the tackle, Blues kick to touch on halfway win the lineout and run at Old Cents taking play through several phases before losing the ball at the tackle, Old Cents take play across the pitch but a forward pass gives Blues a scrum, injury time out. Blues win the scrum and get the ball out to Alex Bancroft who ghosts past the Old Cents defence cutting a great line to run the 40m and touch down under the posts, Dan Thorne adds the conversion, 12-7 19 mins

Old Cents restart, Blues gather and run the ball getting a penalty at the tackle which is kicked to touch on half way, Lineout won Blues attack but again the mistake halts their progress, a forward pass gives Old Cents a scrum, Old Cents win their scrum and attack getting a penalty at the tackle which is kicked to touch, Blues knock on at the lineout, Old Cents play the advantage and take play up to Blues 22 before conceding a penalty at the tackle, Blues kick to touch.
Blues run at Old Cents from the lineout taking play up to Old Cents 22, Old cents get a penalty which they tap and go before kicking into Blues half, Blues attack getting back up to Old Cents 22 before a knock on gives Old Cents a defensive scrum, from the scrum Old Cents take play wide getting a penalty which they kick to touch still in their own half. Lineout won Old Cents spread play wide but don’t get out of their own half a knock on gives Blues a scrum,
Blues attack getting a penalty which they quickly tap and go, Blues take play across the pitch before putting in a cross-field kick, Old Cents gather but play is brought back for a Blues penalty scrum, Blues attack wide from the scrum and a neat pass releases Alex Sparkes to run the touch line to score Dan Thorne slots the long conversion, 19-7 34 mins

Old Cents have the better of the remaining minutes of the first half but cannot break through the resolute Blues defence, eventually the half time whistle is blown when Blues manage to get under the ball and stop an Old Cents try, Tom Erskine holding the ball off the floor.

Time for the half time rest and talks after a good hard first half

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Old Cents kick off the second half with the wind in their favour, Blues return the kick, Old Cents gather and attack taking play into Blues 22 they get a penalty which is kicked to touch, Blues get a free kick at the lineout which is kicked to touch, Old Cents lose the lineout allowing Blues to run the ball, a knock on gives possession to Old Cents who play the advantage taking play back into Blues 22. Dan Thorne reads the pass and intercept’s, he takes play deep into Old Cents half before a great off load releases Harvey North to run in under the posts and score the bonus point try, Dan Thorne converts, 26-7 44 mins

Old Cents take the restart kick Blues run the ball before putting in a kick, Old Cents run back at Blues getting tackled into touch, Blues take quickly and run at Old Cents winning a penalty at the tackle, which is slotted into touch in Old Cents 22, lineout won Blues maul but don’t get far when Old Cents get a penalty scrum, Old Cents win their scrum and run at Blues before putting in a kick, Blues return the kick into Old Cents half.
Old Cents run getting back into Blues half before Blues manage to steal the ball taking play back into Old Cents half, Blues lose possession, Old Cents attack and some good rugby takes them into Blues 22 and they get a penalty which they tap and go, their forwards pick and drive and they are soon over to get the try and Blues get a yellow card, 26-12 52 mins

Tom Hunt off Josh Bartlett on

Blues restart Old Cents gather and run before kicking deep into Blues half, Blues run back at old Cents but lose the ball forwards in contact, Old Cents win their scrum just in Blues half and run at Blues, a knock-on halts their progress, Blues win their scrum and put up a high kick which is pushed back by the wind, Blues get hold of the ball and get a penalty which is kicked to touch.
Blues win their lineout and the ball is passed quickly through hands, Alex Bancroft, Dan Thorne to Harvey North who powers over to score his hat trick try, conversion is wide, 31-12 64 mins

Tom Erskine off Duncan Craigen on

Old Cents restart Blues catch and run at Old Cents before sending a grubber kick deep in to their half, Old Cents get a penalty at the tackle and kick to touch on Blues 22, lineout won Old Cents forwards pick and drive making ground and getting another penalty which is kicked to touch, Old Cents have the better of the next few minutes but cannot break through the Blues defence, Blues get a team yellow card, eventually Blues force the mistake and have a scrum, Blues run out of defence from their scrum and spread play wide, Blues get a penalty which gets reversed for chat, Old Cents kick to touch in Blues 22.

James Lewis on Toby Thorne off 78 mins

Blues steal the lineout and try running out of defence, a knock on gives Old Cents a scrum on Blues 22, Old Cents get another scrum then a penalty which they tap and go, Blues defence holds firm and eventually Blues steal possession and take play into Old Cents 22 with some good rugby from Alex Bancroft and Harvey North, Blues get a penalty which is slotted into touch, Blues win the lineout but a mistake brings the final whistle.

Blues have done it they have got a bonus point win to seal the league title and promotion to South West Premier, the Champagne is sprayed over the players to huge applause from the great Blues support, what a great afternoon, the celebrations start in the changing room and carry on late into the night

MOM Dan Thorne, DOD Dan Thorne

Newbury Squad
Ben Hicks, Rob Drysdale, Jon Grieve, 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, James Lewis, Josh Bartlett

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

Thanks to the great Blues support who witnessed another special day at Monks Lane

Thanks to Ian Jack for the matchday photo’s and Jess for the matchday video

Blues next match is Away against Oxford Harlequins March 23rd, 3pm KO.