Blues make 4 changes from last weeks squad, Alex Weekes and Christian Atkinson coming back into the squad and Joseff Terry-Brown and Callum Hambrecht making their Blues debuts

Salisbury kick off the seasons penultimate game down the slope on a grey but dry afternoon, they manage to get their hands on the ball and put pressure on Blues defence, after several phases of play camped in Blues 22 they get a penalty which is slotted between the posts 3-0 2 mins to the joy of the Salisbury supporters

Blues restart and get hold of the ball Dan Thorne passes to Toby Thorne who releases Alex Bancroft who weaves his way through the Salisbury defence to score under the posts, Dan Thorne adds the conversion to make the score 3-7 on 3 mins, what a start to the game

Salisbury’s restart kick is gathered by Blues but they are penalised allowing Salisbury to tap and go and again put pressure on the Blues defence, Salisbury eventually spread the ball wide allowing their winger to run the touchline to score wide out on their right, the long conversion is kicked, 10-7 7 mins

Blues take the restart kick and a good chase is soon rewarded when Salisbury are penalised for holding on at the tackle, Dan Thorne slots the kick between the posts 10-10 9 mins

Salisbury restart Blues gather and return the kick, Salisbury gather and run back at Blues who manage to steal the ball and take play across the pitch before a neat grubber kick rolls into touch, Salisbury win their lineout and their forwards maul before kicking into Blues half, Blues run the ball but a knock on halts their progress, Salisbury win their scrum in their own half under pressure from the Blues pack, the Blues defence push Salisbury backwards until they concede a penalty which is kicked to touch on half way, lineout won Salisbury run at Blues and some good attacking lines and off loads cuts through the Blues defence and they score a good try close to the posts, plus the conversion, 17-10 14 mins

Blues manage to regather their restart kick but knock on in the tackle, Salisbury win their scrum and again some good running rugby takes them up to the try line only a great last gasp tackle from Josh Bartlett prevents the try, Salisbury have a 5m scrum which they win and their forwards pick and drive before the ball is spread wide, the Blues defence holds out until the pressure tells and Salisbury have a penalty which they kick to touch, Blues manage to steal the lineout and clear to touch still in their own 22, Salisbury’s lineout is not straight giving Blues a scrum, Blues pack shove Salisbury backwards winning a penalty which is cleared to touch, this time Blues throw is not straight so Salisbury have a scrum.
Salisbury win their lineout just in Blues half and run before putting in a chip kick over Blues defence, Blues gather and run but a long pass is forwards giving Salisbury an attacking scrum, Blues pack steal the scrum and attack getting up to Salisbury’s 22 where a knock on halts their progress, Salisbury just hold their scrum going backwards but concede a penalty, Blues attack from their scrum taking play across the pitch then back before a neat cross field kick from Dan Thorne is caught by Alex Sparkes to score a good try Dan Thorne adds the conversion 17-17 27 mins (Blues pass the 1000 point mark)

Salisbury’s restart kick is gathered by Harvey North, Blues attack, the ball is fed out to Dan Thorne who releases Alex Bancroft and he sets off on one of his silky runs to weave his way 60 plus m through the despairing Salisbury defence to score a great try under the posts, Dan Thorne adds the conversion, 17-24 30 mins

Alex Sparkes off injured Christian Atkinson on

Blues run Salisbury’s restart kick getting a penalty on half way which is kicked to touch, lineout won Blues spread the ball wide then back getting a penalty scrum in Salisbury’s 22, Blues pack are dominant and a big shove gets a penalty, Blues take the scrum and push Salisbury backwards allowing Josh Winfield to keep control of the ball at the back of the scrum, then pick up and touch down a great forwards bonus point try, Dan Thorne kicks the conversion, 17-31 34 mins

Blues are now in charge and take play back into Salisbury’s 22 from their restart kick, Blues knock on but their dominant pack win a penalty at the scrum, Blues attack from the scrum taking play wide before a good Salisbury tackle takes Blues into touch, lineout won Salisbury get a penalty, their kick doesn’t find touch but Blues knock on, Salisbury now have an attacking scrum, Salisbury get a penalty at the reset scrum they tap and go quickly getting another penalty when Blues haven’t retreated 10 m, they soon have another penalty which they again tap and go and are rewarded when they spread the ball wide to score, the conversion just drifts wide, 22-31 half time, can the second half live up to this free scoring first 40 mins

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Blues kick off the second half, Salisbury gather and run out of defence, Blues manage to rip the ball and put in a chip kick, Salisbury gather and clear to touch, Salisbury get a scrum at the lineout in their own 22, Blues dominant pack steal Salisbury’s scrum and take play wide before the forwards take over, Blues win a penalty scrum and shove the Salisbury pack backwards up to the try line, they collapse the scrum and the ref awards a penalty try 22-38 44 mins

Salisbury restart, Blues return the kick, Salisbury run at Blues breaking several tackles they take play up to Blues 22 getting a penalty they play advantage but play is brought back for the penalty, they tap and go quickly getting another penalty, again they tap and go taking play across the pitch, a loose pass is snapped up by Blues allowing them to clear to touch. Salisbury’s lineout throw isn’t straight so Blues have a scrum still in their own half, from the scrum Blues run the ball, Josh Bartlett breaking several tackles before releasing Josh Winfield who gets into Salisbury’s 22, Blues knock on giving Salisbury a defensive scrum.

Callum Hambrecht on Duncan Craigen off 50 mins

Salisbury hold their scrum under pressure and clear to touch Blues win the lineout and take play across the pitch Josh Bartlett breaks through the tackles to score Dan Thorne converts 22-45 52 mins

Blues run the Salisbury restart kick back getting a penalty which is kicked to touch, Salisbury manage to steal the lineout and attack getting back into Blues half, Salisbury manage to keep the ball alive and a good passage of play results in them scoring close to the posts, getting the bonus point try, the conversion is good, 29-45 55 mins

Blues take the restart kick and a good chase results in Salisbury knocking on, Blues win the scrum and attack taking play across the pitch before a knock on halts their progress, Salisbury hold their scrum and run the ball out of defence getting a penalty at the tackle, they tap and go but soon lose the ball forwards, Blues win their scrum and put pressure on the Salisbury defence before a neat kick is put over the Salisbury defence, they just win the race and touch the ball down take the 22 drop out and manage to get hold of the ball taking play up to half way before a knock on gives Blues a scrum.
Blues win the scrum and attack getting into Salisbury’s 22 before play is stopped for an injury to Salisbury’s defender, Play is restarted with a Blues scrum which they win and get a penalty scrum, Blues spread play wide but get penalised for crossing, Salisbury kick to touch still in their own 22, their throw is not straight giving Blues an attacking scrum, Blues win the scrum and spread the ball wide getting a penalty at the tackle which is kicked to touch, lineout won Blues forwards drive up to the line but are held up giving Blues a 5m scrum, Blues pack shove Salisbury backwards they infringe to stop Blues momentum and the ref gives a penalty try, 29-52 70 mins

Alex Weekes on Toby Thorne off and a reshuffle

Salisbury take the restart quickly and manage to regather possession putting pressure on Blues defence they get a penalty, they tap and go getting another penalty which is again taken quickly, they spread the ball wide left and get over to score, the conversion is wide, 34-52 75 mins

Blues take the restart kick, Salisbury buoyed by their try run back at Blues and some good rugby takes play into Blues half before a neat chip kick is put over the Blues defenders and they win the race to touch down and score 39-52 77 mins

Blues seem to have switched off, they take the restart kick and Salisbury run the ball getting up to half way getting a penalty, they take quickly and run the ball getting a lineout when Blues knock the ball into touch, lineout won Salisbury attack but the mistake comes and the final whistle is blown to bring an end to an entertaining game

Well done to both teams who produced a great spectacle for the spectators, an end to end game with lots of running rugby and points

MOM Blues front row - Ben Hicks, Rob Drysdale, James Macaulay
DOD Rory Jones

Newbury Squad
Ben Hicks, Rob Drysdale, James Macaulay, Duncan Craigen, Tom Erskine, Rory Jones,
Joseff Terry-Brown, Josh Winfield,
Tom Hunt, Alex Bancroft, Harvey North, Dan Thorne, Josh Bartlett, Alex Sparkes, Toby Thorne,
Alex Weekes, Callum Hambrecht, Christian Atkinson

Thanks to the ref who kept the game flowing, allowing both teams to play attacking rugby

Special thanks to the great Blues support who travelled to Salisbury in numbers as usual

Thanks to Al Drysdale for the match Photo's

Blues last match of the season is at Home against Stratford Upon Avon, Saturday 13th 3pm KO.