Blues get that all important win

NEWBURY BLUES 25 v 15 EXMOUTH

Blues get that all important win
Saturday Sept 28th 2019, 3pm KO South West Premier

Blues get back on the winning trail with a good win over top of the table Exmouth

Blues welcome back a couple of their experienced players and a great performance gives them that all important first win against unbeaten Exmouth who came to Monks Lane sitting top of the table

Blues kick off with the wind Exmouth run back at Blues before kicking just into Blues half managing to regather the ball and put in another kick, Blues gather and after a couple of phases running at Exmouth they put in a long kick and chase, Exmouth clear to touch. Blues win their lineout and attack the Exmouth defence, some good play takes them into Exmouth’s 22, Blues take play across the pitch and a neat offload from Dan Thorne allows James Macaulay to break through to score, the conversion just drifts wide 5-0 3 mins.

Exmouth kick off Blues run at Exmouth getting a penalty which is kicked to touch, Blues run the ball from the lineout but a marginally forward pass gives Exmouth a scrum in their own half, Exmouth get a penalty at the scrum which they tap and go getting into Blues half before losing possession, Blues run at Exmouth Alex Millar breaking through several tackles before Blues spread the ball through the backs taking play into Exmouth’s 22, Blues but Exmouth’s defence under sustained pressure until a mistake gives Exmouth the ball allowing them to clear to touch. Exmouth get a penalty at the lineout, their kick doesn’t find touch allowing Blues to run straight back at them, Blues keep up the pressure until Dan Thorne puts in a great cross field kick to Josh Bartlett who is gone down the touchline to score a great try, Dan Thorne kicks the long conversion 12-0 10 mins

Exmouth restart Blues gather and send a long kick deep into Exmouth’s half, Exmouth run the ball then put a long kick bouncing into touch in Blues 22, Blue win their lineout and kick clear, Exmouth gather and run the ball back, getting a penalty at the tackle, they quickly tap and go taking play across the pitch, Exmouth get another penalty which their 10 George Meadows slots between the posts, 12-3 17 mins

Blues restart long Exmouth clear to touch, Blues attack from their lineout taking play across the pitch getting a penalty which is kicked to touch in Exmouth’s 22, Blues win their lineout but spill the ball forwards in the maul giving Exmouth a 5m scrum. Exmouth win their scrum under pressure and clear to touch, Blues win a scrum at the lineout then get a penalty at the scrum which is kicked to touch giving Blues an attacking lineout, Blues lineout through is not straight giving Exmouth a scrum. Exmouth win their scrum and take play across the pitch still in their own 22, injury time out, play restarts with an Exmouth scrum and they take play up to half way with some good play, Exmouth keep up the attack taking play into Blues 22 before some good Blues defence forces the mistake, Exmouth knock on giving Blues a scrum on their own 5m line.
Blues scrum is on top and they get a penalty which is cleared to touch lineout won Blues make good ground when Tom Hunt makes a good sniping run, he releases Dan Thorne and play is in Exmouth’s 22, Blues get a penalty which Dan Thorne kicks, 15-3 31 mins

Exmouth kick off Blues gather and get a penalty when they are taken out in the air, Blues kick to touch win their lineout but are penalised for offside, Exmouth clear to touch win their lineout and put pressure on the Blues defence getting into Blues 22 before a knock on gives Blues a defensive scrum, scrum won Blues run out of defence but concede a penalty at the tackle, Exeter’s 10 George Meadows slots between the posts 15-6 38 mins

Blues kick long from the restart, Exmouth try running the ball before clearing to touch, Exmouth steal the lineout and attack taking play up to Blues 22 where they win a penalty, their 10 George Meadows again slots the penalty between the posts 15-9 and half time

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Exmouth kick off the second half and now have the wind advantage, Blues return the kick allowing Exeter to run the ball and get a penalty which George Meadows kicks 15-12 41mins

Blues restart and are soon on the back foot giving away a penalty scrum then another penalty which Exmouth’s 10 George Meadows slots from just inside Blues half 15-15 43 mins

Kyle Doel on Christopher Bird off

Blues restart Exmouth gather then kick into Blues half, Blues run back at Exmouth then they kick, Exmouth do the same, Blues run the ball getting into Exmouth’s half before an injury time out for an Exmouth player who took a blow to the head whilst tackling a Blues player and has to leave the field, Blues have a penalty which they kick to touch win their lineout and put pressure on the Exmouth defence, Blues get very close to scoring when they are marginally short of the ball touching the post surround instead they have a 5m scrum, Blues pack are on top and 2 penalties later Blues Dan Thorne kicks the 3 points 18-15 55 mins

Exmouth take the restart kick Blues gather and a good Dylan Stewart run takes play back into Exmouth’s half but they concede a penalty at the tackle allowing Exmouth to kick to touch, Blues steal the lineout but the ref deems a knock on so Exmouth have a scrum which is reset and under pressure they just keep possession and spread the ball wide, several phase’s of play take Exmouth up to the try line but some good Blues defence eventually wins the day and Blues have a penalty which they clear to touch, Blues steal the lineout in their own 22 and clear to touch.
Exmouth take a short lineout and get back into Blues 22 before spreading the ball wide, Blues manage to steal possession in the tackle and some good running rugby takes play up to half way before a knock on gives Exmouth a scrum, Exmouth hold their scrum and take play back up to Blues 22 before a knock on halts their progress. Blues win their reset scrum and run at Exmouth before kicking behind the Exmouth defensive line, a good chase results in Exmouth spilling the ball, Alex Bancroft kicks the loose ball and gets hold of it he releases Alex Millar who breaks through the defence then off loads to Dylan Stewart who rounds the last defender to score, Dan Thorne converts 25-15 71 mins

Adam Neal off Christopher Bird on

Blues attack from Exmouth’s restart kick and a quick tap penalty takes them up to Exmouth’s 22 before they lose the ball Exmouth clear to touch on half way, Blues get a penalty scrum after winning the lineout but knock on at the tackle, Exmouth win a penalty and there is a bit of a melee, Exmouth take a tap penalty but soon concede a penalty at the tackle, Blues get a second penalty for a high tackle and Exmouth get a yellow, Blues kick to touch win their lineout and soon have another penalty which is kicked to touch. Blues win the lineout but concede a penalty allowing Exmouth to clear to touch. Exmouth attack from the lineout taking play across the pitch through several phase’s getting a penalty at the tackle, Exmouth take a quick tap and again spread play wide then back before good defence from Blues wins a penalty and 10 m when Exmouth contest the decision, Blues clear to touch.
Blues win a penalty at the lineout which is kicked to touch win the lineout and put pressure on the Exmouth defence, Blues spill the ball and get a yellow for a high tackle

Josh Bartlett off Freddie Graham Campbell on 77 mins

Exmouth kick to touch win their lineout and soon have another penalty which they kick to touch in Blues 22, Blues manage to steal the lineout and after a couple of phases of play kick the ball out to bring the full-time whistle and a good first win for the Blues.

Blues deserved this win scoring 3 try’s and good defence stopping Exmouth from getting over the try line instead they relied on their 10 to kick all 15 points. A good hard-fought match which was always close, both teams contributing to make it an entertaining game of rugby

Good luck to Exmouth for the rest of the season, looking forward to the rematch in Exmouth

Thanks to the ref who kept the game flowing playing some good advantages

MOM – Dylan Stewart
DOD – Christopher Bird

Newbury Squad
Ben Hicks, Rob Drysdale, James Macaulay, Christopher Bird, Adam Neal, Alex Millar,
Dylan Stewart, Josh Winfield,
Tom Hunt, Alex Bancroft, Harvey North, Dan Thorne, Josh Bartlett, James Lewis, Jamie Futcher,
George Anderson, Kyle Doel, Freddie Graham Campbell,

Blues next fixture is Sat 5th Oct Away at Ivybridge 14-30pm KO, Coach leaves NRFC at 8-15

Thanks to the great Blues support who again turned out in numbers, any wishing to travel with the players on Sat please book your seat cost £20