Blues last minute woe’s

IVYBRIDGE 27 v 24 NEWBURY BLUES

Blues last minute woe’s
Saturday Oct 5th 2019, 2-30pm KO South West Premier

Blues beaten by a last-minute drop goal

Blues missing a few players travel to Ivybridge and fall just short of grabbing a draw when Ivybridge kick a last-minute drop goal to snatch the victory

Blues start the match on Ivybridge’s 4G pitch, and get some luck when an Ivybridge player touches the ball into touch giving Blues an attacking lineout, Ivybridge steal the lineout put up a high kick which they manage to regather and send another kick deep into Blues 22, Blues return the kick which Ivybridge gather and take play back into Blues 22, Ivybridge have by far the better of play in the first 15 minutes but cannot break through some resolute Blues defending, eventually their pressure pays when from an attacking scrum they manage to barge over and add the conversion 7-0 17 mins

Blues restart and over the next few minutes have slightly the better of the play and manage to keep hold of the ball, eventually Ivybridge infringe and a high tackle gives Blues a penalty, Dan Thorne is successful with the long kick 7-3 25 mins

Ivybridge restart long allowing Blues to clear to touch on half way, Blues steal the lineout and attack but lose the ball in the tackle then concede a penalty which Ivybridge clear to touch, their throw is long allowing Blues to gain possession and clear upfield, Ivybridge return the kick allowing Blues to run, Alex Bancroft gets the ball and is off on one of his runs before putting in a neat grubber kick, a good chase results in Ivybridge taken the ball over their try line and out, Blues have an attacking 5m scrum.
Blues pack shove Ivybridge back over the try line and just as Blues are going to touch down a Ivybridge boot kicks the ball away, Penalty try no the ref strangely gives Blues another scrum, again Blues pack shove them backwards this time a knock on halts Blues progress and gives Ivybridge a scrum which they win under pressure and clear to touch in Blues half. Blues spill the ball at the lineout giving Ivybridge a lineout, Blues steal the lineout and take play across the pitch before they break Ivybridge’s defence taking play into their 22, Blues concede a penalty at the tackle which Ivybridge kick to touch, lineout won Ivybridge take play into Blues 22 before an injury time out, play restarts with an Ivybridge scrum just in Blues 22, Ivybridge win their scrum and attack but lose the ball forwards in the tackle, Blues play the advantage taking play up to half way before they cough up possession and the half time whistle is blown

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Ivybridge kick off the second half and the after half time Blues hoodoo strikes again, Ivybridge get hold of the ball and a cross field grubber kick is gathered by Blues who then knock on in the tackle, from the scrum Ivybridge spread paly across the pitch win a penalty but play the advantage spreading the ball wide to score, the long conversion is kicked 14-3 42mins

Blues restart, Ivybridge return the kick Blues knock on, Ivybridge attack from the scrum but a great turnover at the tackle from the industrious Dylan Stewart gives Blues a penalty which is kicked to touch, Blues attack from the lineout and get up to the try line but are held up, Blues have an attacking 5 m scrum which is reset, Blues win under pressure and the forwards pick and drive through several phases before the ball is released out through hands allowing Josh Winfield to break through the Ivybridge defence to score, Dan Thorne adds the conversion 50 mins 14-10

George Robinson Slater on Ben Hicks off

Ivybridge restart Blues return the kick, Ivybridge gather and some good attacking play takes them into Blues 22, Ivybridge take play across the pick getting up to the line but are held up, scrum won they get a penalty, Ivybridge play advantage but play is brought back for the penalty which they kick, 17-10 56 mins

Blues kick off, both teams try the kicking game before Blues run at Ivybridge getting a penalty scrum deep in Ivybridge’s half, scrum won Blues take play across the pitch, eventually Alex Millar bursts through the Ivybridge defence to score Dan Thorne converts 17-17 60 mins

Josh Bartlett off Christopher Bird on

Ivybridge restart Blues return the kick, Ivybridge run then kick, Blues gather and run but lose the ball at the tackle Ivy bridge send a grubber kick bouncing into touch, Ivybridge win the lineout and taking play across the pitch then back eventually getting over in the corner the long conversion is kicked 24-17 65 mins

Ollie Spanswick on Dylan Stewart off

Blues restart and soon have a penalty at the tackle the long attempt is just wide, 67 mins
Ivybridge kick long from their 22 drop out Blues gather and run, injury time out after a heavy late tackle on Alex Bancroft, play restarts with a scrum, Ivybridge get a penalty which they kick to touch, Blues steal the lineout and take play wide before a cross field kick bounces into touch in own half.
Ivybridge win the lineout and run at Blues before putting in a kick, Blues gather and run out of defence getting a penalty at the tackle which they tap and go, Ivybridge manage to steal the ball at the tackle and take play into Blues 22 before conceding a penalty, Blues clear to touch, win the lineout and soon have another penalty which is kicked to touch, lineout won Blues forwards maul getting another penalty which is kicked to touch deep in Ivybridge’s 22, lineout won Josh Winfield breaks straight through the Ivybridge forwards to score Dan Thorne converts, the game is again level 24-24 75 mins

Ivybridge kick off Blues gather and get a penalty when they are taken out in the air, Blues kick to touch in Ivybridge half, lineout won Blues concede a penalty in the maul allowing Ivybridge to kick to touch deep in Blues half, lineout won they take play into Blues 22 getting another penalty, they play advantage and the ball is fed back to their 10 who kicks the drop goal 79 mins 27-24

Time for Blues to restart Ivybridge just manage to get hold of the ball and after a couple of phases clear to touch to bring the final whistle, so close but so far for the Blues

Again, needless penalties and the poor starts to the second half have cost the Blues

Well done to Ivybridge who played their part in an entertaining game of rugby, good luck for the remainder of the season

MOM – Josh Winfield
DOD – George Robinson Slater

Newbury Squad
Ben Hicks, George Anderson, James Macaulay, Kyle Doel, Adam Neal, Alex Millar,
Dylan Stewart, Josh Winfield,
Tom Hunt, Alex Bancroft, Harvey North, Dan Thorne, Josh Bartlett, Tom Cole, James Lewis,
George Robinson Slater, Ollie Spanswick, Christopher Bird,

Blues next fixture is Sat 12th Oct @ Home v Launceston 3pm an important game to win

Thanks to the great Blues support who again travelled in numbers

Report off the Ivybridge website
GRIEVESON DROP GOAL CLINCHES GAME
By Stephanie Newman
Keeping our unbeaten run.

It was a nip and tuck afternoon, with Newbury proving to be tough opponents.
Our first try came from Adam Northcott with Matt Grieveson adding the conversion, the score at half time was 7-3, Newbury No 12 having slotted a penalty.
We went further ahead in the second half with flying winger Damon Ackerman going over and again Grieveson added the extras.
Now the Blues close the gap to bring them only 4 points in arrears, until Grievson kicked a penalty to put us 17-10 ahead. But Newbury were not done yet and a converted try brought us level 17 all.
Winger Tom Scoles put us back in front when he crossed the line and Grieveson added the extras once again.
But once again back came Newbury who levelled again on 78 minutes , we then worked our way back towards their try line and finally the ball popped out to Grieveson who dropped a goal, there was little time left and just after the restart referee Kevin Willams blew for full time.
It was the second week running we have had to dig deep to win a tight game but all credit to the team who didn't panic and kept playing.
“To be fair, we have been really good at the end of games even when it has been tight so I had confidence,” explained head coach Gareth Elliott. “We had penalty advantage so Matt went for the drop-goal and slotted it. It was another good win for us. The Exmouth game was tight, Maidenhead was tight and so was this one, but we have shown we are mentally tough to get through those games and come out with some sort of result
He added: “We defended really well first half, but second half they just kind of got a bit of ascendency and started getting over the gain-line in attack and stopping us a bit. They got some momentum and played well second half, but we managed to hang on and get enough territory at the end of the game and put enough pressure on to pull through.
“I thought we did really well as they are a good side, especially pack wise. They had a good set-piece which troubled us. I think they will pick up plenty of result this season.