Blues again give away the first half but manage to produce a much better second to get a last-minute win when Dan Thornes long conversion goes over and the final whistle is blown

Blues are forced to make 4 changes due to injury and unavailability
Blues are led onto the pitch by the mascots for the day NRFC U6’s and U7’s

Brixham KO on a cold dry windy afternoon with the wind behind them, Blues gather and get a penalty which is kicked to touch, lineout won Blues cough up possession but make amends a few phases later when they steal the ball taking play into Brixham’s half and getting a penalty at the tackle, the ball is kicked to touch in Brixham’s 22, Blues throw is not straight giving Brixham a defensive scrum.
Brixham win the reset scrum and kick deep into Blues half. Blues run the ball but concede a penalty at the tackle, Brixham kick to touch win the lineout taking play up to Blues 22 before conceding a penalty which Blues kick to touch, Brixham steal the lineout and get a penalty just in Blues half, the long attempt hits the crossbar bouncing back but unfortunately touches a Blues players shoulder in the rush to gather the loose ball giving Brixham an attacking 5m scrum for a knock on, Brixham’s pack shove Blues backwards and they get over to score close to the posts, the conversion is kicked 0-7 10 mins

Blues restart Brixham gather and kick long and chase, Blues clear to touch still in their own half, Brixham win the lineout and put pressure on Blues defence taking play into Blues 22 before losing the ball forwards, Blues play the advantage running at Brixham before kicking into Brixham’s 22, Brixham gather under pressure from the Blues chasers and again kick long back into Blues 22, Blues gather and run but soon cough up possession at the tackle, Brixham attack across the pitch getting another penalty at the tackle, the long kick at the posts is good 0-10 16 mins

Blues kick off and a good chase results in a penalty at the tackle, Blues tap and go getting into Brixham’s 22, Blues spread play across the pitch then back Harvey North running up the touchline, a last gasp tackle forces a knock on giving Brixham a 5m defensive scrum, Brixham win the scrum and kick to touch, Blues win the lineout and run at Brixham taking play across the pitch, a loose pass means a knock-on and a Brixham scrum, Brixham win their scrum and run at Blues getting through some poor Blues tackling and taking play back into Blues half, Blues concede a penalty at the tackle which Brixham kick 0-13 22 mins, again Blues mistakes are costing them points.

Blues restart and a good chase means they regain possession taking play up to Brixham’s 22, Blues keep up the pressure taking play across the pitch getting a penalty scrum at the tackle, Blues win their scrum and take play over the try line but are held up, Blues win their 5 m scrum allowing Josh Winfield to break through the Brixham defence to score Dan Thorne converts, 7-13 28 mins

Brixham restart Blues gather and clear to touch, lineout won Brixham run the ball but a knock on gives Blues a scrum just in Brixham’s half, Brixham get a free kick at the scrum and this results in a period of pressure by Brixham spent in Blues half, a knock on gives Blues a scrum and a chance to relieve the pressure, Blues concede a penalty at the tackle which Brixham kick to touch in Blues 22.
Lineout won their forwards maul making good ground before getting a penalty and Blues get a yellow card, Brixham take the scrum but concede a penalty which Blues clear to touch. Brixham steal the lineout and some good attacking play results in play being spread across the pitch and back and they score their second try when their 13 breaks through the Blues defensive line, the conversion is kicked and the half time whistle is blown 7-20.

****************

Blues kick off the second half and need to produce a much better second half with the benefit of the wind to get anything out of this game, Brixham gather and return the kick, Blues run back at Brixham getting back into their half before losing the ball, Brixham run then put a grubber kick into Blues 22, Blues gather and clear to touch just in Brixham’s half, Brixham win their lineout a spread play wide, Blues manage to steal the ball at the tackle and run at Brixham spreading play across the pitch Blues put in a neat chip kick into Brixham’s 22 and chase. Brixham get a penalty which they kick to touch win the lineout and after several phases of play are up to Blues 22, Blues manage to get hold of the ball and kick deep, Brixham return the kick, Blues gather and run before a good Toby Thorne kick rolls into touch on Brixham’s 22 the ball had been touched so a Blues lineout

George Anderson on Paul Sayers off 47 mins

Blues attack from the lineout spreading play wide right, Blues knock on giving Brixham a scrum on their own 22, Scrum won Brixham run then kick deep Blues gather and some good attacking rugby takes play into Brixham’s 22, Blues put a neat grubber kick and are unlucky not to gather and score, Brixham get their hands on the ball, but it is back for a Blues pen which is kicked to touch

Toby Thorne off Alex Bancroft on 50 mins

Blues win the lineout and attack but lose the ball Brixham run out of defence before clearing to touch, Brixham steal the lineout and run at Blues before kicking into Blues 22, Blues gather and kick clear Brixham gather and try running but good Blues defence keeps them around the halfway line eventually Brixham get a scrum

Tom Hunt off Tom Fieldsend on 53 mins

The scrum is reset then Blues get a free kick which they tap and go taking play close to Brixham’s 22 Blues get a penalty at the tackle Tom Fieldsend taps and goes and Blues spread the ball wide left getting deep into Brixham’s 22 and get another penalty Blues play the advantage and take play right through a couple of phases before Dan Thorne pings a long pass out to Jamie Futcher he is up to the line before being stopped Blues are there quickly and keep hold of the ball Duncan Craigen diving over to score, Dan Thorne kicks the long conversion 14-20 56 mins Brixham get a yellow card

Brixham restart Blues gather and clear to touch close to half way, Brixham win their lineout and run at Blues but good Blues defence keeps them in midfield and they eventually knock on, Blues win the scrum and spread play wide but a knock on gives Brixham a scrum just in Blues half, Brixham win their scrum and soon have a penalty which they kick to touch, lineout won they maul and eventually get a penalty they play the advantage but play is back for the penalty, the kick drifts wide of the posts
Blues take the 22 drop out long, Brixham gather and run getting a penalty at the tackle which they kick to touch in Blues half, Brixham take their time so another injury time out, Brixham win the lineout but knock on in the tackle Blues win their scrum and spread the ball wide sadly the last pass fly’s into touch, Blues steal the lineout and attack before Tom Fieldsend puts a neat kick bouncing into touch on Brixham’s 22
Brixham win the lineout and maul, Blues manage to shove them back and get a scrum, Blues win their scrum and attack getting deep into Brixham’s 22 before Brixham get hold of a loose pass which they kick clear, Blues gather and run getting deep into Brixham’s half before they lose the ball Brixham kick clear to touch,

Toby Thorne on Jack Walsh off 68 mins

Brixham steal Blues lineout and their forwards drive at Blues, Blues rush defence keeps them close to their 22, they spread the ball across the pitch but cannot break the Blues defence and eventually kick after several minutes not making any progress, Blues gather and run at Brixham taking play across the pitch a loose pass is hacked into touch by Brixham they steal the lineout and run at Blues getting into the 22 before Blues get a penalty at the tackle Blues tap and go quickly getting another penalty and Brixham get a yellow card.
Blues kick to touch win the lineout and take play left across the pitch before spreading the ball back right Alex Bancroft making a good run getting up to the line, Blues keep the ball live and spread it through hands allowing Toby Holland to round the defender and score, Dan Thorne now has a difficult kick to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, the big crowd go silent as Dan runs up and the kick sails through the posts the crowd erupts Blues have got the victory with the last kick of the game 21-20

A credit to Blues who never gave up and by the smallest of margins are rewarded with a last-minute victory and 4 valuable league points, another Monks Lane game to remember

Thanks to Brixham who helped produce a good game of rugby looking forward to the rematch in Brixham

Thanks to the ref who kept control of the game and played some good advantages

MOM Adam Neal
DOD Josh Winfield

Newbury Squad
Ben Hicks, Paul Sayers, James Macaulay, Duncan Craigen, Adam Neal, Jack Walsh,
Ollie Spanswick, Josh Winfield,
Tom Hunt, Dan Thorne, Harvey North, Chris Bird, Toby Holland, Jamie Futcher, Toby Thorne
George Anderson, Tom Fieldsend, Alex Bancroft

Blues next fixture is Sat 21st Dec away v Drybrook 2pm KO, a tough game in prospect