Blues travelled to Exmouth hoping to do the double over Exmouth who have had a rough time recently and dropped down the league, the weather was windy and cloudy but dry, again Blues have to make a couple of changes, Finn Walsh making a welcome start for the Blues after a long term injury, great to have you back

Blues kick off Exmouth gather and clear to touch, from the lineout Blues run at Exmouth before kicking deep into Exmouth’s 22 they gather and clear to touch, Blues win the lineout and take play across the pitch getting a penalty which is kicked to touch in Exmouth’s 22, Blues put pressure on Exmouth’s defence taking play across the pitch and back, Exmouth get a penalty at the tackle and kick to touch, from the lineout they attack Blues before putting up a high kick and chase, they manage to get hold of the ball and run at Blues.
Blues steal the ball and take play into Exmouth’s half, a neat crossfield kick is caught by Blues and they keep the pressure on Exmouth, Blues change tact and put a kick into Exmouth’s 22, they catch and mark putting a long kick into Blues half, Blues run back at Exmouth getting into their half before a knock on halts their progress, scrum won Exmouth run at Blues taking play into Blues territory and get a penalty at the tackle, injury time out.
Exmouth kick to touch win the lineout and their big forwards maul getting another penalty, the ref talks to Blues, Exmouth again kick to touch, lineout won their forwards again maul slowly making ground before a series of pick and drives results in them scoring, the conversion is wide 5-0 11 mins

Blues restart kick is gathered by Exmouth who hold the ball before kicking clear to touch, Exmouth steal the lineout taking play across the pitch keeping up the pressure on Blues, play is brought back for an Exmouth penalty, injury time out, Exmouth kick to touch win the lineout and get another penalty which again is kicked to touch, again their big forwards maul from the lineout and manage to lumber over to score their second try on 18 mins the conversion is kicked 12-0, Blues have been punished for conceding penalties

Blues restart Exmouth gather and run at Blues breaking through some poor tackling and taking play into Blues half before kicking into Blues 22, Blues gather and kick clear, Exmouth again run back at Blues who manage to steal the ball in the tackle, Blues attack and soon have a penalty which they kick to touch, Exmouth manage to steal the ball at the lineout and clear to touch.
Again Exmouth get hold of the ball at the lineout and run through the Blues defence taking play deep into Blues half, a knock on halts their progress and gives Blues a scrum which they win under pressure and kick back into Exmouth’s half, Exmouth run the ball getting nearly to half way before knocking on, from the scrum Blues attack making good ground before they knock on, Exmouth win the scrum and run the ball, Blues manage to steal possession taking play back into Exmouth’s half, Blues get a penalty play the advantage but a mistake brings play back for the penalty, Dan Thorne kicks the penalty, 12-3 31 mins

Exmouth’s restart kick isn’t 10 giving Blues a scrum on half way, Blues just hold their scrum under pressure and soon put a good kick bouncing into touch in Exmouth’s 22, Blues manage to get hold of the ball at the lineout and take play up to the line with a series of pick and drives, Exmouth concede a penalty which Blues tap and go their forwards picking and driving before spreading it wide allowing Tom Martin to cut a good line and break the Exmouth defensive line to score under the posts, Dan Thorne converts 12-10 35 mins

Exmouth kick off Blues return the kick, Exmouth run the ball making good yards and get a penalty which they kick to touch in Blues 22, lineout won their forwards maul and soon have a penalty and Blues get a yellow card, they kick to touch win the lineout and again their forwards maul managing to get over and score, the conversion is wide 17-10 half time

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Jamie Futcher off Toby Thorne on

Exmouth kick off the second half Blues take and return the kick, Exmouth run the ball back taking play into Blues half before conceding a penalty at the tackle, Blues kick to touch still in their own half, win the lineout and are lucky to get hold of a loose ball when their kick is charged down, Blues kick into Exmouth’s half, Exmouth gather run then kick back into Blues 22, Blues gather and clear to touch
Exmouth win their lineout and take play into Blues 22 spreading play across the pitch they get a scrum when Blues knock on in the tackle, injury time out, Exmouth win a penalty scrum at the reset scrum, they win the scrum and run at Blues who manage to steal the ball in the tackle try running the ball before kicking clear, Exmouth return the kick, Blues gather and run the ball getting up to half way before knocking on

Josh Winfield off Dylan Stewart on 49 mins

Exmouth lose their scrum allowing Blues to take play into Exmouth’s before they lose the ball in the tackle, Exmouth run at Blues and get a scrum when Blues unluckily knock on in the tackle, Exmouth play the advantage but play is brought back, injury time out, Exmouth win the scrum in their own half and kick clear, Blues run back at Exmouth Tom Martin and Dylan Stewart making good ground, Blues get a penalty just outside Exmouth’s 22 which Dan Thorne kicks 54 mins 17-13

Exmouth kick off Blues catch and return the kick, Exmouth run at Blues before trying a kick which is semi charged down by Blues and bounces into touch, Exmouth win their lineout and take play across the pitch before losing the ball Blues get a penalty but play advantage and lose the advantage when they kick to touch, Exmouth win their lineout and spread play wide getting up to Blues 22 before putting in a crossfield kick, Blues catch and call the mark.
Blues tap and go before putting a kick into Exmouth’s 22, they gather and kick deep the ball rolling into the try area and Blues touch it down and take the 22 drop out, Exmouth gather and kick, Blues gather and run the ball taking play up to half way then put a neat kick rolling into touch in Exmouth’s 22

Ben Hicks off Paul Sayers on 60 mins

Exmouth win their lineout and kick upfield, Blues attack and soon have a penalty which they kick to touch, Exmouth manage to steal the lineout and kick deep, the ball runs over the dead ball line giving Blues a scrum on halfway, Blues have upped their game and are now looking a different side from the first half.
Scrum won Blues run the ball getting another penalty scrum, Blues hold their scrum and again run at Exmouth getting a penalty for a high tackle and Exmouth get a yellow card. Blues kick to touch win the lineout attack the Exmouth defence before a putting through a grubber kick, Exmouth just get there first and touch down giving them a 22 drop out

Finn Walsh off Josh Winfield on 65 mins

Exmouth take the 22 drop out Blues catch and run back at Exmouth taking play into Exmouth’s half before a knock on gives Exmouth a scrum, Exmouth win their scrum and attempt to kick clear but Blues manage to charge it down and soon have a penalty

Finn Walsh on Tom Erskine off 66 mins blood

Blues tap and go taking play into Exmouth’s 22 before losing the ball forwards, Exmouth play advantage and kick clear to touch, Blues win their lineout and mount another attack and soon have a penalty which they kick to touch

Tom Erskine on Finn Walsh off 70 mins blood reversal
Blues win their lineout and attack taking play across the pitch getting another penalty and Exmouth a yellow card. Blues tap and go spreading the ball wide to Harvey North who breaks the tackle to score wide out right, Dan Thorne kicks the long conversion and Blues are in the lead for the first time in the game, 76 mins, 17-20

Exmouth kick off and soon have possession when Blues are penalised at the tackle, Exmouth kick to touch win the lineout and put pressure on the Blues defence getting a penalty they play advantage but play is brought back for the penalty, they tap and go taking play up to the try line through several phases, Blues are defending for their lives and are rewarded when they win a penalty scrum, Blues win their scrum and are tackled over the try line touching down and bringing the final whistle
Not a game for the purists but a good hard-fought game of rugby by two sides at the bottom end of the table, Blues gaining the lead with only a few minutes to go after being behind for most of the match, getting the 4-point win and their first away win which lifts them off the bottom of the table

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

MOM Tom Martin
DOD Management on the day??????

Newbury Squad
Ben Hicks, Rob Drysdale, James Macaulay, Tom Erskine, Finn Walsh, Jack Walsh,
Ollie Spanswick, Josh Winfield,
Tom Fieldsend, Dan Thorne, Harvey North, Chris Bird, Toby Holland, Jamie Futcher, Tom Martin,
Paul Sayers, Dylan Stewart, Toby Thorne,

Thanks to the great Blues support who travelled down to Exmouth in numbers

Blues next fixture is Sat 18th Jan home v Ivybridge a game Blues need to win
There is also a live local band New Shores on after the match