Blues Earn First Away Victory!

...to stop a gap opening up at the bottom end of the table; also a win would help erase the memories of the previous two games where when in winning positions the victories were snatched from them. Unfortunately things didn’t get off to the best of starts as due to some miss-communication they ended up with a player short, no forward replacement on the bench.

Marlow kicked off playing up the slight slope at Riverwoods, Newbury return the kick and press up forcing Marlow to knock on and give away an early scrum, from the scrum Marlow infringe giving Newbury a penalty which Richard West kicks into touch well inside the Marlow half. The Blues win the line out and roll down field through their forwards forcing the Marlow defence to give away another penalty approx 30yds out which Richard West slots through the posts 3-0 to Newbury on 4 mins. From the kick off Newbury force Marlow back into their own half with a deft kick into touch; lineout won the Newbury forwards marshalled by the ageless Graham Stewart force Marlow to give away another penalty in a similar position which Richard West again kicks over 6-0 to the Blues 8 mins. Marlow kick off but concede another penalty but the usually reliable boot of Richard West misses touch allowing Marlow to attack through their backs, after several phases of play in the Blues half and some poor tackling by the Blues Marlow get the ball quickly out to their wing who beats the Newbury defence to score wide out on the left, the conversion missing brings the score to 6-5 to the Blues 11mins. Winning the ball from the kick off the Blues attack and the cross field kick option just avoids Jamie Futcher before bouncing into touch. A period of midfield play ends with Tom Erskine getting a yellow card (15 mins) for retaliation after getting a forearm in the face, Marlow kick to touch but lose the lineout allowing the Blues to relieve the pressure and get the ball back into the safety of midfield play, after several phases Newbury cough up possession allowing the quick Marlow backs to burst through the Newbury defence to score close to the posts, their kicker adding the conversion 6-12 Marlow 18mins. A couple of minutes later Toby Thorne has to come off with hamstring problems being replaced by Mark Spalton. Problems continue to mount up for the Blues when on 20 mins Paul Sayers is yellow carded for not retreating 10 yds from a Marlow penalty, the Marlow kicker misses the second pen allowing Newbury to kick to the safety of the touchline. The 13 men of Newbury stand up to the Marlow attacks eventually forcing them to knock on, men short Newbury do really well to win the scrum allowing scrum half Toby Seward to scamper up the blind side making good yards and win a penalty which is kicked up field finding a good touch. From the lineout and back to 14 the Blues attack through a couple of phases with good running from Finn Walsh and Josh Love before another cross field kick evades the advancing Newbury backs and bounces into touch. Marlow win the lineout and kick to safety, the Blues mount a concerted attack from the lineout won as Chris Hawkins is lifted high above the Marlow forwards to catch and give to Paul Seward who releases the ball to the backs who let Edward David zip off evading a couple of tackles and making good ground before he is stopped by the Marlow defence, Newbury keep possession and after several phases of the forwards Ben Hicks, Paul Sayers (back on), Graham Stewart, picking and driving forward well into the Marlow half eventually the pressure told and Marlow give away a penalty on 31 mins allowing Richard West to bring the score back to 9-12. Marlow mount the next attack and only a brilliant tackle from Tommy Martin which drives the Marlow player back away from the line and wins a penalty stops them from getting their third try, great defensive play. The Blues kick to touch and the danger is averted for a couple of minutes before the Marlow pack do the damage and trundle forward covering the yards to score, conversion narrowly misses making the score 9-17 Marlow at 35 mins. The Blues win the ball from the kick off and after a couple phases Rob Drysdale finds the gap and is off through the Marlow defence covering the 30 plus yards in a blink of the eye to score, West adding the conversion 17 -16 Marlow 38 mins. A couple of minutes of play where both teams make mistakes and give away penalties bring half time.

The second half starts with Marlow putting the Newbury defence under pressure which results after a couple of minutes in Jamie Futcher being yellow carded for cynical offside. The 14 men of Newbury defend heroically and with the aid of Marlow making mistakes manage to hold out eventually getting out of defence with some good backs play involving Tommy Martin, Steve Denner and Mark Spalton a dropped pass stopping their progress just in the Marlow half. Marlow now have the lions share of the ball and spend more time in Newbury’s half but their mistakes and good Newbury defence mean they cannot add to their points tally. Newbury manage to break out of defence when Richard West intercepts and makes good ground well into Marlow’s half before he is stopped and his low pass is tantalisingly knocked on just on Marlow’s 22 with the try line beckoning. Newbury are back to 15 and their defence remains resolute forcing several errors by the Marlow attack allowing them to clear their lines. On one such Marlow attack it looked like they had breached the Blues defence but luckily the ref had spotted a forward pass, back came Marlow again only to cough up the ball in Newbury’s 22 allowing Tommy Martin to jink his way upfield and a couple of passes later Mark Spalton and Edward David had got into Marlows half. It was now the turn of Newbury to cough up the ball whilst attacking the try line allowing Marlow to clear their lines, Dominic Payne comes on for Toby Seward at scrum half. Both sides have their share of the ball for the next 15 minutes but again mistakes mean the attacking play is stopped and the defence’s are able to clear their lines, Toby Seward comes on into the forwards to replace Chris Hawkins and from a Newbury lineout fly hacks through to touch down but the ref brings play back to the lineout as a Newbury hand had knocked the ball forwards, Marlow get out of their half and again get into a good attacking position but cough the ball up, Newbury try a couple more cross field kicks but although Jamie Futcher manages to catch the ball the Marlow defence is quick to make the tackle and force the error or halt progress down that route. With time running out the Blues manage to keep hold of the ball through several phases and make good ground through the forwards eventually forcing Marlow to give away a penalty and get a yellow card for killing the ball, young Richard West is able to cope with the pressure and from what seemed about 40 yds out in front of the posts slots over the penalty with a couple of minutes to go 19-17 Newbury are back in front. Marlow launch one last frantic attack and get into Newbury’s 22 but luckily Newbury’s defence does not buckle or give away a penalty and eventually get the ball and kick to touch to end a very closely fought game and a much needed win for the Blues. Well done to this group of young players, and Graham Stewart who is still young at heart

Squad;
Graham Stewart (c), Rob Drysdale, Ben Hicks, Chris Hawkins, Tom Erskine, Paul Sayers, Josh Love, Finn Walsh, Toby Seward, Richard West,
Edward David, Steve Denner, Toby Thorne, Jamie Futcher, Tommy Martin,
Mark Spalton, Dominic Payne.
Coach; Lee Goodall

Thanks must go also to the great support of the travelling Newbury supporters at Marlow, it seemed like there was twice as many of our supporters there cheering on this young squad

Report courtesy of Mick Futcher