Another game drifts away from the Blues

Cheltenham kicked off with the wind behind them, oddly a low grubber kick, Newbury take and a return kick puts the play back into Cheltenham territory where they win a penalty scrum. Cheltenham win the scrum but after a couple of phases lose the ball allowing the Blues forwards, Jack Walsh, Finn Walsh and Jamie Bull to attack but a knock on halts their progress, Newbury push Cheltenham back in the scrum and win possession but again a mistake halts their progress and Cheltenham have the scrum. Cheltenham win a free kick from the scrum which they tap and go but again a mistake halts progress and the knock on gives Newbury a scrum. From the scrum Toby THORNE hands to Tom Martin who breaks a couple of tackles before being forced into touch, Cheltenham win the lineout but the clearance kick doesn’t make much ground, Cheltenham knock on at the line out giving the Blues a scrum but again both sides are making mistakes and Newbury don’t get far before they knock on. Cheltenham win the scrum and kick deep into Newbury’s half where Jamie Futcher takes and sets Tom Martin off again on one of his runs but this time Cheltenham’s defence wraps him up forcing the penalty for holding on, the penalty is kicked into touch deep in Newbury’s half, Cheltenham attack from the lineout and spread the ball wide but Newbury’s defence holds out and when the kick is chipped over the defence Jamie Futcher wins the race with the Cheltenham winger to touch down, 22 drop out to the Blues is taken by Jack Muggridge and Cheltenham make a mistake which hands possession back to Newbury have soon forced Newbury to make the mistake then win a penalty which they kick into touch. Cheltenham win the lineout and attack the Newbury line but lose the ball allowing the Blues Dan Thorne to kick out of defence, Cheltenham’s 15 takes a puts up a high kick which is taken by Josh Love, Newbury are awarded a scrum but straight away the ref gives Cheltenham a penalty then 10 yards, Cheltenham tap and go but Newbury are awarded a penalty, the kick is held in the wind and Cheltenham keep it alive but Blues get another penalty for holding on this time the kick finds touch. Newbury win the lineout but a sloppy kick hands possession back to Cheltenham who mount a concerted attack which forces a penalty in Newbury’s 22 which is slotted through the posts by their 15 Josh Herbert 0-3, 20 min’s
Dan Thorne is replaced by Tom Bass blood injury
Newbury restart and Cheltenham immediately attack and win another penalty which they kick to touch, from the lineout they spread the ball wide allowing there winger to evade a couple of tackles and score wide out on their right, the conversion is successful 0-10, 24 min’s
Cheltenham now have the upper hand and with the aid of numerous penalties keep the pressure on the blues, on 29 mins they win another penalty which is slotted through the posts by Josh Herbert 0-13 29 min’s
Newbury restart but the kick is not 10 so Cheltenham have a scrum but again the lighter Newbury scrum push Cheltenham back and win the ball but sadly knock on given Cheltenham another scrum. Cheltenham win the scrum and attack winning the inevitable penalty which earns Josh Love a harsh team yellow and allows Josh Herbert to kick making the score 0-16 35min’s
Paul Sayers comes on for Matt Childs
From the kick off the Cheltenham attack and make good ground before a knock on gives Newbury a scrum, unluckily Toby Thorne’s kick goes straight to touch giving Cheltenham a lineout. Newbury win the lineout and Jamie Futcher catches a kick over the Cheltenham defence from Toby Thorne, but a foot in touch stops progress. From the lineout Newbury win a penalty for off side, which Jack Muggridge kicks 3-16 half time

Dan Thorne is back on at half time
Newbury kick off and are quickly up on Cheltenham pushing them backwards, Cheltenham eventually hold their ground and get the ball back to allow a kick to clear their lines, the kick is taken by Ton Martin who makes good ground before he is halted, Newbury keep possession and mount a concerted attack with Mark Spalton then Joe Binfield making good runs, Cheltenham infringe and the Newbury penalty is kicked safely to touch. Josh Love comes back on. Newbury’s lineout is not straight giving Cheltenham a scrum but they infringe giving Newbury a penalty which Jack Muggridge kicks making the score 6-16 45 min’s
Cheltenham restart and manage to steal the ball, they attack and force Newbury to give away a scrum then a penalty, which is kicked into touch. Cheltenham’s lineout is not straight but from Newbury’s scrum they keep up the pressure forcing the Blues backwards, Newbury’s clearing kick only finds Cheltenham’s fullback who runs back at Newbury and Cheltenham attack the Blues defence through several phases but a mistake gives the ball to Newbury and Toby Thorne kicks into touch. Newbury manage to steal the line out and attack through the forwards Rob Drysdale George Robinson Slater and Graham Stewart before spreading it through the backs then back into the forwards where an accidental trip earns Cheltenham’s prop Nathan Seymour a yellow card and a penalty for Newbury kicked by Jack Muggridge 9-16 64 min’s
Cheltenham restart and win a scrum and for the next few minutes they attack Newbury’s try line but great defence especially from centre Joe Binfield and forwards Jack Walsh and Finn Walsh holds them out, after several phases Newbury eventually get possession and relief when Cheltenham knock on. Due to several injuries the players get a well-earned time out for a couple of minutes. Newbury win the scrum and kick out of defence, Cheltenham take but Newbury soon manage to steal the ball and another kick forces them back into their own 22 where Newbury are soon up and force them into touch but don’t get far before they are forced into touch. Cheltenham steal the lineout and use their forwards to march out of defence, winning a penalty they kick to touch and clear the danger. From the lineout, which they lose, they win another penalty when Newbury are penalised at their scrum, the Cheltenham attack comes to an end when they concede a penalty, which Jack Muggridge kicks to touch. Cheltenham regain possession from the line out and from the scrum the try to run the ball out of defence but again Joe Binfield is up quick and a big tackle forces Cheltenham to give away a penalty, Jack Muggridge makes the score 12-16 70 min’s
Cheltenham kick off, Newbury take safely and get to Tom Martin who makes a good break and takes play back into Cheltenham territory where he grubber kicks through the Cheltenham defence who kick into touch before Newbury manage to gather. Matt Childs on for Paul Sayers Lineout won Newbury attack through several phases and a kick over the defence allows Dan Thorne to win the race and touch down, but alas the referee saw different and its 5 m Newbury scrum. Newbury attack down the blind side from Jack Walsh and the pass nearly gets Toby Thorne over in the corner but he is shoved into touch. Newbury steal the lineout and attack cross field but knock on, Cheltenham manage to keep hold of the ball even though their scrum is pushed backwards and get a penalty with a very harsh decision for an adjudged high tackle by Newbury. Cheltenham relieve the pressure with a safe kick to touch, but Newbury win a scrum when Cheltenham’s lineout is not straight allowing them to mount a final attack on the Cheltenham try line which ends with a mistake and Cheltenham kick to touch and the final whistle. Credit to Cheltenham who probably just about deserved their win

My Man of the Match Joe Binfield

Another bad day for the Blues in this topsy turvey league

Squad;
Graham STEWART (c), Rob DRYSDALE, George ROBINSON SLATER, Jamie BULL, Matt CHILDS, Finn WALSH, Josh LOVE, Jack WALSH, Toby THORNE, Jack MUGGRIDGE, Mark SPALTON,
Joe BINFIELD, Dan THORNE, Jamie FUTCHER, Tom MARTIN.
Paul SAYERS, Richard WEST, Tom BASS.
Coaches Lee GOODALL, Sam CZERPAK, Mark VATCHER