Sunny day Blues

Newbury kicked off and put Grove under pressure but give away a penalty allowing Grove to kick to safety, Grove attack from the lineout and win another penalty for an adjudged dangerous tackle from Tommy Martin, the kick is missed. From the 22 drop out Grove attack through several phases and are eventually rewarded when they break through the Newbury defence to score on 10 min’s 0 – 7
Newbury restart and win a lineout, from the lineout Newbury win a penalty the long kick misses. The Grove restart is returned by Newbury but the ball is turned over allowing Grove to cut through the Newbury defence to score their second try 0-14, 18 min’s
Newbury make changes, Jamie Futcher and Jack Walsh come off Josh Bartlett and Alex Millar come on.
Grove attack from the restart and force a kickable penalty that also earns Tommy Martin a yellow card 0-17, 21min
From the restart Newbury eventually put pressure on the Grove defence and win a penalty, which is kicked safely into touch and earns a Grove player a yellow card. Newbury win the lineout and force another penalty, keeping up the pressure Newbury win a penalty scrum and a second Grove yellow card. From the scrum the Newbury forwards maul forward and eventually release the ball allowing Jack Muggridge to score the try and add the conversion 7-17, 30 min’s
From the restart Grove kick back into the Newbury half Josh Love takes and makes a good run back into the Grove half before passing to Alex Millar who carries the move on. Grove regain possession when they are awarded a penalty and kick to touch, lineout won they put pressure on the Newbury defence an win a scrum. George Robinson Slater comes on for Paul Sayers, Tommy Martin back on after his 10 min yellow card. Scrum is uncontested due to Groves 2 yellows and spinning the ball out through their backs they score wide out on the right the conversion just missing, 7-22, 34 min’s
Neither team managed to add to their score in the final 6 mins of the first half

Grove kick off the second half and are looking much the better team and the most likely to score, but Newbury have other ideas and after Grove have missed a penalty attempt they force the Grove defence to give away a couple of penalties allowing the Blues to get into Groves 22. From the lineout the Newbury forwards maul forward and make the ground needed to let Alex Millar to crash over 12-22, 53 min’s. Jack Walsh back on for Jamie Bull
The next few minutes is spent in the midfield area with mistakes stopping any flowing play, Josh Love off injured Paul Sayers back on, Mark Spalton off Jamie Futcher on.
Grove have slightly the better of the next few minutes before Newbury break out of defence allowing Josh Bartlett to make good yards down the right wing chipping the defender he is cynically taken out, penalty try to Newbury and a yellow card to the Grove player making the score 19-22, 68 min’s
Newbury now have the upper hand and after a series of penalties they spend most of the next 5 mins in the Grove half before a cross field kick is taken by Jamie Futcher who passes to Josh Bartlett who touches down wide out on the left 24-22, 75 min’s
Grove come back at Newbury and win a penalty wide out on their left which their kicker holds his nerve and slots over 24-25, 78 min’s.
The last couple of minutes Grove hold on to the one point lead and get the win

Newbury manage to get two bonus points for the defeat which could prove invaluable with the big gap now between the bottom 5 teams and the rest. There is an abundance of talent in this squad and this has been proven as Newbury have scored points in every game except Salisbury since Christmas.

Newbury need to win at least two of the next 3 games before they travel to Oxford the runaway leaders who could wrap up the league title in the next 2 weeks. With no game this week for the Blues, they will be working hard to prepare for Maidenhead away on the 22nd March, followed by the last home game this season against Marlow on the 29th March.

Squad;
Graham STEWART (c), Rob DRYSDALE, Paul SAYERS, Jamie BULL, Tom MCNAMARA,
Finn WALSH, Josh LOVE, Jack WALSH, Dan THORNE, Jack MUGGIDGE, Mark SPALTON,
Joe BINFIELD, Aaron McDOWELL, Jamie FUTCHER, Tom MARTIN.
George ROBINSON SLATER, Alex MILLAR, Josh BARTLETT.