Second league game second win

Jamie Futcher leads the Blues onto the pitch to acknowedge his 50th appearance, Witney kick off and are quickly up forcing a knock on, the Blues pack make amends and steal the ball at the scrum then are awarded a penalty which Richard West slots into touch close to Witneys 22. The Blues win their lineout and the forwards get up to the try line with some great drives from Graham Stewart, George Robinson-Slater and Finn Walsh but cannot quite make the last yard, play is held up for several minutes for the Witney 9 G Campbell who injures his shoulder holding out the Newbury forwards and has to leave the field.
From the scrum Newburys 8 Eddie Farebrother picks up and breaks on the right drawing the defence before releasing the ball to Jamie Futcher who runs round the last defender to score wide out on the right, difficult conversion just wide 5-0, 6 mins
From the restart Witney win a lineout, their forwards keep it tight and make good ground but a knock on halts their progress and gives Newbury a scrum and a chance to get out of their half. The Witney pack shove Blues backwards and steal the ball which is fed back to their 10 H Lamb who fires over a drop kick 5-3, 8 mins
Newbury restart and are quickly in pursuit forcing Witney to knock on, scrum won Newbury are awarded a penalty which Richard West slots into touch, the Newbury throw is adjudged not straight giving Witney a scrum and a chance to get out of their half. This time Witney are awarded the penalty at the scrum and the kick is fired into touch, lineout won they put up a high kick which is taken by Newbury 15 Tom Martin who sets off on one of his weaving runs breaking several tackles before he is held, he slips a pass to Edward David who makes more ground with a darting run, he is tackled but gets his pass to Paul Hackett to throw the dummy and sidestep the defence to score close enough to the posts to give Richard West an easy conversion making the score 12-3, 13 mins
From the restart Newbury knock on giving Witney a scrum, this time the lighter Newbury pack manage to shove Witney back and steal the ball, Eddie Farebrother picks it up at the base of the scrum and charges forwards with a good solid run, Witney knock on at the break down giving Newbury another scrum. Again the pack hold firm allowing Eddie Farebrother to set off upfield, this time the ball is released to winger Edward David who sets off but is stopped by a high tackle giving Newbury a penalty. Dan Thorne takes quickly and makes good ground before he chips the Witney defence with a great kick, Josh Love is quickly after the ball and wins the chase with Witneys defence to catch and touch down wide out on the left, Richard West unlucky with the long conversion attempt, 17-3, 19 mins
Witney restart Newbury gather and win a penalty which doesn’t quite make the touchline allowing Witney to run the ball at the Newbury defence, Witney cannot break the Newbury defence with some good tackles from Finn Walsh, Rob Drysdale and Tom McNamara so decide to kick over the Newbury defence, the ball dosent make the safety of the touchline but Witney have a penalty so play comes back and Witney keep possession. This time the ball reaches touch from the penalty giving Witney an attacking lineout, the throw isnt straight giving Newbury a defensive scrum and a chance to clear.
Newburys pack holds firm and scrum won they are awarded a penalty which allows Richard West to send the ball upfield and into touch. Witney steal the lineout and their forwards march up the pitch forcing Newbury to concede a penalty which is kicked to touch, Witneys forwards have the upper hand at the lineouts and they easily keep possession, the ball is kicked high and is taken by Paul Hackett who passes to Jamie Futcher then Tom Martin who runs then sends a kick well into Witneys half. Newbury chase and put pressure on the Witney defence but in their eagerness give away a penalty which allows Witney to clear to touch and the safety of midfield.
Witney take the lineout and run at the Newbury defence breaking a couple of tackles before a great tap tackle from Rob Drysdale slows their progress, they manage to recycle the ball but a mistake means Newbury get hold of the ball which is kicked to touch by Richard West. Play is held up as the Witney prop Jamie Burke suffers an ankle injury and has to leave the field.
Witney win the lineout and keep up the pressure on the Newbury defence forcing them to concede a penalty, Witney kick to touch and win the attacking lineout and after several phases win another penalty right in front of the posts, this earns Tom Mcnamara a yellow card as he is helped from the field with a bad ankle injury which sends him to hospital. Witney’s 10 Henry Lamb kicks the penalty 17-6, 33 mins
Newbury win a lineout from the restart and Dan Thorne sets off upfield, the Newbury forwards are quickly in support allowing them to make more ground with a rolling maul before a searching kick from Dan Thorne and a good chase from Tom Bass and Iain Herriott forces Witney to scramble a kick into touch. Newbury hang on to their lineout and attack the Witney defence which holds firm and wins a penalty, Witneys kick is not in touch allowing Edward David to take and run back but again play is stopped when a Newbury knock on means Witney have a scrum.
Witney win the scrum and put Newbury’s defence under pressure winning a penalty for entering the ruck from the side then another for offside which earns Jamie Futcher a yellow, Newbury are now down to 13 players.
Witney kick to touch and after winning the lineout keep up the pressure on the Newbury defence, after several phase’s they eventually break through the depleted Newbury defence to score wide out on the left in first half injury time, 17-11 half time
Ben Hicks on for the injured Tom McNamara who’s 10 mins sin bin are up

Newbury kick off the second half and the ball is missed by all and rolls into touch, Witney lose the lineout but get the ball straight back when Newbury give away a penalty, Witney kick to touch in Newburys half. Witney win the lineout and their forwards keep the ball tight and are rewarded when they win another penalty, 10m inside the Newbury half, the long kick is successful making the score 17-14, 44 min’s
Newbury restart and after a good chase Witney manage to keep the ball and win a penalty, Jamie Futcher back on so Newbury now back to 15, Witney keep up the pressure and win a series of penalties before the Newbury defence steal the ball and get a penalty which is kicked into touch well in the Witney half.
Newbury keep up the pressure from the lineout and the forwards Graham Stewart and George Robinson Slater are just held up on the try line, the ball is recycled and Eddie Farebrother and Finn Walsh just fail to get over the line but Newbury get a penalty. Newbury go for the try Richard West slots into touch, Newbury take the lineout and again the forwards are just kept out by the Witney defence but the ball is quickly recycled allowing Paul Hackett to break the defence and score his second try and Newburys fourth earning the try bonus point under the posts where a melee erupts. When the dust settles Richard West kicks the conversion to make the score 24-14, 49 mins and the Witney 12 is show a red card for punching.
Newbury also have a penalty kick off which Richard West slots into touch, Witney get a breather when Newburys lineout is not straight giving them a scrum in their own half, the Newbury pack turn the tables and shove Witney backwards winning posession but undo the good work with a knock on. Witney win their scrum and their scrum half puts up a high kick into the Newbury half, Tom Martin takes and runs back up field passes to Jamie Futcher keeping the momentum going then to Edward David who makes good ground before the Witney defence stops him, the ball is quickly recycled allowing Dan Thorne to throw the dummy and sail past the defender making good ground into Witneys 22, drawing the defence he passes out to Josh Love who beats the defender and makes the final yards to score wide out on the right, Richard West just missing the conversion, 29-14, 55 min’s
Witney restart and nearly keep the ball but a knock on gives Newbury a scrum, Newbury’s pack hold firm and the ball is shipped quickly to the backs allowing Tom Martin to run through the Witney defence and make good ground before he is stopped, winger Edward David carries on but is held up giving Witney a penalty, which they kick to touch in Newburys half. Witney win the lineout and put the Newbury defence under serious pressure through several phases, the Newbury defence holds firm with some good tackles from Rob Drysdale, Graham Stewart and George Robinson-Slater, Witney eventually cough up possession when they knock on.

Aaron McDowell comes on for Tom Bass. Newbury win their scrum and run the ball out of defence with Aron McDowell making good yards but their progress is halted when they give away a penalty which Witney kick to touch. Lineout won the Witney forwards force another penalty which they kick to touch inside Newburys 22. Lineout won the Witney forwards keep it tight and drive over the try line to score wide out on their left the conversion not successful making the score 29-19, 67 mins
Newbury kick the restart long, Witney take and run at Newbury breaking a couple of tackles and making good ground before a loose pass is intercepted by Paul Hackett who gets back to half way but as the support arrives Newbury knock on. Witney give away a penalty at the scrum allowing Richard West to kick to touch, lineout won Newbury attack the try line and are just held up by the Witney defence who are furthe rewarded for their efforts when they win a penalty. Witneys kick reaches the touch line but doesn’t make to much ground, lineout won their forwards keep it tight but are gradually pushed backwards by the Newbury forwards forcing them to release the ball to their 10 who kicks to touch. Newbury now have the upper hand and lineout won the forwards keep it tight before releasing it to Dan Thorne who ships it quickly to Richard West on to Paul Hackett then Iain Herriott to Tom Martin on to Jamie Futcher to cross the line wide out on the right and canter under the posts for his second and Newburys 6th, Richard West tappining over the conversion, 36-19, 75 min’s
Chris Gladwin on for Paul Hackett. Witney restart and give Newbury a scrum when they knock on in the tackle, Newbury steal the scrum but they then knock on giving Witney the scrum, Witney win thescrum and try to run the ball but Newbury manage to steal it, Dan Thorne makes a good run chips the defence, Aron McDowell is quickly up but the tackle is given as high letting Witney clear to touch.
Witney lose the lineout, Newbury winning a penalty scrum which is reset, Eddie Farebrother picks up the loose ball and sets up another attacking move, Newbury kick into Witneys 22 and get a scrum when Witney knock on. Witney win the scrum and kick up field and into touch bringing the final whistle.

A good game and result for the Blues, revenge for two losses to Witney last season 6-25 at home and 14-6 at Witney

Man of The Match was awarded to Jamie Futcher, 50th appearance 2 tries and a yellow card

Next game is Sat 20th Sept away at Reading RFC

SQUAD
Graham STEWART, Rob DRYSDALE, George ROBINSON-SLATER,
Tom MCNAMARA, Finn WALSH, Paul HACKETT, Josh LOVE, Eddie FAREBROTHER,
Dan THORNE, Richard WEST, Edward DAVID, Tom BASS, Iain HERRIOTT,
Jamie FUTCHER, Tom MARTIN
Ben HICKS, Chris GLADWIN, Aaron McDOWELL