Blues winning streak still intact after a great try bonus point win over the previously unbeaten and top of the league Swindon, Newbury now second in the table

Newbury kick off this league match against Swindon, a stern test as both teams are unbeaten, Newbury chase their kick off and are unlucky to knock on, the Swindon pack are shoved back giving Newbury possession and they attack through Dan Thorne, Jamie Futcher and Eddie Farebrother but their progress is halted when they knock on, the ref had been playing an advantage so Blues have a penalty, Richard West just misses a long shot at goal.
Swindon take the 22 drop out which is gathered by Newbury and they set up another attack, after several phases of Blues attacking play they are awarded a penalty which Richard West slots between the posts, 3-0, 5 min’s
Swindon steal the restart but under pressure spill the ball, Newbury run the ball and get a penalty in their own half, the kick doesn’t make touch allowing Swindon to run it back before they put up a high kick. Tom Martin takes and sets off up field, the ball is passed through the backs, Dan Thorne to Iain Herriot to Jamie Futcher getting into Swindon’s 22, the Newbury forwards are quickly in support and take over with a series of pick and drives from Graham Stewart, George Robinson Slater and Nathan Thomas, this pressure is rewarded with a penalty close to the touchline which just slides past the post
Swindon restart and Newbury take and get back into Swindon territory before they concede a penalty allowing Swindon to kick to touch on Newbury’s 22, Swindon win the lineout put the Newbury forwards push them backwards, Swindon manage to hold on and run at the Newbury defence which concedes a penalty allowing Swindon to slot between the posts, A Westall 3-3, 12 min’s

Newbury restart, Swindon take and kick back into Newbury territory Tom Martin takes and kicks for touch, luckily Swindon try to take but just knock into touch giving Newbury the lineout. Swindon get a free kick at the lineout when Newbury take too long, Swindon take and run at Newbury’s defence sending the ball through their backs to break Newbury’s defence and make the 50 yds. to score wide out on the left 3-8, 15 min’s
Swindon take Newbury’s restart and run at the Blues defence then kick into Newbury’s 22, Tom Martin takes and kicks into touch, Swindon keep the lineout and again run the ball but a forward pass halts their progress. Newbury win their scrum and get the ball back to Richard West to clear and kick to touch, Swindon keep their lineout and put up a high kick which rolls into Newbury’s try area, Tom Martin touches down giving Newbury a 22 drop out.
Richard Wests drops out and DAN Thorne is up and takes the ball and runs at the Swindon defence, again a knock on in the ruck halts Newbury’s progress, Swindon win the scrum and get into Newbury’s 22 before they give away a penalty.
Joe Binfield has to leave the field with a hamstring injury Aaron McDowell comes on.
Swindon regain possession when the penalty doesn’t quite make touch and get back to half way and win a scrum, from the scrum they again run at the Blues defence with their 8 making good ground, the ball is lost at the ruck allowing Newbury to kick back into Swindon’s half, Newbury are quickly up and a great tackle from Rob Drysdale forces Swindon to concede a penalty. Newbury kick to touch moving play into Swindon’s 22, Newbury give away a penalty at the lineout allowing Swindon to kick clear back up field, Newbury take and run back at Swindon getting up to 5 m out before Swindon’s defence manages to hold them up, Newbury win a penalty which they take quickly but again they are held just short of the line but win a penalty scrum, possession is handed over when Newbury knock on. Chris Rowland comes on for Nathan Thomas, Edward David on for Aaron McDowell injured
Swindon just hold on to their scrum and kick to touch, Newbury manage to hold this lineout and the forwards march up to the Swindon line, again they can’t quite manage the last yard but after several phases the ball is recycled to Iain Herriott who snaps over a drop goal 6-8, 33 min’s
Swindon restart but give away a penalty scrum as they get in front of the kicker, Newbury win the scrum and Eddie Farebrother takes off from the base making good ground before releasing Dan Thorne then Tom Martin who chips forwards re-gathers the ball and chips again this time the Swindon 15 takes but is bundled into touch by Jamie Futcher. Swindon steal the lineout and kick up field Newbury take and return the kick, a couple of kicks later Newbury attack from a lost ball and force the Swindon defence to concede a penalty, play for the last few minutes of the half is stop start due to mistakes or penalties, as the half time whistle is about to go there is a bit of handbags at 10 paces which ref Alan Green puts a stop to

Swindon kick off the second half, and their chasers knock on, Newbury play advantage and after a couple of phase’s Richard West kicks to touch just in Swindon’s half. Swindon attack from the lineout but are tackled into touch, from the lineout Newbury kick well into Swindon’s half. Swindon take and get play back into Newbury territory, again their 8 making good ground before a knock on halts their progress, Newbury have a scrum on their 22, scrum won Newbury kick up field. Swindon take and run back at the Blues, Newbury’s defence holds out through several phases of Swindon attacking play before Newbury’s defence gives away a penalty scrum. Nathan Thomas on for George Robinson Slater. Swindon’s scrum is turned 90 giving Newbury the put in, scrum won Newbury creep up field with the forwards keeping hold of the ball Josh Love, Paul Hackett and Rob Drysdale making good ground before Swindon win a penalty just in Newbury’s half.
Swindon kick to touch and lineout won put Newbury’s defence under pressure which holds strong and wins a penalty, Richard West clears to touch just in Newbury’s half, Newbury hold their lineout and the ball is fed back to Richard West who kicks into Swindon’s half, Swindon run out of defence but lose the ball allowing Newbury to pressurise the Swindon defence, a Dan Thorne chip is just touched down by Swindon before Josh Love gets there.
Again there is a bit of a heated discussion which ref Alan Green stops and after a few words to the captains play continues
Swindon take the 22 drop out which is taken by Josh Bartlett the pass is spun to Dan Thorne who makes more yards before releasing Edward David who cuts a great line to sprint through the Swindon defence to score under the posts, Richard West converts, 13-8 52 min’s.
Swindon restart and the chaser get there first but knock on giving Newbury a scrum, the forwards keep up their dominance at the scrum and but coming up the blindside they are shoved into touch by the Swindon defence. Swindon win the lineout and attack but concede a penalty, Newbury kick to touch but infringe at the lineout, Swindon tap and go but lose the ball allowing Newbury to re-launch an attack, Josh Bartlett makes good ground before passing to Richard West who is tackled high in Swindon’s 22. Newbury take the penalty scrum and drive Swindon backwards forcing them to concede another penalty scrum, the forwards keep up the pressure winning the scrum which allows Dan Thorne to pick up and slip tackles to get over the line to score close to the posts, Richard West converting 20 –8, 57 min’s
Swindon restart the Blues catch and Chris Rowland makes ground before releasing Josh Bartlett who makes good yards breaks the Swindon defensive line, then chips the fullback and reclaims the ball on the bounce to score a great try close to the posts, Richard West again slots the conversion, 27-8, 58 min’s
Swindon kick off and soon have the ball back when Newbury cough it up, Swindon attack and force the Newbury defence to give away a penalty which they kick into touch, Newbury steal the lineout but knock on as they try to run out of defence. Swindon manage to hold on to their scrum and run at the Newbury defence the ball reaches their 8 who crashes through several tackles to score close to the posts the conversion is successful, 27-15, 65 min’s
Newbury restart and knock on but soon have the ball back when Newbury’s pack shove Swindon backwards in the scrum and win a penalty, Dan Thorne takes a quick tap and go and gets a second penalty as Swindon hadn’t got back 10 m, this time Blues take the scrum but Swindon steal and run out of defence, Newbury concede a penalty, again Swindon tap and go and get into Newbury’s half but are penalised for holding on and then go back 10m when their 15 is penalised for back chat.

Newbury slot the ball into touch but lose the lineout allowing Swindon to set up a maul but they don’t make ground and are pushed across field by the Newbury defence eventually conceding a penalty to Newbury. Richard West kicks to touch just in Swindon’s half, Swindon win the lineout and get over half way winning a scrum when Newbury knock on a loose ball. From the scrum their 9 kicks which hits Richard West and rolls into touch back in Swindon’s half, George Robinson Slater on for Nathan Thomas. Newbury win the lineout and the ball is fed back to Richard West who puts up a cross field kick that just rolls over the Swindon try line; Tom Martin wins the race with the defender but is unlucky to knock on. Nathan Thomas back on for George Robinson Slater blood, Swindon have a 5 m scrum which they hold on to and get the ball back which is cleared downfield, Jamie Futcher takes and sets off up field passing to Tom Martin next to Ian Herriott then Edward David who releases Josh Bartlett who makes the final yards to score wide out on the left, Richard West nailing the long conversion, bonus point try bringing the score to 34-15, 77 min’s
George Robinson Slater back on for Nathan Thomas, Newbury collect the restart and Dan Thorne kicks back into Swindon’s half, Swindon launch an attack that lasts several phases and encamps them in Newbury’s 22 for several minutes and earns Josh Bartlett a yellow. Nathan Thomas on for Graham Stewart. Swindon win a scrum and again put the Newbury defence under pressure but it holds firm for the several minutes of injury time, eventually the mistake comes and the ref blows the final whistle

Well done to both teams for a great hard fought game of rugby in front of a big crowd, good luck to Swindon for the rest of the season we look forward to the return game
Man of the Match was awarded to Josh Love

Thanks go to the ref Alan Green who marshalled the game in his usually efficient way letting the game flow whilst keeping a firm hand on proceedings

Next Saturday 4th Oct Newbury travel to Towcestrians who are also 4 wins from 4 for another unbeaten clash.

SQUAD
Graham STEWART, Rob DRYSDALE, George ROBINSON SLATER,
Ben HICKS, Nathan THOMAS, Paul HACKETT, Josh LOVE, Eddie FAREBROTHER,
Joe BINFIELD, Richard WEST, Josh BARTLETT, Dan THORNE, Iain HERRIOTT,
Jamie FUTCHER, Tom MARTIN
Chris ROWLAND, Edward DAVID, Aaron McDOWELL