Blues pipped in tight game

Newbury travelled to Swindon with virtually the same squad, which beat Swindon 34-15 at Monks Lane at the beginning of the season.
Swindon kick off and are lucky not to have their number 5 put straight in the bin when he hits the Newbury catcher with an enthusiastic shoulder charge, ref has a chat and Newbury kick the penalty to touch. Lineout won Newbury spread the ball through the backs Joe Binfield to Richard West to Dan Thorne, Edward David makes good ground before releasing Jamie Futcher who makes more ground before being tackled, the support is quickly there but a knock on gives Swindon a scrum just outside their 22.
The Newbury pack shove Swindon back but they manage to keep possession and kick up field, Newbury take and run back at Swindon Josh Bartlett evading the defenders before a the ball is sent up field and into touch. Swindon win their lineout and their forwards maul up field but Newbury halt their progress and manage to steal the ball, the Newbury backs run back at Swindon through Iain Herriott and Dan Thorne but are penalised at the break down giving Swindon a penalty. Swindon’s kick to touch drifts to far so play is back for a Newbury scrum just in Newbury’s half, scrum won Newbury again run the ball back into Swindon’s half before they chip the ball over the Swindon defence and chase, the Swindon fullback gathers and runs out of defence, Swindon are awarded a penalty at the tackle which they kick into touch in Newbury’s half giving them a lineout 27 m from the try line.
Swindon’s lineout remains solid and they attack through their forwards but lose the ball allowing Newbury to run out of defence with Edward David again making a good run, Jack Walsh takes on the ball and breaks through several tackles before he is stopped, Newbury win a penalty which is kicked to touch well in Swindon’s half, play is held up while Swindon’s fullback is treated for an ankle injury to be strapped up. The Blues win the lineout and again Jack Walsh breaks a tackle to get up to the try line before he is held up, the forwards pick and drive but are unable to break through so good Swindon defence which is eventually rewarded when Newbury are penalised at the ruck., Swindon relieve the pressure and kick to touch, lineout won they maul forwards but are penalised for truck and trailer giving the Blues the scrum.
The Blues win the scrum and run at the Swindon defence spreading the ball quickly through hands they make ground and this pressure is rewarded with a penalty which Richard West kicks 0-3, 12 min’s.
Swindon restart and a good chase is rewarded when they win a penalty and kick to touch, lineout won their forwards maul up field but lose the ball giving Newbury a scrum, from the scrum Newbury kick out of defence, Swindon take and run the ball back but again a mistake
Gives Newbury the ball, Newbury again kick out of defence, Swindon gather and run back into Blues territory before great tackling from Josh Bartlett and Edward David is rewarded with a penalty, Richard West kicking to touch.
Swindon win a penalty at the lineout taken quickly they make good ground up to Newbury’s line but cannot make the last metre and after several phases the Blues defence is rewarded when Swindon knock on. Scrum won Joe Binfield spins the ball to Dan Thorne who kicks safely to touch. Swindon 4 has to leave the field with an injury. Swindon win the lineout and again run at the Blues defence but a knock on gives Blues a scrum just outside their 22. Scrum won Blues kick out of defence and chase, Swindon take and return the kick which is taken by Edward David who sets off on one of his darting runs before being stopped, Newbury keep possession and spread the ball across the pitch, play is stopped for an injury to Josh Winfield. Newbury have a scrum just in their own half, scrum won the forwards pick and drive, Rob Drysdale, George Robinson-Slater, Finn Walsh and Graham Stewart before Swindon steal the ball but don’t get far as Josh Bartlett tackles but he is lifted off his feet and the ref blows as it is dangerous, Swindon’s scrum, Newbury turn the scrum 90 and win their scrum Eddie Farebrother picks up the rear and comes up the blindside passing to Joe Binfield who is bundled in to touch by two Swindon players injuring his knee, Toby Thorne comes on at scrum half. Newbury steal the lineout and run the ball across the pitch making good ground, Josh Winfield, Finn Walsh and Ian Herriott taking the ball into the tackles before releasing the ball allowing the Blues to get up to the Swindon line. Swindon’s defence remains strong and keeps the Blues out eventually they steal the ball at the break down and kick to touch to relieve the Newbury pressure. Swindon steal the lineout but lose the ball allowing Newbury to again put pressure on the Swindon defence, after several good passages of Newbury play, including good runs from Finn Walsh, Ben Hicks and Josh Winfield the ball reaches Dan Thorne who breaks the Swindon tackles and sidestep the last man to make the final 25 m to score the try wide out on the right, Richard West’s conversion just blown wide 0-8, 38 min’s
Swindon restart, Jack Walsh takes and makes a break up field breaking several tackles before he is halted, Newbury keep the ball live and get back into Swindon’s half with Edward David, Josh Bartlett and Toby Thorne making ground before he is shoved into touch. Newbury steal the lineout and the forwards keep it tight and get up to Swindon’s line eventually they are awarded a penalty when Swindon’s 8 has a second bout of frustration and is lucky to only get a lecture from the ref. From the lineout Newbury keep up the pressure but good Swindon defence forces the error a knock on, Swindon win the scrum and the kick into touch brings half time.

Newbury kick off the second half and are unlucky when a great chase ends with a knock on, Swindon win their scrum and run the ball but a knock on gives Newbury a scrum 35 m out, Swindon manage to turn the scrum 90 giving them the put in, scrum won the run the ball again, this time they make good ground and get into Blues half and win a scrum when Newbury knock on trying to gain possession, Finn Walsh getting his dislocated finger popped back into place. Swindon win the scrum and put pressure on the Blues defence, winning another scrum, scrum won they run at the Blues defence and are rewarded with a try wide out on the right after several attacking phases of play, the long conversion just getting over the bar, 7-8, 46 min’s
Newbury restart and again a good chase only gives Swindon a scrum when they knock on, Swindon win the scrum but concede a penalty, the long attempt just slides past the posts.
Swindon take the 22-drop out and Newbury return the kick, Swindon take and kick back up field, Blues gather and run the ball but knock on just on half way giving Swindon a scrum, Swindon win the scrum and kick but the ball floats straight out giving Newbury a lineout back on half way.
Lineout won Newbury again kick up field, Swindon gather and run back at the Blues defence winning a penalty, they take a quick penalty and make ground before losing the ball which is hacked forwards, a great Newbury chase is there quick and the Swindon defender is on his own but strangely whilst holding on Swindon are awarded the penalty. Swindon kick to touch and relieve the pressure, from the lineout the Swindon forwards maul up field before releasing the ball out to their backs who make good ground before a Jamie Futcher tackle puts their winger in touch on the 5 m line, the ref is playing advantage so play goes back for a Swindon penalty the other side of the pitch.
Swindon kick to touch and from the attacking lineout get up to Newbury’s line but are held up, Swindon have a 5m scrum which has to be reset, the Newbury pack put in a great shove and push Swindon back winning the ball, the Blues run the ball out of defence making good ground before they are ushered into touch. Swindon win the lineout then a scrum but again the Newbury pack shove them backwards, this time Swindon manage to hold on to the ball and kick over the Newbury defence and into touch, lineout won they win a penalty which is kicked to touch 10 m out. The Swindon lineout stays firm and the forwards maul towards the try line but good Newbury defence forces the knock on, Jamie Futcher off Tom Catchpole on. Newbury win the scrum allowing Richard West to clear to touch.
Lineout won Swindon run at the Blues defence but cough up possession allowing Newbury to counter attack and the Newbury centres make good ground first Iain Herriott then Dan Thorne takes play up to Swindon’s 22 but again the decision goes against the Blues giving Swindon a penalty scrum and a chance to get out of defence. From the scrum Swindon run the ball and get another strange penalty, taken quickly they run the ball getting back into Newbury’s half winning another penalty scrum. Scrum won Swindon again run at the Blues defence but good Newbury defence ushers them into touch, Swindon steal the lineout and their forwards keep the ball tight getting into Newbury’s 22, the move is kept live and they manage to shove the Newbury defence back to score the long conversion is successful bringing the score to 14-8, 76 minutes.
Sadly one of the Newbury forwards was injured in trying to defend their lines bringing a stop to play, Jack Walsh the injured player leaves the field Chris Gladwin on.
Newbury restart and the last few minutes are spent with Swindon defending their lines and although the Newbury forwards get to the line on several occasions they are unable to cross and get the ball down, the match ends with another strange penalty to Swindon who kick to touch and the final whistle.

A game of two halves with very little between the teams Swindon the win and four points Newbury just a losing bonus point for all their effort from this keenly contested even game of rugby, credit to both teams.

Man Of The Match goes to Edward David for his searching runs and tackling at fullback

Next Saturday 17th Newbury are at home against Towcestrians who sit in second place in the league, a tough game for the Blues

Squad
Graham Stewart, Rob Drysdale, George Robinson-Slater, Ben Hicks, Josh Winfield,
Finn Walsh, Jack Walsh, Eddie Farebrother, Joe Binfield, Richard West,
Josh Bartlett, Dan Thorne, Iain Herriott, Jamie Futcher, Edward David
Chris Gladwin, Toby Thorne, Tom Catchpole