Blues get a try bonus point win on the road

Newbury travelled to Trowbridge’s new ground Doric Park a really great facility; this season is the first time the teams have met. Trowbridge had a very successful 2013/2014 winning promotion and the intermediate cup at Twickenham.

On a cold but dry afternoon Newbury hope to get back to winning ways and complete the double at an inform Trowbridge who sit 6th, 1 place below Blues in the league, Newbury winning the first fixture 31-19 at Monks lane. The day starts badly when Eddie Farebrother is forced out of the squad due to illness so the Blues travel with 17 players.

Newbury kick off with a strong cross field wind not really helping either team, Trowbridge take and run the ball but a mistake gives Newbury possession and a chance to put pressure on Trowbridge’s defence, Trowbridge infringe giving Newbury a penalty which Richard West slots into touch.
Newbury lose the lineout allowing Trowbridge to kick to touch just short of halfway, again Trowbridge steal Newbury’s lineout but are soon shoved into touch, Newbury win their lineout and then a penalty giving Richard West a shot at goal, the wind wins and blows the ball onto the post and back infield Trowbridge gather and kick to touch.
Newbury win the lineout and then a penalty which again Richard West kicks to touch, lineout won the forwards rumble up field winning another penalty when Trowbridge collapse the maul which is kicked to touch, again the Newbury forwards maul up field from the lineout but Trowbridge manage to disrupt and steal the ball, Newbury infringe giving Trowbridge a penalty which they kick to touch.
Newbury steal Trowbridge’s lineout and this time the forwards run the ball, Graham Stewart, Ben Hicks then George Robinson-Slater making good ground before Josh Winfield breaks through several tackles on a great run to score just to the right of the posts, Richard West converting to the make the score 0-7, 10 min’s

Newbury run the ball from Trowbridge’s restart before sending a kick back into Trowbridge territory, they gather and return kick, Josh Bartlett takes and launches a kick which is caught by the wind and floats out giving Trowbridge a scrum on half way. Newbury’s pack disrupts Trowbridge’s scrum but they just manage to get the ball back to their 10 who puts up a kick, Newbury take and run at Trowbridge but a loose ball is gathered by them and they spread the ball through their backs but don’t get far before they are pushed into touch.
Trowbridge’s forwards manage to steal the ball at the lineout and run at the Blues defence before sending a grubber kick into touch on Newbury’s 5m line, Trowbridge now have the upper hand and spend a sustained period camped in the Blues 22 winning a succession of penalties broken only when Josh Love gets the ball at a Trowbridge lineout and relieves the pressure briefly. Trowbridge sub their hookers and have a 5 m scrum, again Newbury infringe under the Trowbridge pressure and the ref yellows Dan Thorne.
At the scrum the Newbury pack holds firm and are awarded a penalty which is kicked to touch giving the Blues a brief respite, Trowbridge keep up the pressure getting their hands on the ball at the lineout and the ball is spread through their backs, Trowbridge’s centre Shai Bonnick crashing through the Newbury defence before releasing their fullback Ashley Chalk to score, 10 Lloyd Davis conversion blown wide, 5-7, 29 min’s

Newbury restart and in their haste give away a penalty which Trowbridge kick to touch, Newbury manage to steal the ball at the lineout and after a few phases kick the ball up field and chase, Trowbridge gather and run at the Blues defence their centres making good ground before releasing their winger James Davies who outstrips the Newbury defence to run in and score close to the posts Lloyd Davis converting 12-7, 35 min’s

The Newbury restart is not 10m so play is back on half way for a Trowbridge scrum, the Trowbridge pack win the scrum and feed the ball back to their backs but a long pass evades their players and bounces nicely for Jack Walsh to catch and run the final 30 m to score wide out on the left, conversion just blown wide, 12-12, 38 min’s

Trowbridge kick long from the restart but Josh Bartlett takes and returns the kick well back into Trowbridge’s half, Newbury steal the lineout and the forwards make good ground through George Robinson – Slater, Ben Hicks, Chris Gladwin and Rob Drysdale into Trowbridge’s 22 before a knock on halts their progress. Trowbridge win their scrum and kick to touch to relieve the Newbury pressure, Newbury get a scrum at the lineout when Trowbridge knock on. Scrum won the Blues run the ball through Dan Thorne, Jack Walsh, Josh Love to Iain Herriott who breaks the tackle getting to the line but cannot get the ball down, Newbury are quickly in support and the ball is quickly recycled allowing Josh Bartlett to score, again the long conversion is just blown wide, the half time whistle is blown, 12-17

Trowbridge kick off the second half and win an instant penalty, which is slotted into touch, lineout won the forwards maul good yards before being halted so they try the pick and go method instead, after several phases the ball is spread to their backs and their impressive 13 breaks tackles before being stopped, the mistake comes in the form of a knock on giving Newbury a defensive scrum. The Trowbridge pack force an error from the Newbury forwards winning a penalty which Lloyd Davis kicks, 15-17, 43 min’s

Newbury restart long and the kick is returned by Trowbridge, Josh Bartlett takes and runs the ball making good yards before being tackled, at this point Trowbridge’s 7 the tackler has a rush of blood to the head and receives a slightly harsh red card for apparently punching, a bit of handbag swinging breaks out after which Newbury have a penalty plus 10 yards for Trowbridge back chat, Richard West kicks to touch well in Trowbridge’s 22. From the lineout play is held up for several minutes due to an injury to Newbury’s Chris Gladwin, once he is up and fit Newbury win the 5m lineout and spread the ball out to their backs, Toby Thorne makes a run and as he is tackled flips the ball to Josh Bartlett who cuts a great line to score the bonus point try under the posts, Richard West converting, 15-24, 48 min’s

From the Trowbridge restart Newbury take and kick back into Trowbridge territory, Trowbridge run the ball before they put a kick well into the Newbury half and into touch, Newbury win the lineout and kick out of danger. Trowbridge attack the Newbury defence and are awarded a penalty which they take quickly and attack the Newbury defence forcing another penalty, the 14 Trowbridge players are now putting the Newbury defence under tremendous pressure, winning their 5m lineout the forwards maul up to the line and after several phase’s they get the ball down through Dan Smith, Lloyd Davis masters the wind to land a long conversion making the score 22-24, 53 min’s

Newbury restart and a good chase results in them regaining possession, Newbury keep the momentum going and get almost up to the try line before they lose the ball, Trowbridge attack and another great run from their 13 takes them out of defence and into Newbury territory before they are halted and a couple of phases later Newbury are awarded a penalty which is kicked to touch. Trowbridge steal the lineout and get back to halfway before they infringe giving Newbury a penalty scrum, back Steve Denner on in the pack for the injured Chris Gladwin, Newbury run the ball from the scrum but don’t get far before they lose the ball allowing Trowbridge to run the ball out of defence, again a knock halts their progress giving Newbury a scrum just in their own half.
At the scrum Trowbridge win a free kick which they tap and go making several yards before a mistake comes and Newbury steal the ball but quickly spill the ball forwards handing possession back to Trowbridge, scrum won Trowbridge run the ball before kicking deep into Newbury’s half, Newbury return the kick, Trowbridge take and run forcing the Newbury defence to concede a penalty. The kick is put safely into touch well in Newbury’s 22, Trowbridge win the lineout and the forwards again maul up field making the final meters allowing their 17 Dan Smith to cross the line and score his second and Trowbridge’s bonus point try wide out on the left, Lloyd Davis again using the wind to curl the long conversion through the posts 29-24 68 min’s

Jamie Futcher on for Tom Catchpole. Newbury restart long, Trowbridge take and run the ball but knock on giving Newbury a scrum well in Trowbridge’s half, scrum won the ball is fed to the backs and Aaron McDowell breaks through Trowbridge’s defensive line getting up to the Trowbridge 22 before he is halted, Richard West takes over and gets to the 5m line before he is held up giving Trowbridge a 5m scrum.
The Newbury pack win the ball against the 7 men of Trowbridge getting up to the try line before being halted, the pressure is on the Trowbridge defence and after a couple of infringements their 8 is put in the bin, Trowbridge are now down to 13, Newbury take the scrum and are lucky to keep the ball when the Trowbridge pack disrupt the scrum but Aaron McDowell picks up the loose ball and runs straight through the middle to score under the posts Richard West converts to take Newbury back into the lead 29-31 75 min’s

Trowbridge restart, Newbury take and get a penalty, which is kicked to touch just in Trowbridge’s half, lineout won Graham Stewart trundles forwards before releasing Richard West but the next pass drifts forwards giving Trowbridge a scrum. From the scrum Trowbridge attack before putting up a high kick which is taken safely by Newbury and they launch a counter attack but get off side giving Trowbridge a penalty.
Chris Gladwin on for Steve Denner
Trowbridge kick to touch, lineout won they get the ball out to their centres who make good ground before infringing giving Newbury a penalty and a chance to get out of defence, Newbury take quickly and run the ball getting into Trowbridge’s half before a knock on halts progress. Trowbridge win their scrum then a penalty which is kicked to touch, lineout won they put pressure on the Newbury defence and are unlucky to lose the ball when they give away a penalty for accidental offside, Newbury kick to touch and relieve the immediate pressure.
Newbury win the lineout but don’t get far before Trowbridge are awarded a penalty around the 40m mark which they choose to kick to touch, lineout won they again put pressure on the Blues defence which holds firm but concedes a scrum on the 22m line. Josh Winfield gets a yellow card. Trowbridge win the scrum and launch one final assault on the Newbury line, Newbury’s defence holds firm through several phases before Trowbridge infringe, the resulting penalty is kicked to touch bringing the final whistle and an end to this keenly fought match.

Man of the Match was awarded to Josh Bartlett

Special mention also to the “youthful” Graham Stewart who at his tender age produced one of his best performances

Thanks to young Ben the H2O officer and also thanks to the great travelling Newbury support

Next week the Blues have a tough home fixture 3pm KO against 3rd placed Windsor, another great Berkshire derby game

Squad
Graham Stewart, Rob Drysdale, George Robinson-Slater, Ben Hicks, Josh Winfield,
Jack Walsh, Josh Love, Chris Gladwin, Dan Thorne, Richard West,
Tom Catchpole, Aaron McDowell, Iain Herriott, Toby Thorne Josh Bartlett
Jamie Futcher, Steve Denner