Blues earn a try bonus point home win

Newbury needed to win to get over the Bletchley blip and after a nervous first 39 mins score at the end of the first half and produce a much better second to give them a 5pt 4 try bonus point home win over a Buckingham side fighting relegation. Newbury also welcomed new players Joe Pigott and Ryan Davis to Monks Lane for their first home game

Buckingham kick off and are quickly there managing to keep Newbury penned in their own half, after several phases they win a penalty which they kick to touch, Newbury manage to get their hands on the ball at the lineout and kick back into Buckingham territory. A great chase by Rob Drysdale puts the pressure on Buckingham’s defence and the Blues are rewarded with a penalty which is kicked to touch by Richard West, lineout won Blues attack the Buckingham defence and after a good Dan Thorne break, the forwards take the ball on and make more ground before scrum half Joe Pigott is released to make the final yards to score a great try Richard West converts, 7-0, 5 mins

The Buckingham restart is gathered and the Blues run the ball but don’t get far before a knock on halts their progress, Buckingham win the scrum and run the ball, a loose ball is gathered by Newbury and quickly spread wide through the backs getting into Buckingham’s half before a mistake gives Buckingham a scrum. Buckingham’s pack holds the scrum giving them a chance to run at the Blues defence, which holds firm so Buckingham try a high kick which Newbury take and try to run but are penalised giving Buckingham a kick at the posts which sails just wide.
The Blues take the 22 drop out and defend as Buckingham take the kick and run at the Blues, Buckingham are awarded a penalty which gives them an attacking lineout, from the lineout the Buckingham forwards try to break through the Newbury defence which holds them out through several phases before from a reset scrum the penalty comes, Paul Archer off blood Eddie Farebrother comes on, Buckingham’s James Hulston successfully kicks 7-3, 15 min’s

The Newbury forwards chase their restart and are rewarded when they win a scrum; they are quickly awarded another giving them a chance to put pressure on the Buckingham defence. This time the Blues get the ball out to the backs allowing Iain Herriott to make good ground before releasing Ryan Davis who crashes through several tackles before being brought to the ground, Joe Pigott snipes another few yards getting into Buckingham’s 22 before they are shoved into touch. Eddie Farebrother off blood, Aaron McDowell on. Newbury put pressure on the Buckingham lineout put their eagerness is penalised giving Buckingham a chance to kick out of defence, lineout won Buckingham put pressure on the Blues defence getting into Blues half before the Blues hold them up and win the scrum.
Eddie Farebrother is back on for Aaron McDowell. Buckingham manage to disrupt the Blues scrum and win the ball which they kick into Newbury’s 22, Josh Bartlett takes and kicks to touch, lineout won Buckingham again put pressure on the Blues defence which holds firm forcing Buckingham to again try a chip kick over the defence, again Newbury safely gather and kick downfield. Buckingham return the kick, which Newbury take and kick nicely up field and into touch through Richard West. Buckingham win the lineout but cough up the ball allowing Newbury to run the ball through Josh Bartlett and Iain Herriott getting well into Buckingham’s half before the ball is spilt forward. Paul Archer comes on for Tom Sanders.
Buckingham win their scrum and kick down field, Josh Bartlett takes and runs releases Joe Pigott who makes a jinking run before the Blues put up a high kick and chase, Buckingham catch and kick back to the Blues. Newbury attack but lose the ball allowing Buckingham to put pressure on the Blues defence which concedes a penalty, Buckingham kick to touch and are soon awarded another penalty which is kicked to touch in Newbury’s 22, from the lineout the Buckingham forwards maul making good progress allowing their 7 Pat Ockendon to score the try, James Hulston converting 7-10, 35 min’s

Newbury restart and manage to re-gather possession, Ryan Davis making another strong run linking with Iain Herriott before they are stopped, Newbury’s forwards are quickly there and they maul into Buckingham’s 22 before Buckingham stop them and hold them up winning the scrum. From the scrum Buckingham run the ball out of defence and are awarded a penalty which they kick to touch just in Blues half, Buckingham win the lineout but knock on giving Newbury a scrum. Newbury win the scrum and run the ball getting back into Buckingham’s half and winning a penalty, Richard West takes a long shot at the posts but is short, Buckingham take but a great chase from Newbury means Iain Herriott gets a charge down from Buckingham’s clearing kick, he is first to react and gathers the ball which is quickly spread across field through several hands to Josh Winfield who breaks a tackle before passing to Jamie Futcher who quickly releases Josh Bartlett to score wide out on the left, the long conversion just wide bringing the half time whistle and a score of 12-10.

The Newbury kick off not 10 so back to the centre for a Buckingham scrum which they win and attack the Blues defence but lose possession allowing Blues to mount an attack of their own. Newbury don’t get far before they knock on, Buckingham win the scrum and kick for touch but the ball drifts straight out so back for a Newbury lineout.
Buckingham steal the lineout and run the ball but good tackling from Newbury forces the mistake and Newbury turn the ball over, Newbury spread the ball through the backs and run at the Buckingham defence forcing them to concede a penalty. Richard West kicks safely to touch, lineout won the forwards drive up field into Buckingham’s 22 winning a penalty scrum, Newbury win the scrum and run the ball through Josh Winfield and Josh Love, this pressure forcing the Buckingham defence to concede another penalty which Richard West kicks to touch.
Newbury win the attacking lineout and the forwards keep it tight with Ben Hicks, Graham Stewart, Tom Sanders and Rob Drysdale earning a penalty, which is kicked to touch, from the lineout Newbury’s forwards keep it tight again getting up to the try line before they knock on. Buckingham keep possession from their scrum and try running out of defence before they kick into Newbury’s half, Newbury gather and run back into Buckingham’s half getting up to the 30m line before giving away a penalty. Buckingham kick to touch win their lineout but then make a mistake and lose the ball, Newbury then win a penalty which is kicked to touch, lineout won the Newbury forwards march up field getting to the Buckingham 22 before a knock on halts the march.
Buckingham play the advantage and kick out of defence, Newbury gather and run at Buckingham’s defence which gets penalised for offside, Richard West kicks to touch just in Buckingham’s 22. Lineout secured Newbury spin the ball wide through the backs across the field from right to left allowing winger Steve Denner to make the final yards to score wide out on the left, conversion just wide, 17-10, 58 min’s

The Buckingham restart is kicked backed into Buckingham’s half by Richard West, a good Newbury chase forces Buckingham to kick to touch, Paul Archer off Tom Sanders back on. Newbury win the lineout and attack, a chip through is chased well but a knock on gives Buckingham the scrum. Buckingham try running from their scrum but only manage to crab across field and under Newbury pressure give away a penalty which Richard West slots over from 30m 20-10, 63 min’s

Buckingham win a penalty from their restart kick which they kick to touch, lineout won they try to put pressure on the Blues but cough up possession allowing Newbury to attack and some good play from forwards and backs takes play into Buckingham’s 22 and up to the line but they cannot get the ball down, Buckingham’s 7 gets a yellow. Newbury keep up the pressure but lose the ball allowing Buckingham to kick to touch on halfway. Steve Denner takes quickly allowing Jamie Futcher to jink through the Buckingham tacklers and up to their 22, the Newbury support were quickly there and keep possession, Ryan Davis gets the ball and charges through before passing to Iain Herriott who scores a great try under the posts earning Blues the try bonus point, Richard West kicking the conversion 27-10, 69 min’s

Newbury make a double substitution Steve Denner and Richard West off Aaron McDowell and Tom Bass on
Newbury now have the upper hand and are playing the better rugby putting the Buckingham defence under severe pressure, Newbury attack from Buckingham’s kick off and run the ball back into Buckingham’s half where the ball reaches Dan Thorne who makes the break and gets through the flailing Buckingham defence to run 30m to score another good well worked Newbury try, his conversion just wide 32-10, 75 mins

Buckingham haven’t given up and win the ball from their own restart kick getting up to the Blues line before they concede a penalty allowing Newbury to kick to touch and clear their lines, Newbury win their lineout and again their backs run making good ground before Aaron McDowell breaks a couple of tackles and gets up to Buckingham’s 22 before he is stopped, Newbury recycle the ball quickly and release Josh Winfield who breaks the tackle to score on the right, the conversion is just wide 37-10, full time

Ryan Davis earning the Man of the Match award for a storming game

Well done to Paul Archer on his first Blues appearance this season

Follow this link to Simon West’s photos of this game https://www.flickr.com/photos/simonawest/sets/72157648780704003/

Good luck to Buckingham in their fight against relegation hope to see you next season

After an ordinary first half Newbury stepped up in the second half and scored 25 unanswered points a great reaction to the blip at Bletchley

Thanks again to the ever-present H20 officer Ben Davis

Thanks again to the great home support another big crowd, including a big contingent of life members who enjoyed agreat lunch

Next Saturday the Blues travel to Chippenham the league leaders a really tough game, lets hope the Blues upset the form book

Squad
Graham Stewart, Tom Sanders, Ben Hicks, Paul Archer, Josh Winfield,
Rob Drysdale, Josh Love, Ryan Davis, Joe Pigott, Richard West,
Steve Denner, Iain Herriott, Dan Thorne, Jamie Futcher, Josh Bartlett
Eddie Farebrother, Aaron McDowell, Tom Bass