Blues step up in second half

Newbury travelled to Maidenhead for their final game of the 14/15 season needing a win to keep 6th place in the league, again the great travelling Blues support out number the home supporters.
Newbury kick off with the strong cross wind against them, Maidenhead take and kick long with the wind, Blues take and return the kick, which is taken by Maidenhead and the mark called. The kick is sent into touch, Newbury win the lineout and run but spill it forwards in the tackle, Maidenhead gather and playing the advantage run at the Blues defence cutting through poor tackling to score the opening try wide out on the left, the long conversion sails just wide 5-0 4 min’s

The Blues restart is taken by Maidenhead and they run the ball before a kick is put into Newbury’s half, Blues gather and run but again a mistake comes in the tackle as Blues knock on, Newbury win a free kick at the scrum which they run making good ground getting into Maidenheads half before they lose possession. Maidenhead run the ball and make good progress brushing off some poor Blues tackling getting well into Blues half before a knock on halts their progress, scrum won Newbury run out of defence getting close to halfway before conceding a penalty, Maidenhead kick to touch on Newbury 22. Lineout won the Maidenhead forwards put pressure on the Blues defence but a forward pass just before they are shoved into touch gives Blues the scrum. Maidenhead steal the ball at the scrum giving them the put in, this time the Blues pack puts in the grunt and wins a penalty which Richard West kicks to touch.
Newbury manage to keep possession at a scrappy lineout winning a scrum as Maidenhead knock on the loose ball, Maidenhead have the best at the scrums and win the put in to the reset scrum, from the scrum the ball is recycled to their 10 who uses the wind and puts in a great kick to touch in Newbury’s 22. Maidenhead knock on at the lineout giving Newbury the scrum, Newbury’s pack manage to win the scrum and Ryan Davis runs off the back making good ground before the ball is recycled and kicked up field, Maidenhead take and kick but the wind takes the ball straight out giving Newbury a lineout just in Maidenheads half.
Maidenhead steal the lineout but as the ball is spread wide the knock on gives Blues the scrum, Newbury’s pack remain solid this time and the scrum is won, Maidenhead infringe giving Blues a penalty which Richard West slots into touch. Blues win the lineout and run the ball, Maidenheads defence again infringe giving away a penalty, which is taken quickly by the Blues, some good running rugby takes them up to the try line before a forward pass halts their progress.
Maidenhead win their 5 m scrum but a great tackle from Rob Drysdale and quick support forces the penalty when the Maidenhead player doesn’t release the ball, Richard West slots over the penalty, 5-3 22 min’s

Maidenhead are quickly after their restart and are rewarded when they are awarded a penalty at the tackle, Blues pinged for not holding on, the long attempt sails over aided by the wind and accurate direction by the kicker 8-3 24 min’s

Blues restart is gathered by Maidenhead but the ball is lost giving Blues the chance to run but a loose pass rolls into touch, Maidenhead win the lineout and run the ball across the pitch before Newbury are awarded a penalty scrum, Maidenheads pack win the Blues scrum then are awarded a penalty which is kicked to touch on Blues 22. Maidenhead win the lineout but spill the ball allowing Newbury to try and run out of defence but the mistake comes and Maidenhead are awarded a penalty, a second penalty comes as the Blues are not 10, bad discipline, this makes a kick at goal an easier option and Maidenheads 10 slots the ball between the posts 11-3 29 min’s

The remainder of the half is a stalemate as both sides either make a mistake or good defence halts the others progress, Ryan Davis try’s to break the deadlock with a good run but two Maidenhead tacklers halt his progress and the momentum is lost, Maidenhead have a penalty and a shot at goal but this time the long kick is dragged wide by the wind, a couple of minutes later the half time whistle is blown time for the coaches to do their work.

Maidenhead kick off the second half, Blues gather and run at the Maidenhead defence, winning a penalty, which is kicked to touch, Maidenhead steal the lineout and run the ball but a mistake gives Newbury possession and a good run from captain Dan Thorne and grubber kick takes play back into Maidenheads half. Maidenhead kick out of defence, Blues take and run the ball back into Maidenheads half before they concede a penalty allowing Maidenhead to kick to touch just outside Newbury’s 22.
Lineout won Maidenheads forwards drive up field but concede a penalty scrum, Newbury win their scrum and run the ball but don’t get far before a knock on halts their progress, Maidenhead attack from their scrum getting up to Newbury’s 22 then winning a penalty which earns a Newbury forward a yellow card. Maidenhead kick to touch and win their lineout in Newbury’s 22 but a knock on ends the attack, Newbury win the defensive scrum and run out of defence getting up to half way before Maidenhead infringe at the ruck giving Blues a penalty and a Maidenhead forward a yellow, sides are back equal.

Jamie Futcher on for Cameron Golby Barr, Josh Love on for Rob Drysdale 49 mins

Blues put the penalty into touch deep in Maidenheads half, lineout won Blues attack through several phases with both forwards and backs involved, the pressure eventually tells and a neat pass to Toby Thorne allows him to break through several tackles and make good yards to score a well worked try, Richard West converting 11-10, 52 mins

Maidenheads restart is taken by Blues and they run the ball making good ground before a knock on halts their progress, Maidenhead win their scrum and kick, the wind takes the kick straight out so play is brought back just in Maidenheads half. Blues win the lineout and scrum half Joe Pigott quickly feeds the ball to Richard West onto Dan Thorne who draws the defender before passing to Josh Bartlett who weaves his way through the defence to make the 30 yds to score, the conversion just blown wide 11-15 56 min’s

Newbury are now playing the better rugby and a mistake from the restart not 10 by Maidenhead gives Blues a scrum on half way, Rob Drysdale on for Tom Sanders, scrum won Newbury attack but a knock on gives Maidenhead possession and a scrum. Maidenhead win their scrum and run at the Blues defence which is caught off side, the penalty is kicked to touch, Joe Binfield on for Eddie Farebrother, this is short lived and a hamstring injury means the substitution is quickly reversed.
Blues manage to steal the ball and run making good ground through the backs Joe Pigott then Jamie Futcher before a tackle halts them, the ball is quickly recycled getting Blues into Maidenheads half before a forward pass halts their progress. Maidenhead win a penalty at the scrum which is kicked to touch well in Blues half, lineout won Maidenheads forwards maul up field and gaining momentum shove Blues backwards allowing them to make the yards to score the conversion just short 16-15 70 min’s

Newbury restart long, Maidenhead gather and kick to touch still in their half, Maidenhead win the lineout but don’t get far before they lose the ball, Newbury decide to run at Maidenhead but concede a penalty which is slotted into touch. Maidenhead win their lineout and again their forwards have the upper hand in the maul and they rumble forwards but Newbury manage to halt them and win a scrum. Blues win the scrum and spread the ball wide but a loose pass is dropped giving Maidenhead a scrum.
Cameron Golby Barr on for Steve Denner
Maidenhead win the scrum but a forward pass halts their progress, Blues win a penalty at the scrum which is kicked to touch, lineout won Blues get a penalty and shortly after somewhat puzzlingly are awarded another which is kicked to touch. Blues win the lineout and almost immediately have another penalty, which earns Maidenhead a yellow. Richard West steps up for a long attempt at the posts, which under great pressure he keeps his cool and slots between the posts 16-18 38 min’s

Maidenheads restart is again held up in the wind and doesn’t make10, scrum won Newbury get into Maidenheads half before they infringe giving Maidenhead a penalty and a chance to attack. The kick is long and in touch giving Maidenhead a lineout just out side the Newbury 22, lineout won the Maidenhead forwards rumble closer to the try line, Newbury manage to halt their progress and are rewarded with the scrum, Newbury’s pack hold firm and scrum half Joe Pigott gets his hands on the ball and kicks to touch bringing the final whistle.

Again Blues have managed to snatch a victory after a much better second half performance

Man of the Match went to the whole squad for a great way to end the season

The end of the season and 6th place in the league a great achievement from the coaching/management staff and this young squad and the couple of old fella’s !!

Thanks to the great support from all the dedicated followers of this young team they really do appreciate it

Well done to Richard West, Ben Hicks, Rob Drysdale and Jamie Futcher who have played in all 26-league games a great achievement?

Top points score Richard West 169 points
Top Try score Josh Bartlett with 12 try’s

Squad
Graham Stewart, Tom Sanders, George Robinson-Slater, Ben Hicks, Josh Winfield,
Eddie Farebrother, Rob Drysdale, Ryan Davis, Joe Pigott, Richard West,
Steve Denner, Dan Thorne, Josh Bartlett, Cameron Golby Barr, Toby Thorne
Jamie Futcher, Josh Love, Joe Binfield