Slough 24 – 55 Newbury Stags

Stags get the try bonus point win

Saturday 22nd Feb 2 pm KO
Counties 2 Tribute Berks/Bucks & Oxen South

Stags travel to Slough with the only 18 players available, A huge thank you to the players who stepped up to make sure this game went ahead

Stags kick off on a warm sunny afternoon and within a few minutes get a penalty which is kicked to touch just in Sloughs 22, lineout won the ball is moved to Kyle Doel on Sloughs 22 who charges through the Slough tacklers to score under the posts, G Shakespear adds the conversion 0-7 5 mins

A few minutes later Stags score again, Stags attack getting just into Sloughs half, from the ruck Patch Anderson makes a great break taking play into Sloughs 22 before he is tackled, he pops the ball to Jamie Futcher who runs round the Slough defenders to score 0-12 9 mins

Sloughs restart is straight into touch so back for a Stags scrum, Stags attack from their scrum and after several phases Liam Cooper sends a neat grubber kick through, Stags chase and put pressure on the Slough defence who just manage to keep possession and kick clear, Stags gather and 2 passes later the speedster Sean Siggerman makes a great solo run from just in Sloughs half to evade the Slough defenders and score under the posts, G Shakespear adds the conversion 0-19 13 mins

Slough now have their best period of the game and put pressure on the Stags defence but cannot make the break through.
20 mins K Doel off A Doel on
Slough keep up the pressure on Stags, getting up to the try line but concede a penalty allowing Stags to clear to touch, Slough steal the lineout and attack getting a penalty which is kicked to touch in Stags 22, lineout won Sloughs forwards take play deep into Stags 22 before they release their backs and they break through the Stags tackles to score close to the posts, Slough add the conversion, 32 mins 7-19

Stags restart and have soon got hold of the ball taking play into Sloughs 22, first Michael Duppa-Miller carries then Ashley Doel who pops the ball to Patch Anderson who darts over to score the bonus point try, 7-24 34 mins

Neither side can add to their score in the remaining minutes of the half.

Slough kick off the second half and after several phases of play and a couple of penalties, Slough have soon added to their score, the penalty kick is deemed to have gone into touch on the corner flag giving Slough a 5m lineout, a short lineout throw allows their forwards to burrow over and score on 43 mins 12-24.
Alex Leadbeater on Josh Twigger off

Stags restart and Slough run out of defence getting a penalty, Slough tap and go spreading the ball wide make good ground, some good passing play takes them deep into Stags territory before a knock on gives Stags a scrum, Stags win the reset scrum and a good clearing kick from George Shakespear rolls into touch in Sloughs half, Stags steal the lineout a good run breaking through Sloughs tackles from Ethan David John takes play into Sloughs 22, Slough win a scrum and run out of defence, some good play takes them into Stags half, a grubber kick is gathered by Stags and they run out of defence, a knock on gives Slough a scrum still in Stags half, Slough attack from their scrum and some good running rugby breaks the Stags tackles and they score close to the posts, 17-24 53 mins
Harry Edwards on Liam Cooper off

Stags restart, Slough run out of defence but concede a penalty just in their own half, Stags kick is kept in touch by Slough who run then Kick, Stags runback at Slough and a neat chip kick is regathered by Stags who keep the ball live, Harry Edwards charges up field before releasing Louis Carnell who runs from Sloughs 22 down the touchline to beat the Slough defence and score 17-29 55 mins
Ed Dyer off K Doel on

Slough restart Stags run then kick, a good chase results in Slough conceding a penalty at the tackle, Stags kick to touch deep in Sloughs 22, a short lineout to Sam Bramhall lets him break through he pops a pass to Ashley Doel who storms over to score, George Shakespear adds the conversion 17-36 58 mins

Slough restart with a low kick, Stags knock on, scrum won Slough attack getting into Stags 22 before Stags steal the ball, Stags run out of defence getting close to halfway before they lose the ball, Slough again attack but lose the ball in Stags half, Stags run the ball Harry Edwards making ground before releasing George Shakespear who runs from halfway down the left touch line beating Sloughs defenders to score 63 mins 17-41
Ashley Doel off Josh Twigger on and a positional reshuffle

Slough restart kick drifts straight out so a Stags scrum on halfway, Stags send a kick into Sloughs 22, they gather and some good running rugby breaks through Stags defence and takes play into Stags territory before they put up a high kick, Stags gather on their own 22, Stags attack out of defence then put a crossfield kick which is just knocked on.
68mins Ed Dyer on Sam Croton off

Slough spread play wide right from their scrum then back left getting into Stags half before a loose pass is gathered by Stags who run the ball before sending a kick through Sloughs defence, Slough gather and run getting a penalty just in their own half, the kick doesn’t find touch allowing Stags to take play into Sloughs half before they lose the ball, Slough attack and after several phases make the breakthrough to score their bonus point try under the posts, and add the conversion 24-41 72 mins

Stags restart Slough gather and run then kick into Stags 22, Stags run getting a penalty at the tackle on halfway, Stags quickly tap and go and neat inside pass releases Sean Siggerman who out runs the Slough defence to score his second try under the posts, George Shakespear adds the conversion 24-48 73 mins

Slough restart Stags gather and run, Slough knock on, scrum won Stags take play deep into Sloughs before a loose ball is knocked on giving Slough a scrum, Slough get a free kick at the scrum and spread play wide right Stags steal the ball and take play up to Sloughs 22 and get a scrum, Stags attack from their scrum getting up to the try line, Slough steal possession and kick clear, Stags gather and attack taking play back into Sloughs 22 but concede a penalty at the tackle. Slough tap and go getting up to their 10m line, Stags steal at the tackle, Slough re-steal but concede a penalty, Stags tap and go taking play back into Sloughs 22, the ball is spread wide then back Graham Stewart shrugs away the defenders to score, George Shakespear’s conversion brings the final whistle 24-55

Well done to Slough who played their part in a good game of rugby and never gave up and got the try bonus point, good luck for the remainder of the season

Thanks to the ref who kept the game flowing and under control

Forwards MOM – Louis Carnell
Backs MOM – George Shakespear

Newbury Stags Squad
Forwards - 1. Graham Stewart 2. Louis Carnell 3. Sam Bramhall 4. Ed Dyer 5. Ethan David-John
6. Sam Croton 7. Michael Duppa-Miller 8. Kyle Doel
Backs - 9. Patch Anderson 10. George Shakespeare 11. Josh Twigger 12. George Stevens
13. Liam Cooper 14. Sean Siggeman 15. Jamie Futcher
Finishers - 16. Ashley Doel 17. Harry Edwards 18. Alex Leadbeater

Stags next Fixture is Sat 1st March Away v Marlow II KO TBC

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Big thanks to Sarah and Kevin Rhoads