Blues Impress in Final Preseason Fixtures

Blues’ preseason preparation continued last weekend, with development side Reading Rams playing host to local teams Reading and Newbury in the glorious late summer sunshine. The 30 minute matches provided an opportunity for new and experienced players alike to gain valuable playing time before the Blues’ first game of the new league season.

Game 1: Reading 0 – Newbury 15

Newbury found themselves under pressure early on in their first game, with Reading’s forwards enjoying a long period of possession. The Blues’ defence however was equal to the task, with debutant Vanessa Kadziya particularly impressive in the tackle. The forwards began to put their phases together and Newbury started to find their feet. With ball finally in hand, the blues looked dangerous. Good offloading out of the tackle by forward Roxy-Fauconnier allowed number nine Devon Holt to accelerate away and bring play within metres of the corner. In a situation where white line fever is often witnessed, the patient build-up play of the forwards was impressive, before the release to the backs. Good hands – notably by Lozzie Price-Richards – took the ball the length of the pitch to allow Jemma Thripp in at the opposite corner, closing out a great team try. With points on the scoreboard Newbury settled down, and a break by the backs once again found the hands of Thripp for her second of the day. The second half saw Reading enjoy another period of possession at the start, however penalties were now beginning to creep in. From a line out in Reading’s half the ball found the hands of number eight Emma Robinson, who powered her way through half a dozen Reading players to crash over. A 20-metre break from Kadziya, and more powerful running by Robinson brought Newbury close to a fourth in the closing minutes, the number eight tackled inches short of the try line.

Tries:
J. Thripp 2
E. Robinson 1

Game 2: Rams Sirens 0 – 57 Newbury

Rams Sirens approached the game with enthusiasm, but the pace in Newbury’s back line was too much for the development side, with the Blues running in 8 tries. Newbury opened their account through fullback Lizzie Harris, Captain Meg Mason duly converting. Under pressure, the Rams looked to their kicking game for territory. Unfortunately for them the Blues’ back three were alert, and when Harris next found herself on the receiving end, she promptly set off on a sprint, gaining 40 metres, before offloading out of the tackle to Kat Smith. Support play was the order of the day for Newbury throughout this match, leaving Smith with the decision of which support player to run in the try, scrum half Devon Holt the happy recipient. Mason converted successfully again. A scrum in the Rams’ 22 was the starting point of the Blues’ third. Good hands out to winger Vanessa Kadziya saw her all but score the try, pulled down inches short. Scrum half Holt’s show and go fooled everyone to give her her second of the match. Jemma Thripp drew the first half to a close running in a score from the halfway line, Mason adding both conversions.
The second half saw no let up from the Blues, the forwards securing the ball before good hands from Thripp released Smith on the wing. Good work by the forwards to secure a turnover allowed the backs to release the ball to Harris for her second. A chip over from Mason was the platform for the third of the half, Harris broke the line, before pacey number six Rosie Archard received in support to score on debut. Mason once again successful with the conversion. From the restart the ball moved to winger Kadziya who gained 30 metres before Archard again offered herself in support before offloading to Harris, who completed her Hattrick. Good work by flanker Kirsty Batten allowed Holt to complete her own from the next restart. Mason’s sixth conversion brought her points to 12 for the game and the final Newbury score to 57.

Tries:
L. Harris 3
D. Holt 3
J. Thripp 1
R. Archard 1

Conversions:
M. Mason 6

If the preseason fixtures are anything to go by, then the season ahead looks bright for the Blues. They kick off the Championship South West 2 season at 2pm this Saturday 9th September at home at Monks Lane against Cullompton.