Smart play brings Blues out on top

A 100% losing record is rarely a positive one, but it played its part in Newbury Ladies' victory at Monks Lane today as the Blues lost the toss (again) but played the conditions to emerge victorious from a pulsating fixture that showcased the best of Berkshire rugby.

Newbury hosted local rivals Reading Abbey, a team with whom they were promoted this season and who turned them over no less than three times in 2016-17 in all competitions. Stepping up comfortably to Championship rugby, both teams had taken wins from their opening three fixtures and arrived in confident form. The Blues kicked deep into Abbey territory from the off but Abbey's pack stated their intent in an early scrum and drove the home side back, leaving them no opportunity to snap back into open play. Talented fly half Annette Tomas capitalized, sailing through the Blues' defence and running an a jubilant early try for a 0-5 lead on 4 minutes.

But the Blues had a game plan and they did not allow an early set back to disrupt it; another excellent restart from Meg Mason's experienced boot put them back into the visitor's 22 and it wasn't long before relentless pressure forced a penalty plum in front of the posts. With the swirling wind in her favour Chloe Hunt converted the easiest penalty she'll kick all season to make it 3-5.

By virtue of a combination of Mason's imperious kicking and some free flowing handling Newbury went close a number of times with sustained pressure in the 22. Abbey's defence held firm until vice-captain Megan Horwood, so often the architect of inspiration for Newbury, saw the visitors' focus shift right and ran a penalty line left, taking out her own front row but finding hands out wide and putting Lizzie Harris in for the first of her brace.

Newbury held their nerve into half time with a 5-8 lead but they were well aware they'd left points on the pitch, and their normally solid scrum and line out were experiencing serious pressure. With the wind now against them they needed a big 40.

Abbey were in no mood to go home with out points and they started to throw their big hitters at their hosts, inducing heroics from the Blues pack (especially Harry Synan, with her kick charge downs and line out spoiling). But despite the Abbey passion and skill, the guile was with Newbury and they doggedly absorbed pressure until they were able to put their visitors under the cosh again. Abbey conceded a penalty for a high tackle when Horwood burst through the defensive line and the resulting catch and drive set then up for a lovely team try, finished in the corner by Hunt.

The closing 25 minutes saw no loss in intensity from either side and Abbey looked certain to reduce the gap when she beat the home defence from well within her own half, but a superb chase from Jemma Thripp hauled her down just metres out and Harris threw herself into the ruck to somehow pop out with the ball and carry it to relative safety. Newbury had to work seriously hard for long periods to contain the Abbey onslaught, with Horwood, Carrie Smith and Harriet Mustard inflicting the sort of hits that draw an 'ooooooh' from the crowd (not in a good way) and Mason and Fiona Sim deploying every inch of their considerable experience to make the right calls at he right time. Harris continued to display her growing maturity at full back as she absorbed several dangerous kicks with the support of her back three colleagues Sophie Dowson and the fierce Thripp.

Abbey continued to fight hard at every breakdown and set piece but Newbury were still carving chances in all areas of the pitch; this was perhaps best personified when a wave of forwards and back combined to release tireless flanker Hannah Ward down the wing. It was this team play that allowed Newbury to set the platform for their third try but it was Harris who had the final say, cutting a perfect short line to take Horwood's pop and bully her way through two much bigger players to secure the victory.

Games played: 4, games won: 4, coin tosses won: 0.

What a squad.

Scorers: Lizzie Harris (2), Chloe Hunt (1 try, 1 pen)
FOTM: Fiona Sim and Lucy Mercer
BOTM: Jemma Thripp and Lizzie Harris