Newbury Blues U13 v Horris Hill School U13

When we were all younger the possibility of playing under floodlights on any 1st team pitch was a huge occasion. That occasion fell to the U13's yesterday evening. I think sometimes we all possibly may take for granted is what an amazing facility we have at Newbury RFC and a massive THANKS to Hywel and Steve for helping to organise this event.

The Junior section is always looking for fixtures and thus through connections a great relationship between club and school has started to flourish.

Horris Hill take boys up to U13's in rugby age group and the idea of the match was to showcase the Club to all their younger years for them to hopefully want to be involved with the Mini Section on Sundays.

Thanks for Alan Mcdermott for coming and hosting for the evening.

WOW what a game of rugby !!

Backed up by 60 plus screaming, chanting younger years from Horris set a great atmosphere from the seated terrace section ..

Both sides virtually unbeaten this year were looking for a contest.

Newbury took the lead after ten minutes of mid field battling which ended up with Josh Lefever going over breaking the deadlock. Horris Hill soon responding with Callum Mackay scoring the first of his four tries of the game. (Callum a superb athlete, as he runs the 200m at National trial times!). Horris piled on the pressure in the middle of the park putting some strong defence in to cancel out the relentless attacks from the Blues centres. Newbury unfortunately let in a few breakaway tries from a few missed tackles to go in at the Break 2 - 3 to HH.

The 2nd half saw Newbury letting Horris in quickly with 2 quick tries from Callum. Newbury rallied quickly after a few subs, which saw Angus Magee link up with Nathan Delavere at full back to score the try of the Match with Nathan stepping their winger and full back to finish of a cracking Blues back move from the half way line.

Hats off to Horris they didn't panic and managed to score another excellent breakaway try with Newbury all out to secure a draw in the dying minutes... Horris winning 6 tries to 4.

Speaking to many parents after the game and an Ex Quins Prop who was nearly thinking about starting up his career again after the exceptional performances from all the players.

Well done to both teams, mission accomplished from all accounts and it would have been nice for the Blues win but congrats to our new friends from Horris Hill... Rugby once again definitely came out the winner...

Massive thanks to Stuart Codling for offering up his own time to referee for us. Stuart added some kind words of WISDOM!! to the players after the match and presented a match ball signed by Ben Youngs to Horris's Hugh Curling.

Also players of the Match were awarded to Blues Nathan Delavere and to Horris's Dima Minko (one to watch for the Russian national side of the future).

Lastly huge thanks to Nick and Paul (Head of Sports at Horris) for seamless organisation between us... Good Luck for the rest of the season.

Thanks for reading,

Michael Robinson
Head Coach U13's NRFC