Blues – in touch, right until they weren’t
The Newbury Blues faced the daunting prospect of Tottonians RFC at Monks Lane on Saturday. Four teams have romped away with the league this season – hogging more than a fair share of points – and the visitors started the day third in that top-notch group, with a whopping 70 points. The Blues have less than half those points with 33 and are lying 9th in the league.
The first couple of minutes suggested that things weren’t going to go well, as the big Tottonians pack surged over the try line to take their first 5 points. While the Blues settled into the match and found their route to good opposition, Tottonians struck again after 12 minutes, with another 5 points.
But, not for the first time facing strong opponents, the Blues dug in and began to contain the visitors and make some play of their own. There were some incredible breaks and clever play. Captain and Fly Half Dan Thorne took the pragmatic decision to get some points on the board after 16 minutes and then again after 23 minutes to take two penalties. The Blues were in touch of the visitors.
Another try each, the teams went in at half time 11:17 in favour of Tottoninans.
Both teams were obviously still in it as the second half got into its stride, albeit the Tottonians pushed over another try after 10 minutes and Blues fans began to accept that a win was drifting away from them.
A couple of men from each side sent into the sin bin didn’t seem to make much impact on the game but the hefty, thumping tackling of the Tottonians and the huge scrums (where the Blues did well) began to tell on the Blues. With 10 minutes to go, the wheels came off. Tottonians ran in another four tries – some converted, some not – to pile on a ton of points and handsomely take the try bonus. Although 46:11 doesn’t really describe more than three-quarters of the match, Tottonians deserved their win.
The Newbury Blues are at home on 8th March to North Dorset and shout out their big charity celebration, Pink Day (with other events over the weekend to make it a Pink Weekend). Come on you Blues!
Photos by kind permission of Red Water Images
