One that got away – Blues just short
Newbury Blues opened the new season with a home match against Gloucester side, Longlevens. With a huge reorganisation of the league, this was the first time these sides had met, and the early moves went to Longlevens, with a try (not converted), in the first minute or two. But both made their stand with quick openers and, within five minutes of the start, the Blues had the equaliser (also, at the widest angle, not converted).
After that, it was end-to-end rugby. One try was matched with another, with the Blues always getting back on par, and indeed briefly ahead midway through the first half, until just before half time. The sides went in with Longlevens ahead by a converted try at 24:17.
Longlevens had the heavier pack and that was clearly an advantage but, just before the end of the first half, the Blues had pushed forward a staggeringly impressive scrum. Still some hope.
The second half was more of the same. Sometimes Longlevens in the ascendant, sometime times the Blues. The latter didn’t make much of a player advantage, when a man was sent off (in a generally good-humoured match), and there was a bit of a referee muddle in the late stages that possibly made a difference, but both played well. In the end, Longlevens prevailed, 36:31 in their favour, probably fairly telling the story.
Many, many members of both teams put points on the board – too many to mention. But, for Longlevens, they must be proud of their Scrum Half, Wilkins, who controlled the game well and kicked excellently, and the Blues enjoyed excellent performances from Captain Dan Thorne, Beau Power, Harry Waye-Branch and Ben Hurford-John amongst many others.
The Newbury Blues are away at Cheltenham on 13th September and back home on 20th September to Old Centralians. Come on you Blues!
Photos by kind permission of Red Water Images
