Stunning “Pink Day” victory for the Blues, 38: 14
The Newbury Blues stormed to a comprehensive victory at home against Keynsham 38:14 on another whopper “Pink Day”, when the club raises money for local charities. This year it’s Newbury Cancer Care and Newbury Soup Kitchen, doing important work in our community, and also a bit for itself – mostly in the coming year, for an irrigation project which, right now, looks just a bit hilarious but, come summer, will probably be vital.
All sorts of entertainment happens on Pink Day – this year the Watership Brass band, two auctions (one in person just before kick-off but another, online, that’s still happening), a kicking competition, a raffle… – but key is the home league game. And it took place in front of a big, big crowd.
The Pink “Blues” (quite a startling kit) came out meaning business, taking control of the game from the outset and were never truly challenged. It was a display of the club at its best. Since the previous home game, they had demonstrably upped their speed a good notch; play and ground coverage simply happened quicker, allowing the visitors little space to react or oppose. There were tries for the Blues in the first half at 7 minutes, 17 minutes, 23 minutes and 39 minutes.
It was a quieter second half, with just a couple of Blues tries (bonus point in hand, of course!), but Keynsham weren’t ever a pushover. They were competent, sensible, brave, kept playing to the end and scored two converted tries, one in each half. Every reason they stood 4th in the league table as they jogged onto the Monks Lane pitch. Simply, the Pink “Blues” were, this time, stunningly good.
With six Blues tries scored, as well as supported, by a lot of the team, and most converted by Captain Dan Thorne, it’s not easy to pick out the best players but Harry Waye-Branch, scorer of two tries, was outstanding across all elements of the field.
The Newbury Blues are away to Royal Wootton Basset on 7th March and back home to take on Cleve on 21st March. Be there! Come on you Blues!