Blues face greens with something to prove

Derby game follows heaviest defeat of the season

NEWBURY BLUES hope to return to form for the derby visit of old rivals Reading to Monks Lane on Saturday.

Last Saturday’s 31-8 defeat at Witney put a dent in Blues’ defensive record and had coach Lee Goodall had no doubt where the fault lay.

“Missed tackles. There’s no hiding place from that,” he said.

He expects a typically tough challenge from Newbury’s neighbours, who currently hold one of three relegation spots in South West One East.

“They will look at our result last week and think this is the chance to kick-start their season,” he said.

Blues lost back rowers Chris Guyatt and Ryan Davis to injury before the Witney game and second row Duncan Craigen during it, but have Robbie Drysdale, Dylan Stewart and newcomer from Basingstoke Matt Horne in their squad for a match of which the coach says: “It’s a big one. Definitely.”