Blues revel again in 'temporary' home

Newbury Blues 25 Witney 17

BLUES tucked Witney in well behind them as they maintained their chase for a top two spot in South West One East in a sometimes feisty affair.

The game was again switched from the main arena to an outlying pitch, but that has proven to be an omen as Blues chalked up a third straight home win on that patch, two over leading sides.

Blues led 10-5 at the interval. Dan Thorne’s early penalty was cancelled out when Jake Thomas touched down for the visitors, but Josh Winfield went over before the interval and another Thorne penalty was followed by a try from the Blues captain to put his side 18-5 ahead.

A penalty try closed the gap, but Matt Horne maintained his scoring streak and an Arron Lambourne try came too late to make a difference as Blues remain two points behind second-placed Salisbury.

Thatcham went down 44-10 at Southern Counties North leaders Reading Abbey to remain in the drop zone, while similarly threatened Hungerford put up a battling show before going down 17-14 at home to Tadley Tigers in the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Premier Division.