Big ask for Blues

Newbury Blues face second placed Jersey at Monks Lane on Saturday, but they may have to face up to relegation

NEWBURY BLUES look all but doomed to a third successive relegation season and face another daunting task when they entertain second-in-the-table Jersey on Saturday.

Jersey handed Blues their biggest defeat of this difficult season when winning 122-10 last November, and they are hardly likely to be taking it easy when they come to Monks Lane, still chasing Ealing in the automatic promotion spot while currently holding down the play-off place.

Newbury's 71-15 beating at fellow strugglers Westcombe Park has left Blues re-evaluating their targets for the rest of the season. "We were just blown away. It was hugely disappointing," said director of rugby Andy Widdop.

"I know it is not mathematically certain, but we have to be realistic and it is a big, big ask for us to get out of this.

"We have some really difficult games still to come, and it means we have to set more realistic targets for the players," he added.

Attempting to overhaul second to bottom Hinckley may be the best that Blues can hope for, but they are looking for some knock-out consolation when they entertain Redingensians in the last four of the Berkshire Cup on Tuesday night.

Redingensians lie fourth in the regional south west division to which Blues are likely to return next season, and Blues will be fielding as strong a side as possible in the hope of grabbing some consolation silverware.

George Strang and Iain Herriott miss out this week, along with second row Ben West while Andy Cannock, Dominic Payne and Myles Roberts Bailey all return.