Blues claim bragging rights and keep pressure on at top with win over Reading
There is nothing better than a derby day win, writes Max Carter Keall.
Ask Celtic’s Scott Brown of the Old Firm derby, or Barcelona’s Carles Puyol in El Clasico, what their most treasured victories would be and they would surely say their respective rivals Rangers or Real Madrid.
In fact, while the legacy of Newbury Blues vs Reading RFC may not have a global outreach the size of El Clasico or the Old Firm, the Berkshire Derby remains an exciting day for both sides as all local rugby eyes turn to Monks Lane.
Coming into the game Blues sat third in the league but were forced to make four changes from the previous weeks’ 33-12 win over Witney.
Duncan Craigen, Freddie Beharrell, Sam Palmer and Will Osborne all came into the squad for the clash with Reading as Blues were looking to secure their sixth straight Berkshire Derby win.
Blues started the game well as a series of scrums and lineouts set the pack to work.
Reading’s defence managed to hold for the first ten minutes but mounting pressure finally told when Duncan Craigen crashed through the defence to open the scoring.
Stand-in kicker Kris Ford converted to make it 7-0 as Blues looked to capitalise on their early pressure.
Oli Rhoads then made an excellent break before a neat pass released Freddie Beharrell who, despite breaking through several tackles, was hauled down deep into the Reading 22.
Reading’s scramble defence stopped Blues just short but their eventual clearing kick headed straight into touch for a Blues lineout.
Blues were held up on the line by Reading’s stout defence but the derby drifted into end to end rugby with Blues getting two players yellow carded and Reading grabbing their first points of the contest, slotting a penalty to make it 7-3 after 31 minutes.
The 13-man Blues then remarkably scored their second of the game when Kris Ford scythed through to score with his own conversion making it 14-3.
This was boosted by the return of both sin binned players and Toby Thorne was released down the left touchline to score in the corner.
However, ill-discipline countered Blues momentum and another double yellow card saw them back down to 13.
Somehow surviving without a full team for the second period of the game Blues gained both players back and won a scrum five metres out from the Reading line.
Freddie Beharrell broke down the wing to score on his return to the team before the Blues pack heaved Reading over their own tryline allowing Josh Winfield to score and Kris Ford retained his 100 per cent conversion rate to make it 35-3 with eight minutes to go.
Blues dominated the final passages of play, shunting the Reading pack twice for the referee to award the Newbury side a penalty try.
The final whistle signalled an excellent 42-3 bonus point win for Blues over local rivals Reading.
"This was an especially important weekend for us, it's a rare occasion to have Blues and Stags at home on the same day," head coach James McAvoy said.
"The boys got a massive lift when we heard Stags were leading at half time before we went out and that really helped us start the game well.
"To be able to celebrate two wins against our local rivals made it a great day.
"We're in a good position and we're looking forward to Tottonians now, it's a big game and we're full of confidence."
To cap a brilliant day for Newbury RFC Stags grabbed a bonus point win of their own against Reading II, scoring five tries to finish the game 29-14.
George Stevens opened the scoring within ten minutes and Hayden Beal’s classy individual effort, running from inside his own half, gave Stags the lead.
Scrum half Jacob Checksfield ran in the third and Stags headed into half time with a brilliant 17-0 lead.
Reading made a strong start to the second half scoring their first try but Tom Haynes rumbled over in reply for Stags pushing their lead to 24-7.
Reading grabbed another try before, in the last phase of the game, Will Trumper charged over from 5m out to confirm a brilliant 29-14 victory for Stags.
