Blues face two tough weeks

RUGBY: Search for a first win goes on as Newbury welcome Barnstaple to Monks Lane

NEWBURY BLUES go into matches against two of the top sides in the league, still looking for their first win of the season in Division Three South and West.

They entertain Barnstaple on Saturday, the visitors having picked up their first defeat of the season last week against a Bournemouth side that entertains Blues next week.

"They are two hard games," said director of rugby Andy Widdop, who saw his side lose 38-19 at Amersham and Chiltern last Saturday to a team recording its own first win of the campaign.

Blues now find themselves as one of only two teams without a win, and they are again forced into changes on Saturday with fly half and top scorer Oscar Matthews out, along with back Nick Gerrish, forward Tom Erskine and flanker Sam Vine.

Widdop is hoping to drag back Jonathan Inglis and Matt Maher from university, while Myles Roberts-Bailey and Dan Thorne return.