Blues have to shake off a nightmare week

Colts put to provide a lift as first team faces another daunting derby date at Henley

NEWBURY BLUES crashed out of the Berkshire Knock-Out Cup in midweek to lower league opposition to cap a nightmare week for the National League Two South whipping boys.

Having lost by a record 99-0 at home to Jersey on Saturday, Blues were hoping to boost morale against Redingensians from a division lower. But the Reading side added another battering to Blues' list with a one-sided 54-19 win at Monks Lane to take their place in the Berkshire Cup final.

It was a salutary lesson for Blues' players, according to director of rugby Andy Widdop.

"That is what they are going to have to face next season. It's a different sort of rugby and there is no getting away from it," he said.

"We were just awful in the first half on Tuesday and I let them know that."

Prop Tom Fidler scored a hat-trick of tries but Blues could make not progress against a Redingensians side that ended the game with only 12 men.

And now Blues' own resources will be sretched when they face another derby date at Henley on Saturday. Skipper Martin Freeman and seocnd row Andy Cannock are away for two weeks, Iain Herriott is also a doubt with atwiested knee and Ben West, Ollie Spanswick and Tom Sanders will all be rested for Sunday's National Colts Cup tie with Hornets at Monks Lane.

That provides a glimmer of hope for Blues' future, and Widdop is anxious to assist the Colts squad as much as possible as coaches Matt Styles and Neil Collins take Newbury into quarter-final action against their Weston-Super Mare opponents at 2pm.

"It is important to the club's future that the Colts go as far as they can," said Widdop, who may have to field a severely weakened benchg at Henley.

Newbury's under 17s are also in action on Sunday in their competition, facing Hucclecote in the South West regional semi-finals.