Blues hope to make it lucky eight

Chippenham trip sees Newbury bidding to end a run of seven successive setbacks

NEWBURY BLUES got to Chippenham hoping that it will be lucky eight as they bid to end a run of seven straight defeats.

They have yet to win this season as they seek to avoid a fourth successive relegation, and director of rugby Andy Widdop admits to feeling frustrated at performances, notably last week's 44-15 home defeat at the hands of Newton Abbot.

"We let ourselves down," he said, "especially in the last five minutes of the first half and first 15 of the second, while we butchered three good chances ourselves.

"It is just so frustrating."

Blues now go to a Chippenham side that was recently beneath them in the table, but which shot up the table on the back of two straight wins and are awaiting upon Isaac Nicholls, Richard Hooper, Alex Ashburner, Matt Maher, Jonathan Inglis, Myles Roberts Bailey and Alex Kane before Widdop can name his side.