Blues out to push back fellow challengers

Earlier defeat a 'tipping point' in Blues' recent surge

NEWBURY BLUES take on one of the teams pressing them for the end of season promotion play-off place in South West One East when they entertain Witney at Monks Lane on Saturday.

The Oxfordshire side dealt Blues their heaviest defeat of the season when winning 31-8 in November, but that reverse was seen as a turning point by head coach Lee Goodall.

“That was the tipping point of our season,” he said, “because the followng week we changed the way we play and we have gone on from there.”

Blues are boasting a seven-match unbeaten run that makes them a ‘form’ side; “although that means everyone wants to shoot us down,” said Goodall.

Blues will be without injured fly half Ryan Trevaskis and Jack Walsh is shortly to return to New Zealand, but are otherwise at strength and have resigned former flanker Ollie Spanswick from Henley, and he is likely to feature for the second XV at home to Marlow on Saturday.