Blues sign off at home

Buzzards wrap up Monks Lane league campaign as Newbury look for top five finish

NEWBURY BLUES are hoping to sign off at home for the season with a final flourish that could yet seal a top five finish in South West One East and a springboard for the next campaign.
They entertain a Leighton Buzzard side that is holding Blues outside the top six on points difference, but a win could send Blues to Maidenhead on the season's final day still in pursuit of that spot in the leading handful.
“It’s a big game for us,” said head coach Lee Goodall. “And a win on our home turf on a decent track could bring us to 70 points and then we can go to Maidenhead to enjoy ourselves.
“Potentially we could get fifth place, but if I’m honest it would be sixth. But if we can contain sixth place at 5pm on April 18th than I think we shall be satisfied with our achievements this season.”
Goodall admitted that the second half of the campaign had been disappointing compared to the first: “But we had a few personnel changes and the side dug in and ground out some results and one of the positives is that we are creating opportunities and the difference will be next year we’ve got to convert them.”
Blues are likely to have Josh Bartlett back in the ranks following injury while Paul Archer is away on a coaching course. “We are hopeful of a bumper crowd,” said Goodall. “and a nice day and that we can treat our loyal supporters to a performance they can be proud of.”
Blues already know most of next season’s line-up with Oxford Harlequins coming back down, High Wycombe and Swanage and Wareham returning and Salisbury and Aylesbury likely to be playing off for a place.