Blues to take heart from defeat

Director of rugby, Andy Widdop, said his side could take positives from the narrow defeat to Oxford Harlequins

BLUES can take heart from their performance in the narrow defeat against Oxford Harlequins, according to the director of rugby.

Andy Widdop said his side could take several positives from the game at Monks Lane on Saturday, which saw Blues lose 15-10 having been in a winning position shortly after half time.

However, he said Blues really needed another score on the board when leading 10-3, adding that his side allowed Harlequins back into the game in the second half, with two tries seeing the visitors to victory.

He said: “Our levels dropped off a little bit, but it was just enough to let them back in and allow them to get further forward.

“We just didn't finish them off and we needed another score to make it more comfortable.”

Widdop said his side had targeted the fixture as one they could win to try and haul themselves out of trouble, adding that Blues' next home game against 12th-placed Amersham and Chiltern on January 14 now took on added importance.

Next up though for Blues is a tough looking fixture on January 7 away to fifth-placed Exmouth, who defeated Blues 44-36 at Monks Lane back in September.

“I would imagine that will be a tough game,” Widdop said.

“We haven't travelled that well - we have been well beaten away from home a couple of times.

“But in our last away game against Old Patesians we were in it at half time and we need to start building on that.

“The hill is getting steeper and steeper and we have got to beat Amersham and Chiltern on January 14.

“We will probably also need a surprise result somewhere, maybe at Exmouth.”