McAvoy's Blues all set ahead of Shipston season opener

James McAvoy's Newbury Blues begin their South West Division Regional 2 South Central season this weekend with a 140 mile round trip to Shipston-on-Stour.

The Blues beat Basingstoke two weeks ago and celebrated the end of pre-season last week ahead of a new season that McAvoy has billed as a "22 round fight".

McAvoy's men trained this week on Tuesday and Thursday in anticipation of a difficult test in Warwickshire on Saturday.

"We celebrated the end of the pre-season, it was great, it capped off what's seemed like one big pre-season block," McAvoy said.

"This week feels special, it's the start of something new and exciting.

"On Tuesday we start out with performance analysis, we have a video session, we'll be focusing on what we've learned from pre-season.

"We'll do some skill development, we'll look at attack and defence.

"Then we go into our game model, we'll do longer games to work on endurance.

"Our squads are released on Wednesday, we've got two exciting games, the Stags are at home to Aldermaston and the first team travel to Shipston.

"Thursday's session will be more player-led, we'll step away as coaches and the boys can focus on themselves and their units.

"We'll come together for some game situations, the captains and the leadership group will lead the run-throughs.

"This league, with the teams in it, we probably know less about the opposition than we have done in previous years.

"We know what Maidenhead are, Bracknell, Banbury, but when it comes to Stow-on-the-Wold, Shipston, Devizes, no idea.

"For us, we'll be focusing on our strengths, we won't worry about the opposition."

Newbury's opening day trip to Shipston represents their longest journey of the campaign – and McAvoy has made the decision to allow his squad to make their own travel arrangements.

"On Friday, there's an optional strength and conditioning session," McAvoy said.

"It's easy to get nervous, I know what I was like as a player, I want them to start moving and relaxing.

"We've made the choice not to have a coach this Saturday, I think players enjoy their own routines, their own music, their own cars.

"We're really, really excited to have this first test, this first round.

"I'll be looking for the boys to play through their zones, to show off their defence and to be clinical in attack."

Newbury's first home game follows next week with the visit of Stow-on-the-Wold before the Blues travel to Marlborough on September 17.