Blues blitz Witney and move up to third

Newbury Blues returned to winning ways with an impressive 33-12 win over high-flying Witney, all while raising money for Newbury Cancer Care through the club’s annual Pink Day.

This was not an upset as such although the visitors had beaten Blues 15-14 in the Cotswolds earlier in the season and arrived at Monks Lane third in the Regional 2 Tribute South Central table, while Blues were beaten by league leaders Marlborough last time out, bringing to an end a run of three straight wins.

However, the Oxfordshire side are not the same team on the road as at their Hailey Road home – Witney have won eight of their nine games on home turf but arrived in Berkshire having lost five of their eight away games prior to kick off.

Head coach James McAvoy handed a debut to second row Alex Du Sautoy, who became the 46th player to don the blue, or in this case pink, of Newbury’s first team this season as onlookers wore their best and brightest pink outfits in support of the club’s annual fundraising drive.

Blues blitzed their travel-sick visitors in the first half, scoring three unanswered tries before the break as the hosts went in with a 19-0 half time lead.

Full back Jamie Futcher crossed in the sixth minute, Jonathan Lees piled over in the 14th and Toby Thorne scored for the second week in a row when he touched down after 20 minutes.

Captain Dan Thorne had his kicking boots on, nailing two conversions as his side raced into a 19-0 lead at the midpoint of the first half.

The visitors managed to regroup and there were no points scored for 20 minutes before half time but the home side had a fourth try two minutes after the restart when Kris Ford, one of Blues’ standout players this season, showed the Witney defence a clean pair of heels and a bright pink behind as he launched over the whitewash to extend his team’s lead.

Thorne was successful again with the kick and the score was 26-0 as Blues wrapped up a bonus point before McAvoy made four changes.

One of those newly introduced was Harry Isaac, who announced his arrival just four minutes after coming on, crossing for Blues’ fifth and final score of the afternoon in the 52nd minute.

Thorne made sure of his own four-star performance when he kicked his fifth conversion in a row and although the visitors showed some grit and determination to get on the scoresheet, scoring two tries of their own, the result was never in doubt as Blues moved above their rivals and into third with McAvoy’s men having played a game less than Witney.

Second placed Stow-on-the-Wold are next in Blues’ sights, and McAvoy and his team will be looking to close the four-point gap when mid-table Reading come to Monks Lane on Saturday as part of an exciting double-header that will see both Blues and Stags play back-to-back.

"I was told beforehand that we'd never lost a Pink Day and I was a bit worried that'd be a jinx but we're delighted to continue that record," McAvoy said.

"We know Witney's away record isn't as good as at home, but they beat us at Monks lane last season so we were full of respect for them.

"The whole day was such a success, in terms of raising money for Newbury Cancer Care and putting smiles on faces with a dominant first half performance.

"We're trying to come out and play expansive rugby, we've looked at other ways we can be successful but playing with freedom is the Newbury blueprint, and when we do that we can put points on the board quickly.

"I'm not really paying too much attention to the league table but it's nice, a lot's riding on the next couple of weeks so let's see where we are."