Blues outgun Witney in Futcher’s final game in charge
NEWBURY Blues head coach James McAvoy paid tribute to long-serving team manager Mick Futcher, who signed off with a win in his final game at Monks Lane.
Futcher is stepping down after years in charge of the team and steered Blues to an 18-13 win over Witney - a result that ensures their survival in Regional 2 South Central.
And McAvoy said: “Mick is 100-per-cent a club man - if you cut him, he bleeds blue - and is going to be very hard to replace.
“In my three years here, Mick has made my introduction and work at the club a lot easier.”
While Futcher was bowing out in style, two other long-serving players were honoured.
Josh Winfield was winning his 200th cap for Blues, while Toby Thorne clocked up his 202nd appearance.
And they both played their part in an impressive victory.
McAvoy said: “It was a good win and and we owed that opposition after the result at their place.
“It was a bit of a special day - the last home game of the season, there was a big crowd and we had over 200 booked in for lunch.”
On the pitch, Blues started brightly and went ahead when George Robinson-Slater got on the end of a chip and chase to touch down.
Blues extended their lead to 12-0, and then produced a battling defensive display to keep Witney at arm’s length.
And they had to work hard for the win after conceding 25 penalties and picking up three yellow cards.
McAvoy said: “We adopted a high level of line speed and got caught offside a few times, but I was happy with how we defended, particularly our maul defence.”
McAvoy is now looking forward to the end of the campaign.
They wrap up the league season at bottom club Reading on April 6, safe in the knowledge that they can’t go down.
And then it’s on to the Papa Johns Cup.
This is the second year of the competition that pits teams of similar abilities against each other in a straight knockout.
Blues were handed a bye after Devizes pulled out and they will face the winner of either Reading or Salisbury on April 20.
