Credit for Blues in defeat

Despite losing to Taunton, Newbury Blues produced arguably their best performance of the season

Taunton 55 Newbury Blues 23

NEWBURY BLUES came away with no points but plenty of credit as they produced arguably their best performance of the season so far against a Taunton side that still harbours promotion hopes.

Blues were in contention throughout the first half, dominating for long spells up front and turning around only 17-12 adrift.

But a combination of Taunton's Jason Luff and Blues' lack of replacements – they had only three on the bench - saw them concede another half-century of points to leave them 25 points adrift of a National league Two South safety spot.

Winger Charlie Reynolds' early try was cancelled out by Newbury skipper Martin Freeman and although Luff and Kyle Giblett added further scores, Tom Fidler touched down for Blues with Oscar Matthews converting and Blues were well in the game, despite a try from Gary Kingdom at the start of the second period and the loss to an ankle injury of number eight Joe Kava.

Matthews struck a penalty but Taunton gradually moved clear with two more tries from Luff and others from Kingdom, Giblett and Gervais, although Blues bagged their own third when Fidler again powered home, although a bonus point fourth proved out be just out of reach of the visitors.