Blues butt heads with Rams but come off second best

James McAvoy’s Newbury Blues kicked-off their new Regional 2 Tribute South Central season with a surprise 19-17 defeat to Warwickshire outfit Shipston-on-Stour.

“Any loss is always going to be disappointing when we have certain expectations, but there were lots of positives,” McAvoy said.

“There's no need to panic, it's round one, like we’ve always said, of 22.

“Teams will very, very rarely go undefeated all season, it’s a competitive league.

“Sometimes golfers will bogey the first hole and then go on to win a major, it happens.

“Shipston were a bit of an unknown, there can be no room for complacency, this has absolutely confirmed that.

“I have to say well done to Shipston, they came out and fought for the full 80 minutes.

“We were ahead multiple times but we couldn’t quite see out the game, we had multiple chances to win it, we had opportunities, we just didn’t execute.

“As match fitness and sharpness increase, execution will increase and that scoreline could look different, we could be having a different conversation.”

Blues had made a fantastic start in the Midlands, Harry Waye-Branch scoring two minutes in after they'd turned over a Rams lineout, 0-5.

Shipston responded well and went ahead 15 minutes later, collecting a clearing kick and breaking the Blues’ defensive line to touch down and score before the hosts’ fly-half sent his kick between the posts, 7-5.

McAvoy’s side had looked to regain the ascendancy, but it was Shipston who scored again 10 minutes later, making the most of a favourable bounce following a well-directed chip kick to score their second try of the first half, 12-5.

Blues started the second half well and, after a good spell of pressure, were rewarded when debutant Alex Harris went over following a powerful run from Michael Klichowicz, 12-10.

Four minutes later and the Blues had the lead when Waye-Branch scored his second try of the afternoon under the posts, allowing captain Dan Thorne to add two points from his boot with the conversion, 12-17.

There was to be one more twist in this exhilarating opening day contest, however, as the Rams retook the lead thanks to a converted score with 10 minutes left on the clock, 19-17.

The Blues were unable to fashion a clear-cut scoring chance before the referee’s final whistle, and so had to be content with a losing bonus point ahead of this week’s first home game against Stow on the Wold.

Stow will arrive at Monks Lane full of confidence, having beaten Swindon 29-0 on the opening weekend.

McAvoy said: "Everyone cannot wait for the first game back at Monks Lane, in front of a home crowd.

"It's a real buzz, hopefully we can make Monks Lane a real fortress.

"They had a fantastic result, they secured their bonus point, their defence was obviously excellent.

"We look at that and we see a challenge, we're determined to rise to that challenge, we'll raise our game."