Four injuries hamper Newbury Blues in heavy Winchester loss

Newbury Blues lost heavily away to fourth placed Winchester on Saturday, but the score line didn’t tell the full story.

Blues started strongly, taking the lead in the fourth minute as Kyle Doel crashed through the Winchester lines to score.

The hosts levelled things up just a few minutes later, and the game remained an even contest for the period which followed.

Chances came and went, with Winchester taking theirs to make it 12-5 on the quarter-hour mark.

From here things went south for Newbury.

Tom Cole limped off with an injury, causing a reshuffle in the back line.

15-5 down at half-time, it was far from over for Blues, but fate had other ideas.

Miles Albert went off injured moments into the second-half, allowing Winchester to run up a 29-5 lead.

Harry Waye-Branch also suffered injury as the hosts continued to capitalise.

George Robinson-Slater was also forced to leave the field, leaving Blues a man short for the final 20 minutes.

This allowed the hosts to cruise to a 62-5 win, undoing Blues’ hard work in the first-half.

“They had some early pressure which we saw out very well,” said head coach James McAvoy.

“We got on the scoresheet first. I’ve been so impressed with the pack this year.

“We’ve tried to become a lot more clinical.

“Other teams have praised how we’ve been able to finish from ten metres out.

“We could’ve been 15-12 at half-time but the referee saw otherwise.

“But there are moments in games which shift momentum.”

Injuries changed Newbury’s fortunes on Saturday with four starters having to depart, causing disruption to the Newbury setup.

“Tom Cole was in at ten,” he said.

“He’s someone who’s developed hugely, he looked really comfortable.

“A knee injury which he’s had before may have recurred.

“That reshuffled the backline.

“The kicking from our players needs a bit of attention.

“We put ourselves under pressure. They came straight from kick off.

“I’ve looked into outside companies to come and do some bits with the boys.

“But the work rate is so much better from the boys.”

Newbury now have a weekend off, next hosting third place Tottonians on March 1st.

“Guildford managing to draw with Totts surprised everyone,” he said.

“The gap behind us has closed.

“But we’re still all going to play each other.

“It’s important that we get something out of the Totts game.”