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McAvoy delighted as Newbury Blues seal first win since September




Newbury Blues head coach James McAvoy was delighted following his side’s win away to North Dorset on Saturday.

It was Newbury’s second win of the campaign, coming against a side who hadn’t lost at home all season.

Michael Klichowicz scored a second half try, before captain Dan Thorne converted for Blues.

Michael Klichowicz scores for Newbury blues - Photo: Peter Branch
Michael Klichowicz scores for Newbury blues - Photo: Peter Branch

It ended 10-5 to the visitors, leaving McAvoy to reflect on a much needed win, their first since September.

“We had this fixture down as a win,” he said.

“But we knew that would be difficult.

“When you look at North Dorset’s record as well, they’re unbeaten at home for two and a half years!

“So we knew we would have a physical test.

“This was the kind of physical showing that we needed.”

Newbury Blues' Man of the Match Josh Bartlett - Photo: Peter Branch
Newbury Blues' Man of the Match Josh Bartlett - Photo: Peter Branch

This season has been a challenging one, with Blues still third from bottom, but McAvoy has always remained optimistic.

“We’ve got a simple policy of getting the ball in the hands of our most destructive runners,” he explained.

“It sounds simple, but you’ve still got to find them!

“We’d like to put teams to the sword a little bit more.

“But at this level it’s defence that wins games.

“At times we’ve lacked the physical intent to go up against teams for the full eighty.”

Newbury Blues' Harry Edwards - Photo: Peter Branch
Newbury Blues' Harry Edwards - Photo: Peter Branch

McAvoy has worked hard this season to maintain a level of belief within the squad, with poor results threatening to dent the side’s confidence.

“Just because you’ve had a failure, it doesn’t mean you are a failure,” he said.

“Your performance is not you as a person. That’s important.

“Although there have been failings from a win loss point of view, that does not mean the players are failing.

“We’ve had to get better, but there’s a lot of things we’re really good at.

“The way that we train and the way that we play go hand in hand.

“Hopefully this will act as the evidence some guys might have needed to push into the next block of games.”



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