McAvoy full of praise for Blues side after thumping win over Grove

Newbury Blues head coach James McAvoy said his side’s thumping 67-0 win over Grove was the perfect way to end their Regional 2 Tribute South Central season.

"It was a great way to end the season," he said.

"We weren't sure if the game was going to go ahead but credit to Grove for making it happen.

"We played with a lot of freedom, kept a clean sheet and put a lot of points on the board – it was a perfect end."

Blues beat Grove 36-27 in Oxfordshire in the reverse fixture and McAvoy said Saturday's dominant win was a sign of how much his team have improved throughout the campaign.

Although promotion was out of Blues reach, a bonus point win meant Newbury pipped Stow-on-the-Wold to third on points difference and McAvoy admitted he was satisfied with a top three finish.

He said: "We knew we needed to win with a bonus point to finish but we felt like the pressure was off.

"It might not have been the finish we'd hoped for at the very start of the season but given all the luck we've had with injuries, I think we can be happy with what we've achieved."

It was a unique afternoon for McAvoy in that he handed over some coaching responsibilities to skipper Dan Thorne and took to the field for a late cameo.

And it didn't take him long to make an impact as he stormed over underneath the posts five minutes after coming on to score Blues' final try of the league season.

"I couldn't resist," he said.

"It's credit to Dan on the sidelines and then the boys out on the pitch for putting me in the position to score."

The final day demolition was made all the more impressive by the fact Blues were without Thorne, his usual deputy Kris Ford and first choice props James Macaulay and Duncan Craigen.

McAvoy said: "We've got great strength in depth and so it's hard not to be excited about next season."