Blues travelled to Teignmouth and just edge it in a great see saw game of rugby, Blues were 32-10 ahead on 58mins, Teignmouth staged a great fightback to make it 32-32 at full time the Teignmouth conversion that would have won the game just went wide, extra time 10 mins each way, Teignmouth strike first getting a first half try to lead 37-32, Blues strike back in the 2nd half with 3 mins of extra time left Tom Cole scoring under the posts Dan Thorne slots the winning conversion 37-39, Nervy final few minute but Blues hold on to make the final, a great squad performance

Blues kick off on a warm sunny Devon afternoon and manage to get hold of the ball but have soon concede a penalty at the tackle, Teignmouth kick to touch on half way win their lineout and attack, Blues steal the ball at the tackle but soon lose it allowing Teignmouth to run at Blues and get a penalty which is kicked to touch in Blues 22.
Lineout won their forwards maul before the ball is spread wide and they get a penalty, Teignmouth play the advantage getting up to the try line and over but are held up giving Blues a try line drop out, Teignmouth gather and a long drop goal attempt is wide giving Blues a 22 drop out, Teignmouth gather and a good kick rolls into touch just outside Blues 22, lineout won Blues forwards maul before the ball is cleared to touch still in Blues half.
Teignmouth attack from their lineout taking play wide across the pitch and back before a knock on gives Blues a 5m defensive scrum, Blues win their scrum and try running out of defence before kicking clear, Teignmouth gather and return the kick which rolls dead so back for a Blues scrum on Teignmouth’s 40m line, Blues attack from their scrum getting into Teignmouth’s 22 and put in a grubber kick and chase, Teignmouth get a penalty which is kicked to touch on their 40m line, lineout won Teignmouth keep the ball live through hands to score, the conversion is wide, 12 mins 5-0

Blues restart and soon have a penalty which is kicked to touch, Blues win an untidy lineout and attack getting a scrum, Blues attack and Oli Rhoads runs through the defence to score wide out left, the long conversion is wide, 16mins 5-5

Teignmouth kick off and get hold of the ball, they put a kick into Blues 22, Blues gather and clear to touch, Blues manage to steal the lineout and run before putting in a chip kick which they gather and keep the attack going forwards, a forward pass halts their progress still in their own half, Teignmouth attack from their scrum but a knock on halts their progress and gives Blues a scrum, a big shove from Blues pack earns a penalty which is kicked to touch in Teignmouth’s territory, lineout won Teignmouth attack, injury time out.

Dylan Stewart off Charlie Lewis on 25mins

Teignmouth restart with a scrum and run at Blues who get a penalty at the tackle, Blues kick to touch just outside Teignmouth’s 22, Teignmouth steal the lineout and chip kick, Blues gather and take play into Teignmouth’s 22, play is taken across the pitch and Blues get a penalty, Dan Thorne slots the ball between the posts, 5-8 29mins

Teignmouth kick off Blues gather and kick, a good chase results in them getting the ball, some good interplay between Jamie Futcher and Jonny Lees makes good ground taking play into Teignmouth’s 22, Blues keep the ball live and a neat kick from Dan Thorne is touched down by Oli Rhoads, Dan Thorne adds the conversion 32 mins, 5-15

Teignmouth restart, Blues gather and run taking play across the pitch, Teignmouth get a penalty at the tackle which is kicked to touch in Blues 22, lineout won Teignmouth attack taking play across the pitch and back to score wide left and get a penalty, the conversion is wide, 38mins 10-15

Teignmouth restart with a penalty which is kicked to touch in Blues 22, lineout won their forwards maul making ground before it collapse’s, Teignmouth get the penalty and Blues a yellow card, Teignmouth kick to touch deep in Blues 22, Blues steal the lineout and clear to touch to bring the half time whistle, a great competitive first half with good rugby served up by both sides

Teignmouth kick off the second half, Blues gather and return the kick, Teignmouth gather and run a knock on gives Blues possession they play the advantage and soon have a penalty and soon have another, Teignmouth get a yellow, Blues kick to touch, lineout won Blues spread the ball wide and Oli Rhoads breaks the tackles to score wide left, the long conversion is wide, 10-20 45 mins

Teignmouth restart Blues gather and run a long pass from Dan Thorne gives Jamie Futcher space to take play into Teignmouth’s 22 before a neat inside pass lets Jonny Lees free to score Dan Thorne adds the conversion 47mins 10-27

Teignmouth kick off Blues gather and take play back to halfway where they get a penalty which is kicked to touch, lineout won Blues attack taking across the pitch and back before a crossfield kick is caught by Harry Waye-Branch at full pace and he is over to score wide left, 54 mins 10-32

Euan Lindsay on Toby Thorne off

Teignmouth kick off Blues return the kick, Teignmouth gather and attack taking play across the pitch and into Blues 22, they keep the ball live getting up to the try line and get a penalty, they tap and go and their forwards pick and drive but are held up over the line, Blues take the try line drop out, Teignmouth gather and attack, Blues mange to steal the ball and clear to touch still in their own 22, lineout won Teignmouth attack taking play through phases across the pitch to score wide right, the conversion is wide 60mins 15-32

Blues restart Teignmouth take play to halfway and get a penalty which is kicked to Touch

Ashley Doel off Seb Burgess on 61mins

Lineout won Teignmouth maul getting a penalty try and Blues a yellow card, 62 mins 22-32

Blues kick off, Teignmouth take play back to half way and get a penalty which is kicked to touch on Blues 22, Teignmouth now have their tails up and putting pressure on Blues defence, lineout won they again maul and soon have a penalty and Blues a yellow, Blues are now down to 13 players and under severe pressure, Teignmouth tap and go putting pressure on Blues defence, Blues get a penalty scrum

Tom Haynes on Seb Burgess off 64 mins

Teignmouth shove Blues 7-man pack back and get the ball, they attack and get over the line, after a long discussion between ref and touch judge the try is given, the conversion is wide, 69 mins 27-32

Blues kick off Teignmouth gather and run before kicking Blues gather and soon return the kick, Teignmouth run back at Blues and soon have a penalty which is kicked to touch in Blues 22, Blues manage to steal Teignmouth’s lineout and get a penalty which is kicked to touch. Teignmouth steal the lineout and attack, Blues defence holds firm and they steal possession and kick up field Teignmouth gather and run back into Blues half, Blues again manage to steal the ball and a kick rolls into touch in Teignmouth’s half
Blues yellow back on, Seb Burgess on Tom Haynes off 73 mins

Lineout won Teignmouth attack and get a penalty which they kick to touch just in Blues half

Jonny Lees off Will Osborne on 75 mins

Teignmouth win their lineout and run the ball taking play wide and back they make progress getting up to Blues 22, Blues defence manage to push them back but Teignmouth keep the ball and after numerous phases get into Blues 22, eventually Teignmouth make the break through and score close to the posts an easy kick to win the game, the kick is missed 32-32 and the final whistle. Greta comeback from Teignmouth.

The ref and touch judges chat and confirm the game now goes into extra time 10mins each way

Blues kick off the first half of extra time, Teignmouth gather and clear to touch on their own 22, lineout won Blues attack but concede a penalty scrum in Teignmouth’s 22, scrum won Teignmouth attack taking play up to Blues 22 before being tackled into touch, Teignmouth steal Blues lineout and spread the ball wide to score wide left, the conversion is wide 85 mins 37-32

Blues restart and get hold of the ball, Blues attack but cough up possession, Teignmouth take play up to Blues 22 before losing the ball, Blues run out of defence across the pitch and get a penalty which is kicked to touch in Teignmouth’s half

Jonny Lees on Duncan Craigen off 88 mins

Lineout won Blues attack through several phases get a penalty, Blues elect to kick at the posts and it is just wide bringing the end of the first half

Teignmouth kick off the second half Blues gather and return the kick, Teignmouth gather and run but lose possession, Blues attack spreading the ball through hands, Blues get a penalty and there is an injury time out, Blues kick the Penalty into touch, lineout won Blues mount another attack getting a penalty scrum in Teignmouth’s 22, scrum is reset, Blues win their scrum and a neat pass from Dan Thorne means Tom Cole cuts a great line to split the defenders and score under the posts, Dan Thorne kicks the conversion and Blues are back in front, 37-39 96 mins

Teignmouth restart Blues return the kick, Teignmouth run back at Blues but concede a penalty scrum on half way, scrum won Blues run the ball, Teignmouth steal at the tackle but Blues do the same and get a penalty, Blues kick doesn’t find touch, Teignmouth run out of defence but knock on in their 22, Blues win their scrum and attack but knock on giving Teignmouth a 5m defensive scrum, Teignmouth run out of defence getting up to half way before losing the ball Blues kick it out and the final whistle is blown. Blues win a great game of cup rugby by the finest of margins, a game neither team deserved to lose

Big thanks to Teignmouth for hosting us much appreciated

Thanks to the Ref and touch judges who kept control of the game

Newbury Blues Squad

Ben Hicks, Harry Waye-Branch (VC), George Robinson-Slater, Duncan Craigen, Ashley Doel,
Alex Du-Sautoy, Dylan Stewart, Jonny Lees
Toby Thorne, Dan Thorne (C), Michael Klichowicz, Ali Magee, Oli Rhoads, Jamie Futcher (VC), Tom Cole.
Tom Haynes, Louis Carnell, Seb Burgess, Charlie Lewis, Euan Lindsay, Will Osborne.

Next cup Fixtures is

Sunday 12th May
Papa John’s Cup South Shield Final
Gravesend v Newbury 5pm KO
Venue is Dings Crusaders RFC Ground
Shaftesbury Park, Frenchay, Bristol South, Gloucestershire BS16 1LG
Entry is Free

The team will be travelling by coach so if you want to travel on the team coach, please book your seat with NRFC reception 01635230023

Big thanks to the faithful Blues supporters who made the long journey to Teignmouth

Big thanks to our match day photographer Peter Branch whose photos can be found on Facebook Newbury RFC Seniors Supporters Photography Page. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063526195463

Big thanks to all our Player Sponsors and our Club Sponsors, your support is much appreciated

Big thanks to Kennet Radio for their support, https://kennetradio.com