National Division 1.  Round 14.  1st December  2007

 K.O. 3:00 pm

Result Northampton Saints 24 Newbury Blues 23

Report by Aidan Preece  - Photos courtesy Simon Robinson

They would have to deal with yet another bunch of half baked kids who thought they could come into town and steal their rightful place amongst the hardest of hardest gunslingers.

The saloon doors twisted and creaked in an ice cold wind that blew across the room, the long shadows of the Newbury boys seemingly dimming the already dull light of a dreary winter afternoon.

 The locals shuffled in to their positions in the corners of the room with half a gleeful eye, they'd seen a similar confrontation last week when the Coventry Boys had been sent packing, despatched by Northampton's "The Kid" Ashton. The undertaker wasn't far away measuring up the Newbury boys with his sharp eye and wondering how many more would fall at the hands of the Northampton boys.

Fair enough, guys like Newbury's Walsh and Rees had fine reputations around town and had helped despatch all three of their last opponents but surely they where never going to threaten Northampton's toughened campaigners? Little did anyone realise how close they would come to putting an end to the Northampton boys on their own turf.

"The Kid" was first to rise from his place, his distinctive gait and step confusing the Newbury boys as he moved quickly but the Newbury boys were ready for the confrontation and blocked the snorting Ashton in his tracks.

Moments later and leader Reihana was on to his feet and forcing his way in behind the defence, the gritty Myler following up and punishing Newbury with the first blow, 3-0.

The fight was on and "The Kid" waded in again on thirteen minutes finishing off a fumbled move as the big boys seemed intent on making it as hard as possible. Only Fox breaking free from his opponents grip to forge his way forward allowed the room needed by "The Kid" to land his punch, right between the posts, Myler with the additional two.

But the Newbury boys weren't going to lie down, they were strong and forceful and the strongest of their men put the Northampton boys on the back foot, wave after wave of concerted blows helped force a shocked Northampton back. These Newbury boys were quick and accurate and they took their chance after patiently waiting for a weakness to be exposed. Abbott going over the line at the foot of the post.

Rocked by this surge from the opposition the Northampton boys staggered about a touch dazed by the blows that had been delivered, they scrabbled about on the floor trying to regain some composure but were struck down by a further advance, the aforementioned Walsh levelling things up at ten apiece by firing over a drop goal.

The Newbury boys appeared to be more streetwise than Northampton had wagered for and often little blocks and off the ball tackles went unnoticed by the sheriff and his deputies, indeed he saw fit to hand the advantage to the visitors just before halftime and right in front of the posts. 10 - 13.

The Northampton boys were in a fight alright, bloodied and bruised but with complacency apparently put to one side they immediately came out fighting after the break, The mighty Tonga'uiha who was both adept and inept in equal measure allowed brothers Clark and Diggin to gang up on the defence and finish off a concerted attack.  This was the beginning of the end for Newbury surely? The boys were back and more focused than before, the undertaker was searching for his tape ready to take some final measurements and the preacher was paying the sexton to dig the graves.

But Newbury had other ideas and within six minutes were back to within a point after a penalty, again they came hard at Northampton and were unlucky not return with even more after a sustained period of pressure.

Into the final twenty and Reihana finally nails an opportunity after a patient build up by the front men. Myler splitting the sticks for the extra points, 24 - 16. 

Newbury refused to take a backward step and "The Kid" upset the sheriff using tricks he had learnt in the Northern States. The Newbury boys had a real sharp shooter in Simpson-Daniel and runners that made some decisive cuts through an often wayward Northampton defence but it was the two big Northampton men Tupai and Tonga'uiha who shot at each other and in the end and handed an interception to Newbury's Hylton. 24 - 23.

There was still time for Northampton to finish the brawl with a fourth try and a bonus point, but instead the sheriff saw fit to hand the advantage back to Newbury who thankfully for Northampton were happy to settle for a losing bonus.

As the dust settled across the now darkened stage the Northampton boys picked themselves off the floor and dusted themselves down, spitting the blood and sawdust from their mouths as they turned to each other and looked each other in the eye, they knew that they had been close to losing it. Newbury on the other hand left town with a well deserved swagger.

Teams:
Northampton Saints - Reihana (capt); Ashton, Clarke, Myler, Diggin; Spencer, Robinson (Vass 62mins); Tonga'uiha, Shields, Stewart (Murray 62mins), Short, Rae, Tupai, Fox, Easter.

Newbury Blues - Nutt; Henderson, Ashwin, Reay, Rees (Hylton 66mins); Walsh (capt), Smaje (Simpson-Daniel 40mins); Irish, Fincken, Thompson (Carter 63mins), Hayter, Radbourne (Ascroft-Leigh 57mins), Morgan, Abbott, Brown.

Scorers:
Northampton Saints - Tries: Ashton, Diggin, Reihana; Cons: Myler (3); Pen: Myler.

Newbury Blues - Tries: Abbott, Hylton; Cons: Ashwin (2); Pen: Ashwin; Drop-goal: Walsh.

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