Blues face daunting run

Newbury Blues will take on promotion-chasing Richmond on Saturday to kick off a run of daunting tests

NEWBURY BLUES face the first in a run of daunting tests when they go to promotion-chasing Richmond on Saturday.

The former giants are opening their 150th anniversary season and go into the game on the back of a 12-match winning streak that got under way when they won 81-7 at Newbury in September.

Newbury go on to face Ealing, Taunton and Southend over the ensuing four weeks, all of whom have already put Blues to the sword this term.

"They are going to be tough games," said director of rugby Andy Widdop. "We can't expect to overturn 90-point deficits, but if it means having to go for four tries, so be it."

Newbury will have new boy Joe Kava in action at Richmond, but winger Iain Herriott misses out. Long-term injury absentees Liam Perkins, Nathan Thomas and Jack Taggart are also back in training, but only Thomas is likely to be back in the near future.