Shiplake rugby teams enjoyed four wins and two losses this week in an entertaining round of fixtures. On Tuesday, the junior age groups took on Forest School and Claires Court while on Wednesday two senior teams hosted Reading School. The highlight of the week, though, was the finale of this year's 3rd XV Seccombe Shield test series. The match proved to be another thrilling encounter against local rivals Pangbourne College, with the Shiplake boys coming out on top to claim glory with the very last play of the game.
Shiplake U17 Development XV 22-0 Reading School
The match started well with good hands and support runners moving Shiplake up the pitch. However, with Reading’s strong forwards holding the line we found out we would have to work to make the breaks needed.
With good set play from the backs up into their 5m line we found our first try through Callum Heppner-Logan. The strong performance continued with good tackles from Billy Sayers and Ben Arnold and a good overall defensive line we held them back and denied entry into our 22.
Through a penalty and quick breaks up the field we earned our second try through Charlie Sichel, after a quick pick up through the middle of the ruck. This made the game 12-0 after a conversion from Harry Ibbitson.
The second half continued with a similar pattern with great running from Alex Ward meaning we continued to creep up the field. After a quick pass from Billy Sayers into the back line, Zach Heppner-Logan made light work of the defending line creating a inside ball for Charlie Sichel to score once again leaving the score 17-0.
With only about 15 minutes to go we held our own and stayed in their 22 for the majority of the game. Charlie Sichel completed his hat-trick after a good inside ball once more from Harry Ibbitson. Ibbitson’s perfectly executed dummy was enough to trick the defence. The match was a great team effort from the entire squad and fully deserved the win, however different decisions and plays could of made the score even better.
Charlie Sichel (Sixth Form pupil)
More photos from the match can be viewed in our media gallery (click on camera icon at the bottom of the menu).
Shiplake 3rd XV 21-19 Pangbourne College
With the three match Seccombe Shield test series delicately poised at 1-0 following an epic 12-12 draw in the 2nd Test, this match was set to be a tense affair.
After changing in a shed, Shiplake went straight out for kick off. Referee Simon Cane-Hardy, former Shiplake teacher, was not in a charitable mood and was soon penalising the Shiplake pack. Pressure mounted and Pangbourne struck first with a well worked score in the corner to make it 5-0. Shiplake responded well with hooker Toby Brough leading the charge. After a decisive run from Tom Riches, Shiplake spun the ball wide for Brough to crash over. Connor Cummings converted to make it 7-5 in his side’s favour.
However sloppy defending saw us concede almost immediately and go into the break 12-7 down. Some harsh words from skipper George Atkinson (who had forgotten most of his kit) at half time saw us come out fighting and with the impressive Sam Hallatt stealing line out ball and Jack Turner making yards in the backs, Shiplake were in the ascendancy. After another powerful Turner break, Brough was on hand to score his second try. Cummings again converted from wide out to make it 14-12.
Again however Pangbourne came back and they brought on some firepower to bolster the backs. This had an immediate impact as they scored a well worked converted try to make it 19-14 to Pangbourne with ten minutes to go. Shiplake suddenly realised the prospect of sharing the General Seccombe Shield was not a good one and woke up. Substitute Fred Ellis was distributing the ball well at inside centre and he was finding space for Riches, Turner and Jonny Meadows to exploit.
With one minute to go Pangbourne had a line out in their own 22, which was stolen brilliantly by Hallatt. Shiplake surged forward with Guy Pollard and Chris Drobik almost going over, but patience was rewarded when scrum half Sam Mummery saw an overlap on the right. He fed Cummings who released Riches to score in the right hand corner with the last play of the game. Cummings stepped up to slot over the conversion to steal the game for Shiplake at the death.
A 2-0 series victory to Shiplake does not reflect the closeness of the sides and the spirit the matches were played in was superb. Both teams are looking forward to next year's series.
Mr Howorth
Shiplake U14A 29-31 Forest School
What a frustrating afternoon this proved to be, as Shiplake controlled the game yet failed to win.
We have only ourselves to blame for this, dominating possession and putting together several sets of 10+ phases. This meant that we worked tremendously hard for our tries. Forest, however, were not made to work for their scores as poor tackling and at times complete naivety meant tries were leaked from areas of the pitch which should have been controlled by us.
The boys must understand that the fundamental rule of rugby is to go forward! At times we failed to do this offloading unnecessarily or perhaps even shirking responsibility. Hopefully the boys have learned that missing tackles at this age is game changing and unforgiving. I have no doubt that we will bounce back in big fixtures against Seaford this Saturday and Marlborough school next Tuesday in the Oxfordshire County Cup Final.
Mr Gaunt
Shiplake U13A 41-24 Claires Court School
The U13 team certainly used the luxury of the width afforded by the 1st XV pitch to their advantage in an impressive win against Claires Court on Tuesday.
An early lead provided by tries from Rocks and Diez-Harrison somewhat lulled the team into a false sense of security, with the opposition coming back strongly. Shiplake failed to cover its flanks and two tries were conceded due to poor marking in the backs.
However, the team showed great strength of character and good discipline by bouncing back quickly. Further tries from the original scorers edged Shiplake back into the lead. Some excellent forward interchanges, strong rucking and quick service from scrum-half Jones lead to the try of the match; a wonderful team effort from the halfway line The ball passed through at least eight sets of hands. Excellent leadership from skipper Diez-Harrison and others (Walne, Porter, Hjortland-Marks and Rivett in particular) made for a very satisfying victory over tough opposition.
Mr Brown
