A mixed set of results for this week’s rugby fixtures. Shiplake battled the elements on Saturday when they took on University College School. A tough day in the office for the 1st XV but the U15B's came out on top.
Rugby
1st XV 7-10 University College School
Year 13 pupil Callum Heppner-Logan provides the following report from the difficult, incredibly close match:
‘Last Saturday Shiplake faced UCS. In poor weather conditions, Shiplake knew a tight game plan was needed in order to get the winning result. The start of the match was very physical with big hits being put in all over the park. After 15 minutes, through poor decision making, UCS scored an interception try which was converted with ease. However, Shiplake responded well with some effective running lines resulting in Billy Sayers snipping over the line. The rest of the half was evenly contested.
Both sides came out fighting in the second half with replacements making an immediate impact for Shiplake. However, Shiplake lacked discipline throughout the second half conceding many penalties leading to UCS converting a penalty. This was to be the final points of the match. Shiplake responded well fighting hard to get the winning try but with a strong UCS defence, Shiplake were unable to score. To make things worse Shiplake's discipline was tested again leading to Dominic Allen getting yellow carded in the closing minutes. The match finished 10-7 to UCS.’
U15A 10-27 University College School
‘Still struggling on the injury front, Shiplake were on the back foot for much of the game. In sometimes atrocious conditions for handling the rugby ball, a dominant UCS pack kept the ball in their pack for extended periods of time and battered Shiplake into submission around the edges before launching any sort of attack out wide.
Resilient defence in the first half limited the opposition to two scores. However, up front, Shiplake could not maintain possession for any length of time to generate scoring opportunities for themselves. More of that same defence resilience was in action for most of the second half but in the end Shiplake ran out of steam conceding a further three tries.’
Mr Richard Curtis
U15B 27-0 University College School
‘The U15B went into Saturday’s game against UCS with a restructured back line and game plan, Isaac Neale being the new 10 pulling strings behind the scrum. The conditions that greeted them were utterly atrocious with strong winds and driving rain and it was apparent to all that it was never going to be a day to throw the ball around in the backs!
The driving game plan was therefore absolutely the right choice and the hard work the boys have put in over this term paid off with a determined assault on the UCS line using the pod system that the UCS defence found difficult to cope with. This abrasive style was rewarded by two tries for Tom Howlett who forced his way over the line from close range. Some indifferent defence in mid-field created spells of pressure for UCS, however the London team insisted of throwing the ball down the line and a combination of appalling weather, loose passes and fierce tackling denied UCS a score. Turning around at half time 10-0 to the good was a significant lead.
The second half produced much of the same, indifferent mid-field defence producing spells of pressure for UCS who in turn failed to convert pressure into points due to fierce defence and wrong tactics. With the wind now behind them, Shiplake enjoyed more attacking opportunities and despite the fact that the rain was incessant, both centres went over for tries and the forwards added another to the two they scored in the first half; the final score being 27-0.
There were several contenders for Man of the Match. Tom Howlett with his explosive first half performance certainly deserves an honourable mention. But the stand out player for the second game in a row was skipper Sam Hargreaves whose work ethic and physicality was a constant source of inspiration in defence and a constant source of turn-over possession.’
Mr Jonathan Gillespie-Payne
