A mixed bag this week for Shiplake – after travelling to take on opponents from Seaford College, some teams performed admirably whilst some found the rivals too strong to beat. A couple of heavy losses sustained but some equally brilliant victories; a week that all teams will learn from!

Rugby

2nd XV 12-19 Seaford College

‘"That is a damn good side you've got there" quipped Mr Dix in the staff common room while I typed up the 2s teamsheet for the arrival of Seaford. And Mr Dix would know. He has been a Shiplake coaching stalwart for well over a decade and has seen some quality players make the move from 16s to seniors rugby. I could not help but agree wholeheartedly with the coaching veteran, however I also knew the team would face a much sterner test as the men from West Sussex made the trip to Henley. Yes, this Shiplake team were good so far this season, but could they be great?

That is not a question which can be answered definitively after three games into a season. Only time will tell what they can become. So when the home side fell to a 12 point deficit and Seaford were gaining momentum, things were looking ominous for the Shiplake 2s. Early injuries to Brad Wilkins, Ben Monson and Ollie Potter meant the bench was called on as Freddie Bowcock, Spencer Smith and 2s debutant Justin Van Vuuren stepped unto the breach. The gauntlet had firmly been thrown down. This is where the team's true character and spirit would come to the fore. They could front up and dig in for the fight or they could roll over and give up. Off the next play, we had our answer.

Will Thomsett and Seb Rivett lit up one of Seaford's big ball carriers and the subsequent rucks were hit with a ferocity the game had not yet seen. The tide was turning. Now Shiplake played with an intensity the visitors struggled to match. Quick possession, deep in enemy territory, had Shiplake in the ascendancy. Seaford were on the ropes as Jack Douglas, Freddie Davis and Tom Paine smashed into the defensive wall that was desperate to hang on till half-time. A pick from the base of the scrum by George Emeny had him over the line but Seaford swarmed and kept the big-man up and he was unable to ground the ball. It looked like the visitors would get their reprieve.

After they had audaciously tried to run it out from under their own posts, Seaford had recycled the ball a few phases and just needed to clear their lines and get the ball off the park. An infringement gave Shiplake a penalty 10m out. Scrum half Harry Rees could have tapped and popped to any of the pack who were hungry for a score but it was James Vizard who crashed over the line with his team-mates hot on his heels. Sam Wisley added the extras and it was 7-12, half-time and game on.

Shiplake started the second half as they had finished the first, and started to dictate the pace of the game. The Seaford defence was as tough as it was resolute and Shiplake struggled to cross the line. Promising breaks from the dynamic centre partnership of the two Wills - Parton and Gresswell -meant danger for the Seaford backline everytime these men touched the ball. Sam Wisely - who was so dangerous with ball in hand at fullback - now was marshalling the game from outhalf. His distribution was as good as his ability to beat the first defender and he kept his opposite number on his toes. Returning to the action, Ben Monson was discombobulating the Seaford chase who could not get a hand on him first time when they kicked to the quick stepping fullback. The backs were beginning to match the fire that we had seen from the pack.

Eventually the visitors' line was breached when Wisely worked his way over after Shiplake had been hammering on the door for some time. 12-12 and it was all to play for now. A week previously, Shiplake learned that two minutes is plenty of time to change the face of a game. Unfortunately this week, it would be the home side who would have to be the team to suffer at the hands of a late score. When Seaford worked the ball wide and stretched the home team's defence, it seemed almost inevitable they would score. The try that sealed the fixture came three minutes from time and the expertly taken conversion from the touchline meant a draw was the best for which Shiplake could hope. Seaford were a well worked outfit who were too streetwise to let a lead slip at that stage. They fielded the restart perfectly and launched the ball deep into Shiplake territory and watched the clock tick down. A few desperate attempts to break from their own line were thwarted and Seaford's resilience and nous won the game and the day.

Despite the crushing disappointment of losing having fought so valiantly back into a fixture that seemed beyond them, the mood amongst the Shiplake side was upbeat and proud. This is a side who value performance over result; who celebrate the team over the individual and; who focus on the process over the end goal.

This was a worthy win for the visitors but it was an invaluable experience for a home team not happy with just being good but striving to be great.’

Mr David Sharkey

U16B 26-19 Seaford College

Thank you to Mr Alex Duncan and Mr George Miller for the following report:

‘After a long bus trip the boys were told they had time to jog the journey out of their legs and get fired up for what turned out to be an epic encounter. After 20 minutes, that jog seemed to have failed as we found ourselves 19-0 down with three tries from Seaford’s outside centre. From the next restart, however, we clicked into gear and following a series of pick-and-goes from the base of rucks, the space was created and Ben Dinsdale flew over in the left corner. Brooks’ conversion hit the bar so it was 19-5. With Shiplake now on top in the game, the confidence rose and very soon after Ollie Heap tiptoed over in the same corner after more terrific work from the forwards. This time the conversion was good and the half-time score was 19-12 to Seaford.

Shiplake knew they could complete the comeback but also realised it would be a mighty effort. Josh O’Hare and Sam Hargreaves made tackle after tackle, Josh Lloyd and Joe Kerrison looked dangerous in attack and Marcus James rumbled effectively round the park. Eventually the pressure told when Richard Adams went over from a metre after more excellent work at the ruck. All five substitutes came on and made a strong impact with tackles, runs and kicks putting Shiplake into strong positions. With 5 minutes left on the clock, and Fin Gross having just come off with a nasty looking injury, joint man of the match Dinsdale got the ball in space on the left wing – he charged, beat 5 men and eventually got hauled down…but we kept possession and the passing was accurate, all the way to outside centre Charlie Garnett. He arced his run to perfection and scored under the posts on his debut…Wild scenes from the travelling fans ensued but the referee clearly called “4 minutes left”. Tackle after tackle was made until Seaford eventually gave up, knocked the ball-on and the game was won. Both teams were fantastic in what was a thrilling game. Well worth the journey – Next up Pangbourne. Men of the match – Lucas Brooks and Ben Dinsdale.’

U15A 48-14 Windsor Boys’ School

Mr Richard Curtis provides the following report on a successful match for the U15A team:

‘The Under 15A team kicked off this match in a really positive mood and quickly got on the score-sheet with a simple transition of the ball from right to left. Further scores at regular intervals then followed despite numerous knock-ons and silly handling errors due to some weak tackling from the opposition. By half time the game was already put to bed with a lead of 29-0.

In the second half the priority was to keep hold of possession for longer periods of time and immediately the Shiplake boys responded with a wonderfully controlled movement down the field from their own half and over the Windsor whitewash once more. A multitude of changes in personnel then followed and this caused one or two structural issues in defence letting the opposition back into the game with two scores of their own but Shiplake managed to wrestle back control in the dying minutes to finish off 48-14 victors.’

U15A 19-18 Seaford College

‘Shiplake kicked off the first half and were immediately under the cosh with Seaford getting their big forwards running at speed into our midfield. However, the U15A defence held strong and after a torrid opening ten minutes Shiplake started to take the ascendency with a couple of crucial turnovers and some fine running lines. In the 20-minute period leading up to half time the U15As had managed to keep control of the ball for longer than both the previous games put together, getting to the break with a 19-5 cushion following some fine interplay leading to three whole team scores.

With the defensive line-speed being key to the success gained in the first half, it was therefore rather disappointing to see this drop off significantly in the second half. Consequently, it was no surprise to see Seaford come back into the game and picking up two well-worked tries in the process. At this point Shiplake’s one-point advantage leading into the last ten minutes seemed to be under threat as the momentum appeared to swing Seaford’s way. However, the U15s crucially held good field position in that period and held on to that slender margin to win for the second week running by one point.’

Mr Richard Curtis

U15B 7-38 Seaford College

Mr James Arney provides the following report on a difficult match for the U15B team:

‘This was a tough match after a long drive; the opponents played well and were a strong side. Despite a hard game, Man of the Match was Jack Powell. Our try scorer was Will Carpenter, and the try was converted by Joe Rayner. Onwards and upwards from here!’

U12A 30-5 Bohunt School

Mr Tom Crisford provides the following report:

‘In the second fixture of the week the Under 12A Rugby team played Bohunt School in what was the first ever fixture for our opposition with this being a brand new school opening a few weeks ago and at this stage only including pupils in Year 7. The fixture was again very much a training fixture, particularly for Bohunt School, as for many of the boys this was their first ever match of rugby and required a good a deal of coaching particularly at the break down. This did slow the game down significantly but nevertheless Shiplake put on a good show scoring 6 tries with Bohunt only crossing the line once. Overall as was seen against Caldicott there is much to be excited with for this team but a good week on the training ground and perhaps more challenging opposition will give the boys a much needed more strenuous work out.’