Saturday 8 September saw the first set of rugby fixtures of the 2018-2019 academic year which resulted in a clean sweep of wins against Windsor Boys' School. Despite a few early showers the boys ended up playing in sunshine.
1st & 2nd XV Squad Won 34-19 vs Windsor Boys' School
Following the success at the St Alban's preseason tournament, the team went into this final preseason game against Windsor Boys' with high spirits. The match started with Shiplake getting on the scoreboard early, with a try after lots of ball in the opposition 22. Shiplake continued to keep the pressure on Windsor after winning the ball back in the midfield with some very aggressive defending, causing Windsor to make mistakes. Some strong scrums led to Matty Fitzgerald being able to outwit the defence with his running line off the back of the scrum to score and convert. Shiplake became frustrated by not scoring a couple of tries they should have, but eventually came a lovely team try started by the forwards securing the ball. Matt Dalrymple and Matty Fitzgerald linking up well in the backs allowing slick hands from Joe Kerrison and Josh Howard with Jack Rees dotting down in the corner. The first 3rd finished 0-17 to Shiplake.
After a short break and 11 players coming on the field, the boys did not start so well with Shiplake slipping off tackles leading to Windsor scoring and converting. This was then followed with the basics of catch pass not being executed when under pressure from a good Windsor defence. Windsor continued to pressure the Shiplake defence scoring two more tries finishing the second 3rd 17-17.
Initially, Shiplake didn’t get the basics right but soon built momentum with strong running lines from Fyn Brown and Tom Mythen and the backs ran in three more tries from Josh Howard, Jack Rees and Matty Fitzgerald. Final Score 17-34. Special thanks to Ben Shouksmith (injured) and Bertie Whitfield for manning the video and water bottles.
The 1st XV took a lot from the preseason match and are now building for Reading Blue Coat on New Field, KO 10.00am on Saturday 15 September. All support appreciated and welcome.
WEEKLY SPOTLIGHT: U14s
U14A Won 48-7 vs Windsor Boys' School
The U14As had their first friendly fixture of the season on Saturday. It was very much a training match, played in quarters, with a lot of the boys changing positions and allowing everyone an opportunity to play. There were some excellent performances, but also lots of aspects to work on, which is very natural for the beginning of the season. The boys played with a positive attitude and there is obviously some good runners within the team. The match lacked a little bit of structure, but it was still a pleasing start to the season and allowed 23 boys to play as a part of the A team. We very much look forward to watching the boys develop as the season progresses.
U14B Won 32-7 vs Windsor Boys' School
After only a handful of training sessions the U14Bs, new to each other and to their roles, started off slowly against Windsor Boys' School, racking up only five points in the first half to leave the match level at 5-7. But at the halfway point everything changed. Those first 25 minutes, it seems, were all that was needed to learn each other's strengths, find a common mentality, and to start communicating. The next 25 saw a glorious display of young rugby, full of supported advances and quick hands, with a further five tries and a conversion coming. Final score to 32-7.
Tryscorers: Doyle (2), Harper (c), Henson, Prosser (2)
Conversions: Bailey-Williams.
Other Results
U16A Won 33-24 vs Windsor Boys' School
U15A Won 28-7 vs Windsor Boys' School
U15B Won 36-10 vs Windsor Boys' School
