Now that the Rugby season has drawn to the close, we look back on the attitudes and values shown by our players from each year group. Thank you to all who came along to our matches, both home and away, to support our pupils. We hope that you will show your support for our pupils during the upcoming Football and Hockey season.
U12A
It has been a great season and the power of sport and teamwork has seen this group of lads develop friendships that will last a lifetime. Of course, the talent and commitment on display has also been fantastic with a no kicking policy just about respected all season and this is a team to watch in the future. It would be hard to pick out our star players or highlights as there really have been so many but maybe the FNL experience would stand out for most. I hope the boys enjoy experiencing the other sports available at Shiplake in the next few terms and return with the same discipline and sportsmanship for rugby next season and the core values we have upheld all season.
Report provided by Coaches Mr Crisford and Mr Jones.
U12B
This has been a memorable season for the U12Bs, with some silky skills on display and at times, I am not sure if I have been watching the A or B Team. Our strategy all season has been a free flowing game with off loads being the key to success and our 3D game has been outstanding. Imagination has also been incredible and my particular highlights are creating super powers and even wizard roles during training sessions. Ultimately, I would describe this season in one word as fun with some hard work along the way and some cracking results most notably against Dolphin, Abingdon and Moulsford. Next year, it’s time to see some of these B Team players being selected into the A Team! Watch out A Team these players are coming for your places!
Report provided by Coaches Mr Crisford and Mr Jones.
U13A
Whilst it was a mixed season with regards to results, it was certainly a highly successful season in many other ways. Notable victories against Oratory, Emmanuel and Tiffin were, in fact, eclipsed by two very impressive draws, one against The Dragon School and the other against Thorpe House School. The Dragon School game showed the team at its very best; individual skill, strong tackling, great support, running rugby and fantastic resilience all combined to provide what was unanimously voted the game of the season. Dan Coles, who embodied the team’s desire to train hard and improve, led the team enthusiastically. Dan was supported well by the positive attitudes of many of his teammates.
I hope that all players in the squad remain determined to play rugby at the highest level moving into Year 9 next year. I wish them well. Certainly, the core values of Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline and Sportsmanship are in very good hands with this very positive and committed group of players.
Report provided by Coaches Mr Ralph and Mr Brown.
U13B
An old cliché suggests the taking part is more important than the winning. The U13Bs managed to stubbornly cling to this maxim for most of the season, taking part with vim and vigour, whilst accepting defeat with grace and resilience. Indeed, it wasn’t until the final match of the season that the boys registered their first, and only, victory, a stunning dismantling of Moulsford, with tries raining down like, well, the torrential downpour in which the match was played.
That game demonstrated the enormous improvement the boys have made over the course of the season; they were well organised, tenacious in the tackle and ruthless in attack, with Players’ Player of the Year, Kai Askey, registering two tries. That match also saw Max Dag sprint down the wing for 70 yards to score the best try of the season; he well deserved his Most Improved Player award.
The team’s other main points contributors were Billy Badsey – a possessed, whirling dervish on the pitch – and Harry Saker, who did a fantastic job of leading the team, keeping his teammates’ spirits up when the results weren’t going to plan. His team were always committed and, despite the results, competitive, with Hugo Palmer-Garrett and Ewan Pratt both well worth their elevation to the Headmaster’s XV.
Teamwork. Respect. Enjoyment. Discipline. Sportsmanship. Every young man who pulled on the Shiplake jersey for the U13B this season displayed these qualities in spades. It was a pleasure to work with them. My thanks to them all, and to the Lower School Rugby Collective: Messrs Crisford, Jones and Brown.
Report provided by Coaches Mr Ralph and Mr Brown.
U14A
The U14As included a reasonably large squad of 19 players, all of whom made great progress this term, both as players and as people. It is very much the start of their journey and I look forward to watching their development over the next few years at Shiplake. A lovely phrase on our way in to the dining hall described where the journey is leading: "A group becomes a team when each member is sure enough of himself to praise the skills of others." Well done on this season and good luck with those to come.
Report provided by Mr Griffiths and Mr Miller.
Thanks also to Captain Sam Gillen.
U14B
The 2018 season saw friends old and new come together to form the ‘mighty’ U14B team. Skills were developed, positions were found, and bonds were formed amongst an enthusiastic and determined group of young men. An early loss in our local derby against Reading Blue Coat School showed us how effective supplying the ball out to the wing can be, and taught us a valuable lesson about keeping our heads up in defence. An almost unbeaten remainder of the season followed, with our most pleasing wins coming from whole-team efforts ground out in the mud and the cold.
Very well done to all involved. Mr Norris and Mr Woolner will look forward to hearing about the boys’ continued progress in their U15 season.
Report provided by Coaches Mr Woolner and Mr Norris.
Thanks also to Captain Luke Byca.
U14C
An Ode to the 14Cs
The 14cs are a terrific team
Their eyes are red and their boots are green
Multinational and talented too
Their many skills have shone on through.
They won three games in no small part
Due to Manuel’s Argentinian art
And South American flair and guile
From his compatriots made everyone smile.
Coach Elmore’s training game rules
Of 10 metre drifts made some feel fools
Yet they learned to run straight and hard
Whilst Old Alcock uttered quotes from The Bard.
‘Once more unto the breach’ and such,
Even during a game of touch,
At season’s end, they’d all had fun
Unanimous that TREDS had won."
Report provided by Coaches Mr Alcock and Mr Elmore.
Thanks also to Captain Gordon Fitzgerald.
U15A
Having been on the back end of a great many losses last year, the U15As set about rectifying that record and quickly got off to a good start against Windsor and the Blue Coat (even though the latter ended up in a spirited one-point loss). This proved to be the turning point of the season. To a man, everyone trained hard, desperate to be part of the positive team culture that blossomed over the term. Learning new skills/techniques and then applying them with disciplined performances against respected opposition on the field led to a very enjoyable and successful season for all concerned. Thank you to everyone who contributed and good luck for your exciting rugby careers ahead.
Report provided by Coaches Mr Curtis and Mr Brown.
Thanks also to Captain Jake Shortland.
U15B
The U15B season was marked with good attacking rugby and an increasing sense of self-belief. Since coming back to win from three tries down against Blue Coat early in the season, the squad learnt the value of never giving up and trusted more and more in their own abilities as the season went on. The team worked hard at decision-making, organising effectively and utilising the new line out rules to our advantage. Handling throughout the season was excellent and the boys developed a knack of closing out tight games. It was great not just to have a winning season (7 wins, 4 losses) but to also see several boys move up to the A Team as well as welcoming multiple C Team players. A big highlight was the Emanuel game in wet December, a tight defensive battle. The boys played the conditions superbly, holding their discipline throughout, and came away with a win on the last play of the game. Well done to all!
Report provided by Coaches Mr Reynolds and Mr Nel.
Thanks also to Captain Tom Sharp.
U15C
The U15Cs squad enjoyed a productive and rewarding season with the vast majority of players demonstrating the right attitude to every training session. We enjoyed three excellent competitive matches with the highlight coming at home versus Merchant Taylors where the players showed what can happen when they work together as a team and play to the best of their ability. The season enabled all the boys to work on new techniques and skills, which they were able to deploy to great effect in their matches. Several of the squad impressed so much that they moved up to the 15Bs where they more than held their own. Lots to look forward to next year!
Report provided by Coaches Mr Olhausen and Dr D’Rozario.
Thanks also to Captain Hal Booth.
U16A
While the bumps and bruises will heal and the score lines fade, I would hope that some of the core messages would stay with the team as they move on: both as players and, more importantly, as people. This was a difficult season for lots of reasons: one victory and seven defeats. There were many times we fell short as coaches and players. Nevertheless, we learned how to see those losses in a different light and maybe started to see others and ourselves in a different way, too. The members of the U16As are a wonderful group of people and I hoped they learned as much as we did as coaches.
Report provided by coaches, Mr Sharkey and Mr Dix.
Thanks also to Ben Ferguson.
U16B
If results were the 'be all and end all' here at Shiplake then the U16Bs would be a team that would never be mentioned. However, we talk about, and value, performances, and this group of players have performed as well as any team, week in, week out, against teams that have been stronger and faster. The determination and guts of this squad have been truly remarkable and inspiring. For these reasons, the U16Bs should be toured around Shiplake on an open top bus, to allow everyone to celebrate their development as players, their loyalty to each other and the fact that many of them will be choosing to play senior rugby next year. Rugby has brought out the best in these young men and they are all therefore winners.
Report provided by coaches, Mr Mallins and Mr Lawson.
Thanks also to Captain Carter Jennings.
3rd XV
A fantastic season for the 3rd XV encapsulated by our triumphant final game against Reading Blue Coat School in typhoon-like conditions to win our sub-competition. The attitude shown throughout the season had been fantastic and I'm really impressed with the overall development in skill but more importantly the strength of character each member of the team has shown. Special mentions to a fantastic 'leadership group' in Harry Martin, PJ Morrissey and Duncan Eglinton. Most versatile player going to James Mathew despite his injury and finally deservedly player of the season to Jack Burgess.
Report provided by coach Mr Geyton, thanks also to Mr Howorth.
Thanks also to Captain Harry Martin.
2nd XV
After a narrow, first match defeat to Reading Blue Coat School, this team never looked back. Every performance built on the previous one, with every player improving over the course of the season. Tom Howlett and Luke Tremayne led us with pride, passion and belief while the rest of the group followed their lead and enjoyed some brilliant moments, which, as is so typical of the this sport, will be life-long memories for the boys. Narrow wins against Lord Wandsworth and Mill Hill were mentally challenging but the performances were first class. Defeat to St Benedict's was the most physically challenging moment, but the Headmaster's comments after this match filled the team with huge pride and purpose going forward. Thrilling wins in the cold and wet at St George's and dry but windy Churcher's showed what a great team we had become. The biggest victory, against Emanuel, was deemed as the best all-round performance of the season and the spirit in the camp by the end of the season was confident, jovial, happy and trusting.
Report provided by coaches, Mr Diez-Urkidi and Mr Duncan.
Thanks also to Captain Tom Howlett.
1st XV
This season has been full of ups and downs, and it has been a pleasure to have been involved. We started with a few days of pre-season training and went into a tournament, which we came out of unbeaten and looking forward to the season ahead. Against Windsor Boys’, the game started easily, and Shiplake benefitted from a large squad. Then the season really kick-started with the schoolboy match we dreamt about; Reading Blue Coat School at home on a Saturday with a packed New Field of supporters. Sadly, we were not able to deliver and lost 14–27 in a very tough game.
We then had a hard visit to Caterham School where the team learned a lot about themselves. The result was not favourable but this was a real turning point in the season; we realised we were capable of a lot more.
Another hard visit to St George’s, Weybridge for one of my most memorable Shiplake matches. Awful conditions meant that the boys had to dig deep, but we could not get the win and came away with our head held high losing 7–12. Then came City of London Freemans, where we experienced another big crowd, which the team has responded well to this year. The match started with Shiplake playing the best rugby of the season so far, with an amazing first 20 minutes of putting points on Freemans, then switching off, letting them back into the game but closing it out with a hearty defence winning 26–20.
We followed this with a decisive 57–17 win against Cokethorpe, which included a handful of unbelievable tries. Half term came at the wrong time as Shiplake had built up a good level of morale. UCS at home, two days after coming back to school, did not go the way the team would have liked and we lost 5–26 with a makeshift Shiplake team.
The boys, disheartened from the week before, came out against Mill Hill with a point to prove and came away with a 22–8 win. Friday Night Lights, the most exciting match of the year did not disappoint, narrowly losing 29-30 against St Benedict's. Next up were Emanuel (draw 12-12) and a loss against Churcher's. The final match of the season was with Sir William Borlase's in front of most of the school with Shiplake winning comfortably and finishing the season pleased with their achievements.
It has been an honour to captain the boys so far, I don’t want the season to finish.
Report provided by 1st XV Captain, Robbie Cartwright.
Thanks to coaches, Head of Rugby Mr Beckett and Mr Armstrong.
