The new year brings new sports and matches to report on. This week, two football matches from the 1st XI with mixed results, and the girls' first netball game of the season; see how they got on against Gordon's School.
Football
1st XI match report
Shiplake started the game fast with the whole team pressing, immediately putting Cokethorpe on the back foot. The team sustained this pressure for the first 10 minutes until a quick pass played Cokethorpe’s winger in to score early in the game. Shiplake came back again with quick passing in attack and high pressure in defence. However, due to the tough condition of the pitch, the passing game became difficult to maintain and a lucky deflection from a clearance led to Cokethorpe’s second goal.
Again, Shiplake rallied and with a quick succession of passes, Eddie Lee was able to put the ball past the keeper only for it to be denied by the offside flag. The score remained 2-0 going into halftime. The second half was much better for Shiplake as the midfield battles were being won and the wingbacks were pushing on to support the attack. A few chances came from the counter attack but to no avail. Two lucky breaks gave Cokethorpe a 4-0 lead. Shiplake battled to the final whistle, trying to create chances but time ran out. A difficult first game ended 4-0.
Shiplake College 1st XI vs The Oratory
Arriving earlier and more prepared than the home team, Shiplake made a statement in the opening 15 minutes of the game, dominating the play and putting pressure on the Oratory goal. Many chances were created, but Oratory’s keeper was up to the task each time. Against the run of play, a free kick hit the post and fell to the feet of an Oratory player with an empty net in front of him, putting them 1-0 up.
Shiplake bounced back well, playing out from the back, beginning with Matt Dalrymple in goal and the back three of Will Richards, Max Gosby and Joe Kerrison. This confident play transferred its way throughout the team, leading to debutante Luke Theodorou and Joe Christie breaking down the wings into dangerous positions time after time. Eventually, from a throw in and some quick movement, Shiplake scored a tidy goal from just outside the box, the strike flying past the keeper into the top of the net. The boost this gave Shiplake furthered the team's confidence and shortly after a passage of complete dominance Ben Atkin scored in the bottom corner to put Shiplake in the lead. However, a short period of panic on the ball and Oratory possession followed, in which Shiplake held on, defending well holding Oratory in their own half until the half time whistle blew.
The second half brought changes in personnel but no change to the confidence and playing style of the team. This was exemplified by Josh Walne, who carried out the task of composed play from deep that the back three had displayed in the first half. Shiplake dominated in the second, half-forcing The Oratory to resort to the long ball, which was dealt with well by the defence. Shiplake, winning every battle and dominating possession, controlled the midfield. In addition, Shiplake’s attack ran riot on the Oratory goal with many chances created but to little success. With tired legs, Shiplake let Oratory back into the game. Long balls peppered the Shiplake defence and with decisions not going Shiplake’s way, the pressure going into the last few minutes was amplified. The team rallied and held out to the final whistle for a great 2-1 win.
Player of the match - Joe Kerrison
Netball
Shiplake 1st XI v Gordon's School
Last Wednesday, Shiplake’s A team played their first match of the season against Gordon’s who made it clear within minutes were a very strong team. With strong defence from Maddie and Hattie, Shiplake were able to turn over the ball, and pass it into the shooters. However, this meant that Gordon’s came back stronger with tighter defence and were able to score off our mistakes and they began to pull away.
Going into the last quarter with changes in positions, Shiplake were ready to put in a final push. With some great teamwork from Georgie and Ellen, Shiplake were able to feed the ball in to the shooters, Tory and Lara. With morale high Shiplake defence converted several of Gordon’s passes. The final score was 31-6, player of the match went to Ellen.
Report provided by Lydia Lyons, 1st XI Team Netball Captain
Shiplake Bs v Shiplake Cs
(Friendly)
On Wednesday 9 January, the B team girls played their first game of the season. After a quick warm up and a couple of drills to get us in the mood the girls were ready to get straight into the match. The game was a friendly match between Shiplake Cs. The girls played exceptionally well with great passes from the start. Within the first quarter, several goals had already scored which raised Shiplake’s spirits from the cold weather. Shiplake B’s were able to quickly move the ball down the pitch and to the goal, we had some very strong attacking from Anna and with Rhian and Ella R in defence which meant that Shiplake managed to continue to score goal after goal. It was a very strong first game, which lifted spirits for the next match. The final score was 15- 1 to Shiplake Bs well played to all the girls especially Katie who got player of the match.
Report provided by Mary Keswick, B Team Netball Captain
