After the half term break, our pupils went to battle on the sporting field against Mill Hill School, Forest School and LVS Ascot, with our pupils fighting hard to bring home some great results.
1st XI Hockey v LVS Ascot
On Wednesday 6 November, the girls' hockey team played a match against LVS Ascot. Shiplake went into the game with high hopes and a great attitude. The game began with an LVS push back, however it was quickly intercepted as Shiplake pushed up the pitch with great attacking from H Austin and P Whitfield. LVS came back down the pitch with aggressive attack which gained them the first goal. The game play was even down both ends of the pitch, but at halftime the score was 3 -0 to LVS. Shiplake girls came back fighting, with strong defence from M Simpson and R Harrison, meaning that LVS did not score any more goals in the second half. As well as this L Pasmore had some great shots on goal but was just short. Well done to A Hallam who received player of the match.
FT score: 0-3 to LVS Ascot
U15B Rugby v Mill Hill School
Sheets of icy rain greeted the players as they trudged onto the pitch to attempt the most futile of warms-ups. Undeterred by the elements, the unconquerable 15Bs started the match with precision and power - taking the ball to the line and putting a resolute Mill Hill defence under pressure. J Durcan was exceptional out of hand - breaking the line on several occasions, before releasing the backs out wide. It was the strong running of M Patterson however, that eventually broke the deadlock, and J Durcan was able to add the extras.
From then on, there was only one team in it. Great work in the loose from F Fox, Z Morrison and J Dyason meant Shiplake were given plenty of ball, and R Wang and H Doyle were able to exploit the space left in the wide channels.
Overall, an exceptional team performance in difficult conditions. Both teams upheld the spirit of the game throughout - making sure to shake numb hands after the final whistle.
FT score: 40-5 to Shiplake College
U14A Rugby v Mill Hill School
Platform rugby was the target for the day. Shiplake's off-loading game in the first half was littered with error but the U14s profited by some equally profligate opposition play; especially in their own half. Half time score 22-0 to Shiplake.
The second half saw much greater structure to Shiplake's play, moving the ball from platform to platform and executing two lovely tries. Mill Hill responded with two tries of their own following two passages of very naive defensive play.
FT score: 34-12 to Shiplake College
U14B Rugby v Mill Hill School
Building on from the fantastic last game before half term, Shiplake started brightly amid awful wet and windy conditions. Unfortunately, Mill Hill scored a couple of well worked tries, exploiting space out wide. Had it not been for a couple of amazing tackles (that would have led to tries) from C Kerrison, J Biggin and O Smaje, we would have gone into half time well behind. After the break, we started to punch holes in the Mill Hill defence with forward carrying power of M Wallace, N Scotchbrook and J Hallett. Quick ball off the ruck from M Gardiner and D Coles combining effectively, meant that J Hallett was able to score a well deserved try. Unfortunately Shiplake lost but our heads did not drop for the whole game. With the awful conditions, joint men of the match goes to J Biggin, for not dropping a single high ball, and O Smaje for putting in around seven excellent tackles.
FT score: 5-24 to Mill Hill School
U14C Rugby v Mill Hill School
Despite struggling for numbers, the U14C team fought valiantly as a team in the cold and rain against Mill Hill School this week. Though we did not walk away with the victory, the boys remained motivated in the face of a strong opposition, with L Guo scoring two tries through sheer grit and power. Captain B Badsey lead from the front throughout, coming very close to scoring after breaking through the opposition defence at the halfway line. An end to end match finished with Mill Hill reinforcing their win with the last play of the game.
FT score: 28-17 to Mill Hill School
Other Results
1st XV Rugby lost 0-22 v Mill Hill School
2nd XV Rugby lost 10-24 v Mill Hill School
3rd XV Rugby lost 0-45 v Mill Hill School
U16XV Rugby lost 14-17 v The Forest School
U15A Rugby won 26-5 v Mill Hill School
U15C Rugby lost 5-25 v Mill Hill & Belmont Schools
