This week saw the eagerly anticipated Gilson v College Netball Match. It was fast paced and energetic, with both sides neck and neck through out. We also saw some mixed results in rugby 7s and some wins in hockey.
Hockey
1st XI v Lord Wandsworth 2nd XI
Shiplake 3:2 Lord Wandsworth
After last week's tournament at Lord Wandsworth, they returned for a third game this season, with one draw and one loss coming from the tournament last week it was all to play for to even the table.
Unfortunately we had lost a couple of players due to resit exams and a rugby 7s tournament so we called up the 2nd XI players to give us a hand and also ex-hockey player T Lynskey.
We started well, pressing high with L Rouse-Roberts, O Rouse-Roberts and S Gillen running box to box wearing down the midfield and supporting a solid defence. H Watts and J Hutchins commanded their wing play, with J Underwood and Z Tilley forming a solid rock at the back. Due to a defensive error on our behalf it led to a goal for them. However, we kept our heads up and played a high press with S Gillen driving through the middle, giving the ball to O Rouse-Roberts who ran down the baseline and scored a reverse hit from the tightest angle to go into the top right corner to make the game 1-1.
Then came another Lord Wandsworth attack down our right wing with a ball played across which caught us all out and made the game 1-2 to them. We didn't drop our heads and started to put on constant pressure keeping the ball in their half and in our possession to start to control the game. L Rouse-Roberts then won a short corner driving it up from the halfway line. T Lynskey played an amazing ball to the top of the D after a year out of action, which landed perfectly to S Gillen who played it to O Rouse-Roberts who smashed a second goal in across the keeper to make the game level at half time.
After a decision at halftime to play slower and keep the possession of the ball we went back into the game with our heads up knowing it was all to play for. During the half they had a couple of chances that broke through the defence, but new 1st XI keeper, H Stride came out and closed them down brilliantly to keep us in the game. After playing the ball round the back holding position J Underwood picked the ball and started to drive down the right passing the ball to L Rouse-Roberts who won us another short corner. S Gillen pushed it out to L Rouse-Roberts who stopped it for O Rouse-Roberts who then drag flicked it through the keeper's legs to make it 3-2 to us and scoring a hat trick. After that they started to get aggravated and angry resulting in one of the players getting sent off, leaving us with an advantage for the last six minutes. We carried on with our pressure and not letting them get through closing out the game finishing 3-2 to us. This is a brilliant result evening out the scores against Lord Wandsworth for the season. We push on to next week where we take on major rivals Pangbourne.
MOM: O Rouse-Roberts
Report by Z Tilley, Captain of Hockey
Netball
Gilson v College
On Thursday the annual Gilson v College Netball match took place and both teams were ready for a good game. The game began with a College centre, with tight defending from Gilson the ball was quickly turned around and carefully passed up to the attacking D, allowing M Simpson to shoot the first goal. However, College came back and managed to use speed and quick movement up to the court to even the score. At half time the score was 10-9 to College. With lots of changes of players and positions on court, the quality and speed of the game remained, keeping it on an even score and going into the last 8 minutes College were up by one goal. In the last play of the game, Gilson managed to get the goal past College's defence and fantastic shooting from L Stalder and M Simpson tipped the score to 18-17 to Gilson. It was a very enjoyable game and great play from both teams. Well done to M Simpson and T Mythen for receiving players of the match.
Report by E Hodson, Netball Captain
Rugby
U13 VII v Crosfields 7s
The first game against Crosfields was a very close game and we narrowly lost 2-1 but we showed many of the qualities we had discussed in our game plan. We then played Eagle House and this proved to be a very tough match. We lost 5-0 but despite this we kept our spirits high. This was followed by a match against Brockhurst that ended 3-1 to us with a great performance and a very pleasing display. In the final game we played Leighton Park School and again this was a very even game but we worked hard and in the final play of the match we scored to make it a 2-2 draw.
U12 VII v Crosfields 7s
The first game was against Crosfields School and we won 3-1 with a good early start to the tournament but lots to work on. Try scorers were C Andersson and W Blance x2.
The next match was against Eagle House. It was a very tough game and unfortunately we lost 5-0 as we did quite execute our game plan as we had discussed.
We then played Brockhurst 2-1 and this was perhaps a game we should have won but a few lapses in concentration and mistakes cost us the win.
The final game was against Leighton Park and we won 5-0 with a really good team effort and this finished what was an enjoyable tournament for us all.
Other results
Junior A Hockey v Lord Wandsworth College Boys U15B Lost 0-2
Boys U12D Hockey v Sir William Borlase Grammar School Lost 1-2
1st XI Football v University College School Lost 2-5
2nd XI Football v University College School Lost 0-7
U15A Football v University College School Lost 0-2
U15B Football v University College School Lost 1-9
U14A Football v University College School Lost 3-4
U14B Football v University College School Drew 3-3
1st VII Rugby v Reed's School Lost 12-25
1st VII Rugby v Cathedral School Llandaff Won 33-5
1st VII Rugby v Cokethorpe Won 14-12
1st VII Rugby v Reading Blue Coat School Lost 17-24
