With football fixtures being postponed because of frozen pitches, attention turned to our girls' netball and boys' hockey matches for this week's Sports Report. Our rowers made a return to the water and, additionally, we catch up on the U18 Midlands Rugby Academy's season which features a couple of familiar faces from Shiplake College.
Netball
U18A vs Claire's Court School
Shiplake's match against Claire’s Court on Wednesday 18 January was the first finished match of the season for the A team. Shiplake began without the first centre pass yet fought for every turnover they could get and with brilliant interception from E Young, they managed to get several turnovers that put pressure onto Claire’s Court. E Young received Players' Player for these many interceptions and her perseverance on the court.
Shiplake's first two quarters started strongly with sharp shooting from A Botterill (who received Player of the Match for this reason) and the constant support she had from T Firth outside the ‘D’, which made Shiplake feel unstoppable. Unfortunately, Claire’s Court had a very good shooter too, who was hard to keep track of due to her playful footwork which therefore allowed the opposition to score more goals than Shiplake in the end, leaving the match at 13-10 to Claire’s Court. A great start to the netball season and some work to be carried into our training sessions next week.
Report: S Di Cuffa, A Team Netball Captain
Coach: Mrs C Lovelock
U18C vs Claire's Court School
Shiplake’s C team had a great second match of the season against Claire’s Court. There were impressive performances in the first quarter from L Payne and S Hodges as both players displayed fantastic communication and enthusiasm throughout. Scores remained 0-0 until the second quarter where Claire’s Court scored their first goal, however Shiplake players quickly responded by scoring a goal immediately after.
After a few substitutions, D Knight showed great sportsmanship towards the end of the game, encouraging players and also displaying a positive attitude. The match ended with a score of 8-3 to Claire’s Court however, on the whole, the girls were really proud of how the team had shown improvement and more confidence when approaching games. A Baiden received Player of the Match.
Report: A Baiden, C Team Netball Captain
Coach: Mrs K Neill
Hockey vs John Hampden Grammar School
For the second game of the season, we travelled to Reading Hockey Club to face John Hampden Grammar School. In the first two quarters, the game was very close with attacks coming from both teams. The score was 1-1 at half-time after good defensive work.
In the third quarter, JHGS scored three quick goals. However, after some great passing from the back and an incredible run from S Mealing, Shiplake brought the game back to 4-2. A penalty corner goal from F Heggie brought the score to 4-3, but there was no time for the equaliser.
This game was a great indicator of the ability of the team and what's to come for the rest of the season.
Scorers: S Mealing (2) and F Heggie
Coach: Mr D Bradley
U18 Rugby Midlands Academy
We were delighted to see Year 13 pupil, Charlie Moss, play for Midlands Central U18 Rugby Academy in their fixture against Northampton Saints U18 in the Premiership Rugby U18 Academy League on Saturday 21 January. Old Viking, Reuban Logan (21S), also played in the match where Midlands Central went down 29-31 to the Saints.
Following Wasps and Worcester Warriors entering administration, their respective academies were turned into a new England Regional Academy, known as the RFU Midlands Academy. The creation of the new academy provides a pathway programme and two coaching teams - Midlands Central and Midlands West, the former being the team Charlie and Reuban play for. Players from the Midlands Academy are able to be picked up by any club once they become eligible for professional contracts.
Midlands Central play in the Premiership Rugby U18 Academy League (Northern Conference) where they currently sit third in the league. Their next fixture is on Saturday 4 February where they play Sale Sharks U18; before playing their final league game against Leicester Tigers U18 a week later on Saturday 11 February.
Good luck to Charlie and Reuban for the rest of the season!
Rowing - Eton Invitational Head
It was great to get the boat club off the ergos and back onto the water this weekend. With lots of sports fixtures being cancelled due to freezing conditions, the rowers headed to Dorney Lake to race at the Eton Invitational Head, competing against crews from Eton, Hampton, Westminster, St Paul's and Abingdon.
The senior boys raced in two matched VIIIs and finished joint 2nd with Westminster and 3rd. Only 1.4 seconds covered the top four crews. The Year 11 VIII took to the water for the first time this term and finished 10th in their category beating crews from Eton and Westminster.
For the year 10 VIII, it was their first time on the water and their first time ever racing in the VIII. They performed very well finishing 6th in their category beating 13 crews.
The girls' crews did not have any competition, but used the event to get out on the water and get some good training done.
Well done to everyone that raced and we look forward to seeing the crews improve this term.
Report: Mr D Currie, Director of Rowing
