This week's Sports Report is bumper-packed as we catch up with rugby's block fixtures against the Windsor Boys' School. We also get the latest following the first basketball fixture of the season and, sticking with firsts, find out how our Year 7 girls fared as they donned the Shiplake jersey for their first time ever! Lastly, in equestrianism, we find out how Year 10 pupil Jack Dag did at the latest Schools' Equestrian Games.
Basketball
Boys' U18 vs The Oratory School
Anticipation was high as our Shiplake basketball U18 tested their mettle against their first opponents of the 23/24 season. Although this was a friendly fixture, and only three of the customary four quarters were played, Shiplake played with heart, soul and even a bit of style in places, securing a victory over The Oratory School with a final score of 27-12. Although the game was finished earlier than expected, there were some notable scoring performances: W Diver tallied up 7 points in his time on the court, and C Carey put 8 points on the scoreboard for Shiplake. In addition, J Grieg-Bartram worked very hard to grab 6 rebounds for the team. The team went away feeling excited to play The Oratory again as the league approaches, and there’s no doubt that their skill and chemistry as a team will improve through continued hard work and dedication at training.
Coaches: Dr C Rousseau & Mr B Cartwright
Equestrianism
On Saturday 23 September, Jack Dag represented Shiplake College in the SEG (Schools' Equestrian Games) 80cm Eventing Championships at Dauntsey Park, Chippenham, having qualified at Tweseldown Racecourse in July. He had a dressage of 36.5, was clear in the show jumping event, and scored 40 penalties in the cross country on what was a tough Championship course with two river crossings.
Hockey
Girls’ U18 vs Holyport School
On Wednesday 20 September, the Year 13 Shiplake College girls took on Holyport School in our first hockey match of the season. The rain was relentless, but this did not stop everyone from having the best start to the season. The game got off to a rough start with Holyport gaining a short corner quickly, however with R Acton's amazing skills in her debut as goalie, she deflected the shot away. The game was quickly looking bright for Shiplake, with L Cheek gaining our first short corner of the match. This short corner was pushed out by G Weeden and scored in the lower left corner by O Parkin. In the second quarter, there was some amazing defending by E Bell and G Wyndham-Smith. However, there was a penalty flick awarded to Holyport which was saved by R Acton leading to great celebrations from the team and supporters. In the third quarter, there was another short corner gained by G Weedon, where O Parkin put it in the top corner of the goal. The game ended in the fourth quarter with Shiplake winning with 2-0, which created a huge celebration with the team and spectators supporting each other throughout the game. Congratulations to L Cheek for Players' Player, O Parkin and R Acton for Supporter’s Players and E Flower for Player of the Match. Well done girls; amazing start to the season with amazing energy on and off the pitch.
Report: Olivia Park, Gilson Hockey Captain
Coaches: Mrs C Lovelock & Miss A James
Girls’ U12 vs Claires Court
For their first time wearing Shiplake colours, our Year 7 girls took on Claires Court on Tuesday 19 September in the inaugural U12 girls' hockey fixture. The College fielded two mixed ability teams against Claires Court's A and B teams, with the As going down 2-0 and the Bs winning 7-0. It was a fantastic way for the girls to start their Shiplake hockey campaigns with all of the pupils demonstrating outstanding teamwork and positive attitudes.
Coach: Mrs K Neill
Rugby
Boys' 1st XV vs The Windsor Boys’ School
The 1st XV started well against a completely unknown Windsor Boys’ side, implementing their structure and allowing themselves the freedom to play some exciting rugby. It was 22-0 by half time with plenty of missed opportunities and then the magic began to happen. A second half onslaught lead by F Partridge, B Zacharias and J Biggin was orchestrated masterfully by O Perkins and the game was brought to a close early.
Man of the Match: J Biggin
Final score: Shiplake College 60-0 The Windsor Boys’ School
Coaches: Mr Edwards & Mr Wheeler
Boys' U16B vs The Windsor Boys’ School
In the week building up to this fixture, we looked at using pod-work to help move the ball more and to allow us keep possession for longer, and this clearly worked with the well-organised and ambitious U16s squad scoring the first try of the game inside the first two minutes.
The message before the game was, ‘set the tone of the match early on,’ and with big tackles, quick feet, and an early try, this is certainly what the boys did. A resilient Windsor Boys’ School regrouped and were able to respond quickly and for the rest of the first half, the game was neck and neck with Shiplake just two points ahead.
The second half started in similar fashion to the first, but under the leadership of captain O Beaney, Shiplake began to show their class with a well organised structure, blistering pace, power and passion. The boys pulled away emerging as comfortable winners with a final score of 28-17, giving the 16s a 100% record so far this season. Scorers of the tries were W Kemble (x2), M Taylor-FitzGibbon & B Demery, with C Nash-Steer converting his kicks and M Taylor-Fitzgibbon doing so as well.
Man of the Match: O Beaney
Final score: Shiplake College 28-17 The Windsor Boys’ School
Coaches: Mr Heaney, Mr Lawson & Mr Beckett
Boys' U15A vs The Windsor Boys’ School
A competitive morning on the Riverside pitches. It was slippery conditions with lots of knock-ons from both sides, however some great forward work from J Henshaw, E Fulton and the rest of the pack saw us build a few phases in the first half putting us up 21-7 in the first half.
Second half credit to Windsor they pinned us back, however great team tries finished by K O’Connor meant we rode the pressure put on us and finished strong. A great performance from all involved.
Final score Shiplake College 35-14 The Windsor Boys’ School
Coaches: Mr Dix & Mr Cooper
Boys' U15B vs The Windsor Boys’ School
A bit of an arm wrestle in the first half, with only a J Zacharias penalty separating the two sides in the opening 20 minutes. However, just before the half-time whistle, E Miot crashed over the line to score the first try of the match.
Shiplake started the second half on the front foot, with some superb tackling from Z Young, alongside strong running from M Ball and H Taphouse. Long periods of possession for the home team then led to a flurry of tires - one from L Hilton and two for J Zacharias with the latter also kicking his goals. Windsor did well to rally in closing stages, scoring in the corner after a well worked lineout.
Man of the Match: J Zacharias
Final score: Shiplake College 27-5 The Windsor Boys’ School
Coaches: Mr Miller & Mr C Gingell
Boys' U14A vs The Windsor Boys’ School
Shiplake struggled to get the ball out of their half for the first 10 minutes and it took some heroics from B Oliver to keep the scores level. A couple of breakaway tries from E Grubb and O Spearing got Shiplake off to an unlikely lead, but soon found themselves on the back foot and were 12-10 down at half-time. Shiplake put focus on possession second half and the backs were able to show their class. B Lee broke free to score and minutes later, O Woodward swan-dived between the posts for his second try.
Final score: Shiplake College 31-17 The Windsor Boys’ School
Coaches: Mr Bradley & Mr Gower
Boys' U14B vs The Windsor Boys’ School
With a bare 15 players today due to sickness, the boys had a huge challenge on their hands but coming off the back off a win, they were full of confidence. We started very strongly with great hands moving the ball side to side before creating space for J Andrews to score just next to the posts. We continued in that vein for a lot of the game with tries following from S Crisford, R Pathak and S Cripps before half time.
The second half fatigue did start to set in, and loose tackles allowed Windsor to get within 7 points before Shiplake got a second wind. Two tries from J Pickering and another from O Thomas rounded off a strong win for the 14Bs! Great kicking from O Thomas, J Andrews and J Pickering helped us kick four conversions.
Final score: Shiplake College 43-25 The Windsor Boys’ School
Coaches: Mr Jones & Mr A Gingell
Multi-skills
Girls’ U12 vs Reading Blue Coat
On Saturday 23 September, out Year 7 girls took on their counterparts from Reading Blue Coat in a morning of multi-skills competition. This consisted of hockey, netball, and ergo events. Reading Blue Coat won the hockey event with Shiplake’s Player of the Match going to A Mertes. Shiplake then won the netball event with M Smith receiving Player of the Match. In the final event, the ergo competition, all pupils jumped on an ergo to see who could row the furthest in 10 strokes. With most of the pupils going hard and fast, it was A Woodward with her controlled rows that took her the furthest distance.
