It was a very difficult week for Shiplake with both rugby and hockey; taking on Cranleigh School on the rugby fields, both at home and away, proved to be a tough challenge for the Shiplake teams and it was unfortunate losses across the board. The hockey team took on Gillotts. Despite the disappointing scores, it was a learning experience for the Shiplake teams, who return this week with renewed vim and vigour.

Rugby

2nd XV 0-49 Cranleigh School

Thank you to Mr David Sharkey for the following report from the 2nd XV match:

‘It is rare when you witness a game where the scoreboard is so out of kilter with the reality that unfolds. Such was Saturday's contest against Cranleigh who put 49 points on the home side. There were a number of debutants to the 2nds who performed heroically: Robbie Rayne, James Croser, Tom Hallam, Oli Greco, Lewis Bishop, James Grundy and Harry Ibbitson. Some had not played rugby before or were asked to fill in positions they had never played in previously. Returning from last year's 2nds side were Conor Crowe and Kerim Philliskirk for their first outing of this season. While Cranleigh were quick and could move the ball with ease early in the first half, they found themselves struggling to get over the Shiplake line. On two occasions they were held up and denied scores. The work rate and tackling prowess of forwards Tom Hallam and Justin Van Vueren were immense and pack leader Tom Paine was a Trojan around the park. The fierce tackles and ferocity of the breakdown began to take its toll as Cranleigh started to find some rhythm. They also expertly used the referee as a blocker - for some reason - to record one of four scores in the first half. I have seen many teams who have quit when the opposition blew into a lead. Shiplake had no such intention and continued to make life difficult for the visitors, despite being overmatched.

Early in the second half, Oli Greco who was busy all day in rucks and tackles, found himself in some space and made a great run into Cranleigh territory. Will Parton, playing in the backrow instead of his usual position of centre looked like a veteran. While Cranleigh kept battering the home side's line, again they found themselves repelled. Another try-saving intervention from Captain Harry Rees saw the Cranleigh man bundled into touch before he could cross the whitewash. A certain try was also denied the visitors who were stripped of the ball just before they could touch it down in goal. While the score board said this was no contest, the battle on the field was telling us otherwise. Perhaps the most telling fact was that Cranleigh failed to convert 7 of their conversions. This tells us two things: first, Cranleigh need to work on their kicking; second that when they crossed the tryline, there were Shiplake men who forced them away from the posts, for a harder kick. In fact, the superb referee remarked how none of the tries that were scored against Shiplake were under the posts. So while history may say that this was a heavy defeat, those there that day will tell a far different story.’

U16B 7-58 Cranleigh School

Mr Alex Duncan and Joe Kerrison provide the following report from the U16Bs first loss of the season:

‘The U16B team crashed to their first defeat of the season losing 58-7 this weekend. The opposition had the two stand out players but the score-line should never have been so high. Many missed tackles and sloppiness towards the end of the game cost us dearly. There were moments of excellence though and Joe Ruffle broke through the backline twice from fly-half, and our pick-and-go game was difficult to defend once it got going. We absolutely dominated the scrum, winning three against the head and all of own ball. Luke Tremayne, making his first start all season, fronted up with bursts from scrum half and a great display of tackling.’

U15A 0-43 Cranleigh School

Mr Richard Curtis provides the following report from a tough, but brave, match for the U15As:

‘With an injury list longer than Michael Jordan’s arms the fixture against Cranleigh was always going to be tough. However, the defensive structures of the Shiplake side and the courage around the contact zone limited the opposition to just one score in the first half. An impressive line-break just before the half time whistle could quite easily have seen the U15As go into the interval of level terms but unfortunately some great scramble defence from Cranleigh snuffed that opportunity 10 metres short of their line.

The second half was a different story. Cranleigh shortened their game plan and drove forcefully down the middle. Having tackled so valiantly in the first half, the Shiplake boys started to drop off tackles and allowed the opposition to rack up six unanswered tries when the final whistle went at 0-43. A disappointing result but a brave, brave effort nonetheless.’

U15B 0-53 Cranleigh School

The U15Bs started the match uncertainly, and the opposition took advantage of this. At half-time, motivation to get the game back was high and the Shiplake team went back into the game with a renewed vigour, playing what coach Mr James Arney said was ‘the best rugby of the season’. Unfortunately, it was a difficult game and the overall score of 53-0 shows this. However, despite the disappointing result, the team worked brilliantly together and know the skills and communication they will take into their next fixture.

U15C 17-60 Cranleigh School

Bobby Howard-Jones provides the following report from a challenging match:

‘The U15Cs played against Cranleigh School. This was the first game for the U15C. We had a tough start as they scored in the first minute. However, we bounced back and Haydon Stryde scored an excellent try. The rest of the first half was pretty hard for Shiplake, with Cranleigh scoring more tries. The second half started like the first half, with Cranleigh breaking through our defence lines and scoring against us. But Shiplake finished on a high, scoring the last two tries of the game, through George Lawrence and Ed Gilbert-Blay. George Head was chosen by the team as Man of the Match. The final score was a disappointing Shiplake-17 Cranleigh-60.’

U14A 0-61 Cranleigh School

Mr Yona Diez-Urkidi provides the following report from a tough match against Cranleigh:

‘Shiplake started the match against Cranleigh well focused and committed. Showing great attitude, every single player applied himself in both very solid defence and fierce attack every time they held the ball. Despite Cranleigh organising themselves well and managing to remain in our 22 for a long time, they could hardly break our defence thanks to the numerous tackles put in by Shiplake players. The first half represented a fair battle between both teams, eventually won by Cranleigh, where Shiplake was better scrummaging and rucking while Cranleigh proved better in control and structure, with the backs allowing them to be ahead at half time.

It was only after 10 minutes in the second half when the players from the opposition managed to make a clear break and rapidly score a try. Shiplake continued bravely defending fiercely and using the kicking strategically to play in their half. Eventually, Cranleigh showed a very good level of rugby using a good depth in the back lines and attacking efficiently to score several tries. The final result of 61-0 does not reflect how well Shiplake U-14A team faced up their opposition.’

U14C 5-50 Cranleigh School

Thank you to Mr Chris Alcock for the following poetic report on a disappointing match:

‘The U14Cs went forth to Cranleigh School,

A grand place of learning, and rugby and football.

When the first half whistle blew, they stared at the ground

For it seemed for all the world they had been drowned.

With 38 points against them, their faces glum and sad, all seemed lost…

Yet Alcock and Elmore said: ‘You only need to remember three things;

Tackling, defence, and rucking, to fight such an adversary.

As soon as the second half began,

Shiplake managed to break free from the Cranleigh team straight away

And scored a well-deserved try.

Although U14Cs did concede another try, they knew they worked hard as a team, and returned to Shiplake thinking of how they can win their next fixtures.’

Hockey

Mr Tom Walter provides the following report from the close match between Shiplake and local rivals Gillotts School:

‘Shiplake were looking forward to this local derby, with a number of the players having attended Gillotts earlier in their school careers. However, any fond memories of their time there were quickly forgotten when the match started as Shiplake found themselves on the back foot for the first 10 minutes of the game. Shiplake managed to soak up the majority of the pressure from the visitors with some excellent defensive work from Emily Wilkinson and Sophia Gibbs, keeping the scores level until just a few minutes before the break, when a loose ball was picked up by Gillotts on the top of the D and converted into the bottom corner. Shiplake composed themselves during the break and realised that they were in with a decent chance of getting something out of the game, and so took to the field for the restart in high hopes. The change in approach was immediate, and some great attacking work from Brooke Creighton and Issy Webster brought some chances to Shiplake, although the final golden touch seemed to elude them. Emily Duncan, making only her second ever appearance in goal, made some great saves, including a fantastic double block which defied her goalkeeping experience. Emma Renwick kept energy levels high on the right side of midfield and Mimi Brough showed good competitive spirit on her debut. Lauren Mcnally began to impose her strong running on the game as the final part of the game flowed and despite all the pressure, Gillotts were able to sneak a second goal late in the game. Shiplake will be disappointed to lose a well matched game, but will hopefully go into next week’s fixture with greater confidence in their ability.’