Alongside matches played against local rivals, this week of sporting fixtures differed slightly, as the 1st and 2nd rugby teams pitted themselves against squads from Australia! Although the results weren’t all in Shiplake’s favour, the experience of playing against a team from halfway across the world was invigorating, and motivated the Shiplake teams in both their training and for future matches.
Rugby
1st XV 7-40 Ignatius Park College, Australia
Pupil Charlie Sichel offers the following report on what was a difficult match against the Australian side:
‘Shiplake went into this match knowing that Ignatius Park College (IPC) would be working incredibly hard during this game, as it was the first match of their UK tour. However, as many of them had never played in the rain before, we hoped to a have a small advantage over them. With the first half kicking off and the Shiplake team receiving the ball from kick, we took it up with our forwards. Our aggression levels were not as high as our opponents and soon, from a turnover ball, we were on the back foot. This led to their first try. Disappointing though this was, we refused to let our spirit be broken, and went back with the same fighting with which we had begun the match. With phases now coming together we began to march up the field. However, small mistakes and IPC having a strong maul of the line out, the first half was left 33-0.
After words of encouragement from our coaches we went back out. This half started completely differently, with Shiplake defending for a majority of the first 20 minutes. Our defence was strong and did not miss a tackle, beginning to push them back. We saw our first try come from a lineout and a good break line from Billy Sayers. Great play was seen from both sides. The final score being 40-7, I would like to say thank you to IPC for taking their time to come and play us; it was a great opportunity for the players to experience a different style of rugby than that of which we are used to seeing, and I hope we can play them again one day.’
U15A 12-10 Claires Court
Mr Richard Curtis gives the following write-up of a close match between Shiplake and Claires Court:
‘The opposition kicked off with the wind behind them, and they started to move the ball around well as Shiplake afforded them time and failed to shut down space. Consequently, the U15s ended up tackling for most of the first half. This evenly matched contest eventually ended up 0-0 at half time as Claires Court continued to attack with Shiplake’s defence holding firm.
At the very start of the second half the opposition finally managed to break the Shiplake line with their centre going under the sticks unopposed. This score seemed to galvanise the U15As who responded quickly with a try of their own after a real purple patch playing through the phases in a very controlled manner.
Going into the final couple of minutes Claires Court were awarded a penalty that they converted to leave the U15s behind on the scoresheet, 5-10. Shiplake pressed hard in that time, throwing wave after wave at Claires Court who, after some stout defence, ended up conceding a try in the final play of the game and allowing Shiplake to take the spoils with a 12-10 win.’
U15B 12 – 19 Lord Wandsworth College
Mr Alex Duncan and pupil Sam Hargreaves offer the following report on the difficult match:
‘This was the most physical game the team has encountered since we began as a group last season. The opening passages of play saw some big hits and the intensity of the match was high from the start. Shiplake did not settle as well as they normally do and conceded a try after about 20 minutes of the game, having also been on the back foot for the majority of this time. For the next few minutes, Shiplake found their rhythm and passes were accurate and sharp. However, a sucker punch came just minutes before half-time, with the Lord Wandsworth wingers working their magic, and going over for another two tries in two minutes.
After some stern but encouraging words from Mr Jonathan Gillespie-Payne, who challenged us to win the second half, Shiplake looked more confident in the second period. When Ben Dinsdale scored from inside his own half, we suddenly had hope. Finn Gross was breaking up the oppositions’ defence with great tackling and running. Quick thinking from Dom Hance from a tap penalty saw the lead reduced to just one converted try. With all players from both teams out on their feet in the last two minutes Shiplake pushed for the draw. Unfortunately the match ran away from us, and Lord Wandsworth defended very well at the end. Man of the Match goes to Finn Gross.
We lost the match at 19-12 but we are determined to get back on track this week.’
U15B 14-12 Claires Court
After Saturday’s match against Lord Wandsworth College, the U15B team were looking to get back on a winning track with the next match against Claires Court. The Shiplake Swarm started the game slowly, conceding an early try as the opposition winger, with a long, fast stride, powered in from 40 metres. Tackling started to improve, and the reward came when from turn over ball, four phases of play with excellent rucking resulted in a penalty near the opponents line. Alfie Marsden bundled over from the quick tap penalty.
The game restarted and Shiplake were now confident - perhaps overly so - as within minutes Claires Court scored again following some sloppy defence and poor decision making. The conversion was missed however, and the determination seemed stronger than ever to repair the damage. With just four minutes left, and the visiting team looking likely to hold on, man of the match Josh O’Hare carried the ball twice in the build-up before picking from three metres out and driving over for a famous try. Dom Hance’s kick from the left touchline was crucial. He placed it right through the middle of the uprights and the victory was Shiplake’s. A show of spirit was needed. The performance was not the team’s finest work, but the determination to succeed is very much alive.
U14A 43-22 Lord Wandsworth College
Director of Sport Mr James Gaunt provides the following report from the victorious match:
‘Lord Wandsworth College arrived in good form, having beaten Portsmouth Grammar school 55-0 the previous week. However, they were soon put on the back foot after Rory Diez Harrison intercepted a midfield pass to race under the posts for a score. The opposition hit back immediately through their left wing, who proved to be a potent attacking threat throughout the game. Both sides exchanged hearty blows and matched each other as the half progressed, but two further tries from Diez Harrison and one from Jerome Rocks meant that Shiplake College led 24-17 at half time.
Going into the second half, it was clear that we could negate the attacking threats of the opposition centre and wing by ensuring we had excellent line speed in defence. With this as our focus we started to close the game out. Adam Porter was excellent in both attack and defence and Max Smith along with Josh Walne stepped up to the plate with some fantastic tackles. As the game wore on we began to assert ourselves both physically and tactically. At times we kicked to relieve pressure and began to commit fewer players to the offensive breakdown, meaning that we could fill the field in defence. It was a little disappointing that the overlaps we created were not capitalised on. This was because players too often stepped back inside instead of letting the ball do the work for us. We must learn to draw defenders and pass to space. If we can do this I believe we will begin to play with some real width and pace. The final score was 43-22 to Shiplake College with Rory Diez Harrison the clear man of the match after scoring four tries and kicking four conversions.’
U14A 38-0 Claires Court
After Saturday’s victorious match against Lord Wandsworth, the U14A team were keen to maintain their winning streak. Mr Gaunt again provides a report from the match:
‘With only four days since the physical contest again Lord Wandsworth, this was always going to be a test of the team's character. Facing a much bigger Claires Court side meant that we needed to absorb some very direct plays from our opposition early in the first half. Despite this we started to put some promising passages of play together, focusing particularly upon playing with more width and depth. When we stuck to these principles the large Claires Court side began to flag and we soon ran in two excellent scores from Barney Rivett and Jerome Rocks. It was 12-0 at half time and we decided that we would do everything we could to lift the tempo of the game. Soon we began to turn ball over and made sure that we reacted with urgency to all of the referee's decisions to stay well ahead of our opponents in all facets of the game. Once the Claires Court XV had truly tired we really began to impose ourselves on the game with excellent offloads producing further tries for Rivett, Diez Harrison and Rocks. The game finished 38-0, with excellent contributions from a number of players - notably Isaac Beasley at hooker and Cameron Jones at scrum half. The side must focus on carrying the ball into contact with two hands as we move forward to the tough fixtures after exeat.’
