Senior Rugby Players Prepare for New Season

Last week, 24 members of the senior Shiplake rugby squad headed to Bath University on a pre-season training camp. Head coach Mr Beckett and assistant Mr Armstrong laid out three clear aims for the week; skill development, improving fitness levels and bonding as a team.

Wednesday’s field training session was spent working on hand skills and fitness, to lose the rustiness gathered over the holidays. Boys travelled around the city and were given a flavour or what it would be like to attend university in Bath. Thursday morning was spent in the gym with a strength and conditioning expert, followed by training in the afternoon and dreaded ice bath recoveries.

On Friday, the Shiplake squad trained alongside Queen’s College Taunton, which added a competitive edge to drills and added physicality in contact. After three hard days of training, the boys replenished their weary legs and after lunch endured the long bus journey home. Saturday was reserved strictly for recovery, as Sunday brought another early start as the boys travelled to the Pearse School in Cambridge for a pre-season tournament.

It was a tough day at the office as Shiplake played three 30-minute fixtures. The maroons made a dynamic start to their first fixture against the hosts and were rewarded with a fifth minute try from Ruari Van Raalte. Good strength and intensity, particularly in the scrum, allowed Shiplake to dominate the game and extend their lead with another Van Raalte try just before half time.

Lots of substitutions at the break allowed many younger lads to make their senior rugby debuts. This did not harm Shiplake’s flow, as the imaginative attacking rugby continued and Dan Deakin applied further gloss to the scoreline with his team’s 3rd try to secure a 15-0 victory.

A much closer match followed against Framlingham College, Suffolk. It was a much more physical encounter, with lots of big tackles made by both sides. Some of the younger Shiplake players, including Greg Cooke and Charlie Sitchel, demonstrated impressive defensive skills but a well worked try just before half time gave Framlingham the lead. The second half followed a similar pattern but Shiplake were just unable to cross the line. A second try with 5 minutes remaining sealed the contest with the score Shiplake 0-14 Framlingham.

The final match of the day was against Oundle School. Mr Beckett predicted this would provide the toughest test and was proved right as a big, physical and well-drilled side scored twice in quick succession at the start of the match. Shiplake rallied well, and despite being depleted by injuries, ensured their opposition had to fight hard for any points. With no substitutes available, the 15 Shiplake players that began the second half lacked experience but certainly not heart. With some great leadership from Will Janes and James Sloman, Shiplake threatened a comeback with three promising moves and battled hard to keep the scoreline the same until the final minute. Oundle did manage a fourth try to secure a 24-0 victory.

Mr Armstrong commented: “This was a tough tournament but a good experience that will certainly help the team hit the ground running when the regular season begins. Special thanks to the Headmaster for making the journey up to Cambridge to support the team and run the touchline.”