Sports Report 17 May 2022

In this week's sports report... The Boat Club raced at Thames Ditton Regatta and in tennis we had two events against Pangbourne and Leighton Park, with the Senior 1st Team securing a brilliant victory. In cricket, we had fixtures against Cranford House, Wellington and St Benedict's, with our U14As being named team of the week for their composure and maturity on the pitch. 

Rowing

The Boat Club travelled to Surrey on Saturday to race at Thames Ditton Regatta. Much like last weekend the competition was a traditional side by side regatta.

• The 3rd VIII won against Bryanston and The Oratory
• The J15 A crews won against King's School Canterbury and lost to Hampton A
• The J15 B crew lost to Hampton B
• The J14 A crew lost to The Windsor Boys School
• The J14 B crews won against St Edward's School and lost to Radley College

These crews will train at Shiplake next Saturday in preparation for the National Schools' Regatta the following weekend. 

Tennis

A deuce of a week for Shiplake College Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. The first fixture of the week was the Colts first team versus Leighton Park. We have a particularly strong set of Year 9 and 10 players this year and their skills came to bear on the Leighton Park team. With some excellent shot making from all players we took the victory by six sets to three, leaving us one match apiece versus Leighton Park in boys' matches. The senior girls' fixture was blighted by illness, with two of our players unable to play. All was not lost however and when S Reid took the initiative and discovered new talent in H Parsons - every cloud etc. The two fought valiantly but ultimately lost two sets to one. 

Saturday was an excellent day of tennis. We had two fixtures against Pangbourne College, one at home with the senior firsts and one away with the senior seconds. The senior second team was again plagued by absence, but by Friday evening six players had been rustled together, including Year 10 A Mi playing up. Veteran of the second team J Braun won his rubber, but ultimately an inexperienced second team lost the match but learned some valuable lessons. The home match was a different story. The senior first team is one of the strongest Shiplake has had in many a year and was further bolstered by captain of the Colts team S Mealing playing up and winning two of his three rubbers. J Perry brought his net proficiency to bear, L Poundall and B Varaday utilised four years of teamwork, A Turner used his excellent reactions and soft hands and team captain J  Blacknell simply overpowered his opponent. The victory went to Shiplake by 8 sets to 1. 

Cricket

Lower School

1st, 2nd and 3rd XI enjoyed their matches against Cranford House. I Doherty top scored for the 1st XI and captain O Bailey bowled superbly for the 2nd XI in their victory from the final ball. 

U15As

Another match decided in the final over. Mr Bradley commends A Siveter and B Stokes for their performance with ball and bat respectively. 

1st XI

A comfortable 8 wicket win for the 1st XI against St Benedict's with captain J Angell impressing again with 60 not out. He is close to 500 runs for the season already. 

2nd XI

Wellington College posted 133/7. The 2nds fell just short despite an excellent innings of 63 not out from M Patterson. 

U14As - Team of the Week

Congratulations to the U14s for their maturity and professionalism on the pitch against St Benedict's. Your bowling, fielding and catching were superb, you played the game as it should be played.