Sports Report 14 October 2025

14 October 2025

In today's Sports Report, we catch up one a wide range of sports and fixtures that took place throughout the week including basketball, football, hockey, netball, and rugby. It was brilliant to see so many pupils acrss the College represent us on the pitches with so many positiver results to report on!

Basketball

U18s vs Charters’ School Ascot

The U18 Shiplake boys' basketball team had their first fixture at home against Charters' School Ascot on Thursday afternoon. The majority of the team were making their U18 debut, and for many it was their first time representing the College in basketball. The boys played exceptionally well against an older and physically larger team, winning the first quarter and drawing at half time. The game was so tense that not even a full fire alarm in the 4th quarter dampened either side's focus! Ultimately, Charter's came away with the win by one point, 22-23, but there were several moments in the final minutes where the team could have clinched victory back. Well done for coming out so strong and playing with heart in the first game, and special thanks to the Year 10s and 11s who stepped up to play and contributed with confidence.

Hockey

Girls’ 1st XI vs Holyport

Another victory for the 1st XI winning 3-2 against Holyport. The opposition were strong and had some talented players, so it definitely tested us as a team. In the first half, we scored two goals putting us in the lead. Coming into the second half, Holyport bounced back scoring two short corners, but it was the Shiplake girls who scored the final goal with minutes to go. It was a slow match for us coming back after not playing for almost two weeks, but everyone should be very proud of their performance. Player of the Match: T Nicholson, Players’ Player: A Godfrey, Coach’s Player: P Clarke.

Report: T Nicholson, Girls’ Hockey Captain

Girls’ 2nd XI vs Leighton Park

Final score: Shiplake College 3-0 Leighton Park; Player of the Match: L Dix

Girls’ U13s Tournament

Well done to our Lower School hockey girls who competed at a tournament last week. Incredibly, our girls came 2nd out of 18 teams, losing 2-0 in the final. The girls won on shuffles in the semi-final which the girls were over the moon about. A special mention to F Nicholson who won Player of the Tournament; a brilliant achievement considering that she is in Year 7.

Netball

1st VII vs BCA

It was a very physical match against BCA but we played extremely well and held our own to secure a win. Final score was 38-24 which is a brilliant result moving us through to the third round. Well done to D Crisford who stepped up to join the first team when she is only in Year 9; she played brilliantly! I am extremely proud of these girls and can’t wait for the next match. Congratulations to Coach's Player: A Godfrey, Players’ Player: D Crisford, and Players of the Match: S Bhambra and M Mundy.

Report: M Mundy, Girls’ Netball Captain

Rugby

1st XV vs St George's Weybridge:

The 1st XV got off to a brilliant start against St George's with superb play from S Lingard and F Partridge giving us plenty of attacking threat. That being said, St George's additional size soon started to take its toll and at the half Shiplake were up 13-12. Credit where it is due, St George's stuck to their guns and gradually wore us down with plenty of physical play and feasting off of our mistakes. Plenty of pick and goes and a lack of response from the 1st XV meant they found themselves 28-13 down with 10 minutes to go. A final flurry and constant attacking threat from Shiplake wasn't enough to close the gap and the game ended 28-20 to St Georges. A valiant effort and some big lessons learnt on how different teams will play different styles of rugby.

2nd XV vs St George's Weybridge

Final score: Shiplake College 20-25 St George's Weybridge

U16A vs St George's Weybridge

Final score: Shiplake College 19-14 St George's Weybridge

U15A vs St George's Weybridge

After another slow start, this was a balanced fixture and a one score game at half time, with trys from G Silver, G Huckle and a penalty try. Shiplake’s defence was too loose though and we did not cope with their athletic runners in the second half. Too many trys were conceded taking the game out of reach but Shiplake did score two more tries before the end from G Huckle and F Jenkins. There were excellent performances from M Terry, L Waldegrave, W Wackerle, G Silver and J Elston.

U15B vs St George's Weybridge

Shiplake continued their winning streak with an excellent performance against a strong St George's side. The Shiplake boys were always going to be in for a tough encounter however, with some improved communication, tackling and team work, it left Shiplake in a strong position. After a very balanced start to the game and Shiplake a bit slow to the ruck ,it was St George's who scored first try of the game with a Shiplake knock-on allowing St George's to take advantage and score in the corner. Although this ignited a spark to Shiplake who from this moment started to dominate the rucks, force errors in the scrums, and use the power of the forwards to break through the lines. This then saw A Palmer score under the posts after a few pick and goes. The second half resumed in the same manner with Shiplake on the front foot and able to score early through D Mellor forcing the ball over the line after a scramble. Most impressive was Shiplake's grit and determination in defence, matching any of St George's push with strong tackles and excellent rucking. A brilliant team performance with A Kimyani (producing some fantastic tackles) and a special mention to B Keown who produced a number of important tackles.

Final score: Shiplake College 14-7 St George's Weybridge

U14A vs St George's Weybridge

What a game! We knew St George’s were going to be strong given that their side had not lost a game all last year, or the year before and so it proved. They scored early and we looked shell shocked, and conceded another try. At this point, we woke up and began to play, with F Ferens scoring soon after the kick off. Despite losing three players to injury, we played much better in the second half to take a 19-17 lead into the closing minutes. We had chances to score but it was the opposition who beat us round the outside to score in the corner. 22-19 and the final whistle went. A great game and despite the result. a very pleasing performance with F Ferens outstanding again.

Final score: Shiplake College 19-22 St George's Weybridge

U14B vs St George's Weybridge

A competitive game today with a strong opposition. While the result didn't go our way, I am proud of the resilience the boys showed today. The first half started evenly matched where the opposition scored first, but we answered convincingly, C Deering powered through the centre scoring our first try, with a conversation from L Hathaway. The opposition featured some strong runners which we struggled to defend quickly enough, leading to a couple of tries against us. The boys, while initially dropping heads after an injury, kept supporting each other and we scored again with a great pick and go from the scrum. There were great improvements in our attacking structure and in our go forward, but the greatest improvement was in our resilient attitude today.

Final score: Shiplake College 12-38 St George's Weybridge