It's a packed Sports Report today as we catch up on the many fixtures and competitiions our pupils were involved in over the course of the week! There were county tournaments for our senior and junior netball and hockey girls, block fixtures for our rugby boys, and lots of positive football results for our Lower School boys!
Netball
We had a fantastic day at our County Tournament on Saturday with our U18s coming 3rd out of 12 teams at the competition. They came 2nd in our pool, then went on to win the 3rd v 4th play off very convincingly after beating some schools who are much bigger than us and who have been playing together for years! We’re super proud of the girls and their achievement - this is the first time we have entered this competition so to come away with 3rd place is exceptional. Well done to the following girls:
- M Mundy (Captain)
- A Richardson
- M Craig
- H Moss
- D Crisford
- S Bhambra
- A O'Shea
- A Godfrey
- C Pendlebury
- T Nicholson
At the same competition, our U14 girls were also in action with this also the first time they have entered. And while it was not their day, the girls played with rigour and determination throughout!
Rugby
1st XV vs St Benedict's School
The 1st XV came up against a very strong St Benedict's side loaded with players either engaging in academy rugby or on the fringes of academy rugby. The scoreline certainly doesn't reflect the balance at times between both sides but Shiplake certainly looked like a side who hadn't trained well off the back of a 2-week break. A lesson in taking form and good performances for granted that now leaves the boys looking for a much-improved performance next week as they look to bounce back against RGS at home.
Shiplake College 7-61 St Benedict's
2nd XV vs St Benedict's School
The 2nds ultimately fell short in a thrilling match, with both sides taking the lead. Shiplake started slowly conceding an early score to a tap penalty. However, Shiplake then regained their composure and started to play through the phases. A miraculous offload from D Stobie saw F McCalley score in the corner, before F Pilkington added a second try with a storming run from the 22. There were further eye-catching scores in the second half from O Tooley and F Russell, with R O’Boyle and F McCalley both adding fine conversions. Shiplake were disappointed to let this one slip, and ultimately it was lapses in concentration and control letting the opposition back in. Well done to all players for a terrific effort.
Shiplake College 26-31 St Benedict’s
U16s vs St Benedict's School
A tough first loss for the boys. The first half started pretty even with both teams very physical. St Benedict’s put a few phases together and scored the first try after 15 minutes which was unconverted. Shiplake were now spurred on by this and started dominating the collision. We out scrummed them and our forwards started to dominate. Shiplake then scored off a lineout 20m out that they mauled all the way to the line with W O’Callaghan scoring his first try of the season. In the last move of the half, Shiplake tried to clear their lines and kicked it down the fullback's throat who counter attacked and scored a try under the poles. 12-7 at half time. The second half was dominated by Shiplake with St Benedict’s not entering our half but unfortunately, we just couldn’t find the try. We pushed and tried our best and just weren’t clinical enough. A dropped ball over the line and a few knock-ons cost us; lessons to be learned and the boys were disappointed, but they will come back stronger.
Shiplake College 7-12 St Benedict’s
U15A vs St Benedict's School
Shiplake played some of their best rugby of the season for a period of 15-20 minutes when they came back from 5-26 down to 26 all with 5 minutes to go, in what became a very exciting contest. Unfortunately, Shiplake conceded an interception try and lost 26-33. Overall, the side continues to make progress with decision making and identifying space. Shiplake know to work on composure in the opponents 22 and remaining positive with each other as they have shown what they can do. There were two excellent tries from G Huckle, a pick and go from W Wackerle and a great number 8 pick-up from the base of the scrum by G Silver.
Shiplake College 26-33 St Benedict’s
U15B vs St Benedict's School
It was a game of two halves that ultimately saw St Benedict's came out on top. Shiplake started very well with some early tackles and good phases of play enabling Shiplake to reach the St Benedict's 5 metre line on multiple occasions. However, it was the ability to retain the ball and get over those last 5 metres was the real struggle in the first half. As the half drew to its close, St Benedict's very much against the run of play took the lead with a well worked pass and move from inside their own half.
At half time with St Benedict's leading 7-0, Shiplake were very much still in this game. Although, things quickly changed when an early second half try gave St Benedict's confidence and disrupted Shiplake completely. This saw Shiplake's shape and heads drop enabling another four tries to be scored. A tough result but plenty to learn from going into our next fixture.
Shiplake College 0-37 St Benedict's
U14A vs St Benedict's School
Having lost narrowly just before half term, the U14As clearly had a point to prove. This was a fabulous, complete performance. We recycled the ball clinically and effectively and dominated possession. In defence, we blitzed St Benedict’s so that we were making territorial gains even when we didn’t have the ball. Excellent performances from everyone from 1 to 19, but particularly from F Ferens, T Maskell and O Wray.
Final score: Shiplake College 36-0 St Benedict's
U14B vs St Benedict's School
Tough day at the office with a result that doesn't reflect the positives from the game. The boys proved their resilience; they did not give up and kept coming back refocusing. The team were able to utilise their attacking structure well, and their support in the rucks has improved from the beginning of the season. Well done to T Scott, L Hathaway and A Humphreys for keeping the team organised on the pitch. Awesome tackles coming in from W Rumsey and Y Stamoulis, and strong scrummaging turnovers from W Sefton Jenkins today at hooker. Big week at training and onto the next fixture!
Final score: Shiplake College 0-40 St Benedict's
Football
Our U12Bs are having a fantastic season this year, and they continued their fine form to remain top of the league with an 8-1 victory against Leighton Park School. The side started brightly, keeping possession well, but struggled to get a clean shot through a well organised defence. The breakthrough came from an A Neal corner when the ball deflected on a defender to take the lead. Minutes later, a B Rickerby cross met A Chester-Towler in the box whose glancing header found the net. Leighton Park did manage to get one back on the counterattack, but it was E Jones who picked up a loose ball in the box and slammed it into the back of the net to make it 3-1 at half time.
The second half was more open and produced some great crosses into the box and set up goals for A Chester-Towler and A Neal. S Terry and A Crowder were outstanding at the back, and B Rickerby finished the game with a well-earned hattrick and was nominated Player of the Match by the Leighton Park Captain.
In other results, the U13As won 5-1, the U13Bs drew 2-2, and the U12As won 5-1.
Hockey
It was fantastic to host the U12 County Hockey Tournament at the College yesterday on our Paddocks AstroTurf! The place was abuzz with hockey activity where we had two teams in action; massive congratulations to our As who came 3rd out of 12 teams. We very narrowly missed out on a place in the final by losing on penalty shuffles, but all girls played with resilience and enthusiasm all day!
Meanwhile, our U18s have been in action during the week with the 2nd XI recording a 2-0 win against LVS while the 1st XI came up short against Reading Blue Coat School. On the junior side, our U14s were dominant in a 7-1 win against Reddam House.
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