Castle Donington v Shepshed
A breezy but sunny afternoon saw Donington host neighbours "Shepshed" for the opening friendly match of the season. As is so often the case at the start of the season, both sides were suffering with a lack of availability and subsequently fielded a bare fifteen.
With several front row players missing Donington feared they may have to play "uncontested" scrums, but "Luke Heanue" stepped up to the mark and moved to "prop".
With Shepshed up to strength in the front row, it looked like a hard day at the office for the untrained "Heanue", but instead Donington held strong and managed to win practically all of their own ball. The open play however was a different matter, with Donington dominating the rucks and mauls. Donington started to look more like their old selves with good discipline and wave after wave of driving mauls until eventually " Josh Butler" broke from a maul to crash over for an unconverted try and a five point lead.
Shepsheds back line were superb and gave the Donington backs no space to work with, in fact the only time that Shepshed looked really dangerous was when they had the ball in the backs. Only solid tackling from the Donington backs and back row, prevented several tries.
Forward pressure put Donington deep into Shepshed territory once again resulting in scrum half "Sam Taylor" picking up and jinking through the Shepshed defence for a cheeky try and a ten point lead.
It wasn't long before " Murray Kirk" crashed through for an almost identical copy of Butler's try with Sam Halford hitting the upright for the conversion attempt leaving Donington fifteen points ahead at half time.
The second half continued in the same way with Donington forwards having the Lions share of possession and territory and Shepshed maintaining the backs pressure, until eventually Shepshed broke through for a well earned, converted try putting them right back in the game at 15-7
Donington replied immediately and were very soon back in Shepsheds "twenty two" with "Terry Percival" picking up and sprinting into the corner for a brilliant debut try, on his first match back after a broken leg.
Shepshed once again replied through their backs forcing another well worked try in the corner, although this time unconverted 20-12.
Donington again replied immediately this time with "Luke Heanue" crashing over for yet another unconverted try. The Shepshed hooker eventually chased a kicked through ball for a consolation try and a final score of:-
Castle Donington 25, Shepshed 17
Man of the Match :- Murray Kirk
All in all a superb start to the season, some positives and some negatives, but we know where we need to improve "nuff said".
Big thanks to Shepshed, great bunch of Lads, great game and great spirit, good luck for the rest of the season Guys
Lee