Shipston U15s looking good

A bright sunny day but a cold crisp start greeted the squad and supporters this morning. It only took 3 minutes for Shippo to get on the scoresheet; a line out 5m from the Bredon  try line followed by a good catch and drive set up Charlie Dews to break off and smash his way through the last line of defence to touch down. The next 10 mins saw good handling moves moving the ball from one side to the other and keeping Bredon stuck in their own 22 but they defended well and kicked clear. A good catch was taken by Will Flynn to set up another wave of Shipston attacks. It wasn’t long before the Shipston pack secured more quick ball and by the time it reached George V he powered past 5 men to give Shipston their second try, George H converted to make it 0- 12 with 20 mins on clock.

The restart was to see Charlie D catch and side step the Bredon defence but Bredon managed to turn over the ball at the ruck, Bredon managed to put some pressure on Shippo and spent the next 7 mins inside the Shippo half and they were to get their reward with a unconverted try. With the ref saying the restart would be the last of the half a mix up on halfway line by the Bredon scrum half and a team mate gifted the ball to Shippo and again the ball finds its way to George V who runs in unopposed under the posts to give George H a straightforward conversion. The half time score 5-17 to Shippo.

Shipston made wholesale changes to the back line for the 2nd half and the period started with as expected Bredon tring to exert pressure and get back into the game. With Shippo defending well a maurauding run from Joe P put the play into the Bredon 22, the game was now being contested with real intent from both sets of players. A good break from half way sees the Bredon centre go over for their 2nd try again unconverted. Bredon now putting some good work  and a great tap tackle from Archie W stops a dangerous attack. With the ball finding its way to Alastair M, he races down the wing and cutting in but a good tackle stops him dead in his tracks. The run from Alastair gives Shippo impetus and they start to push Bredon back into their 22. But if Shippo thought Bredon would fold they were wrong and Bredon soon worked their way into their 22 and with Shippo getting on the wrong side of the referee’s interpretation Bredon went over in the corner to make it 15-17.

A nervy last 5 minutes was avoided when from the restart a great tap tackle from Zak C gave Shippo the chance to turn the ball over with Bredon then being forced into touch. A quick line out by Adam L and good movement of the ball soon had the ball back in Adam's hands who powered his way over for another try which George H again converted. Shippo were now smelling blood and put Bredon back under pressure with a scrum 5m out; a good drive and Zak C sniping around the scrum only to be held up on the line. Shippo put the ball into touch and from the line out a catch and drive was executed perfectly and with Archie W and Ethan claiming the try I'm going to give it to the big guy Ethan ( mainly because he is bigger than me!). So the final score stood at Bredon 15 Shipston 29.

A great away performance from all today with very good work in all departments and the new players to the squad looking like they have been with us for years.