Saturday 10th November 2007
Shipston 4th        24
Oxford Quins 4th  26

A first outing of the season for Shipston's 4th team ended in last minute defeat when the game should have been closed out. Leading 24-19 with only minutes to go, the home side were awarded a penalty in Quins' 22 but instead of going for posts or the corner, a scrum was called for which was won but then possession was lost in conceding a penalty. The ball was kicked down field evading three Shipston defenders and bouncing into the arms of the Quins' flyhalf who cantered under the posts to level the scores and then converted his own try for the two point victory.

Shipston had dominated for most of the game and had taken the lead through club chairman and no.8 Richard Spencer who touched down when Quins' pack had been scrummaged back over their own line from 5 metres out. Former chairman Jon Davies converted. Shipston were 12-5 up at the interval thanks to a blistering try by Jim Organ on his 40th birthday.

Shipston were never able to get more than one score ahead as Quins' scored straight from the restart and then matched Organ try for try as he completed his hat trick. The game was played in great spirit and the camaradarie continued into the night in the clubhouse.

RS