The best game of the season so far!

What a competitive and exciting game we saw today! Oh my goodness it's hard not to be proud of our wonderful Shipston U14 boys. Last year Claverdon beat Shipston in a tight and well matched game. This year the game was once again at Henley High School and Shipston wanted to avenge last years defeat, and avenge it they did with spirit, voracity and quite frankly the best defence we have seen so far this season.

Claverdon boast the half of KESs A team that don't play for Shipston and it was clear those boys know each other's play well. But Shipston has so much strength and depth they don't rely on those guys and today we saw a genuine team game. Played by a team, won by a team.

The first half was very tense, play went back and forth and no team was able to take control of play. Shipston were challenged by how the ref viewed play in the breakdown and the scrum, and learnt valuable lessons about responding to what the ref wants you to do, rather than how you are used to playing.

Finally Ilias got hold of the ball on the floor after quite a passage of forward play. The ball quickly moved through the back line out to Charlie Dews, our new wing, who took it over the line. The conversion was tough, out near the touch line. George Hendy stepped up and slotted a quite superb goal through the posts. Shipston took the lead 0-7.

Claverdon responded well and inundated our line with their attack. The scrum was solid and won play after play thanks in no small part to the front 5, Jonno, George M, Joe P, Will E and Jack, supported brilliantly by their back row of George H, Harry and Ilyas.

The second half saw a change of players and (as described by England yesterday) our finishers came on and were required to make an impact. Zac was unstoppable and matched Archie's play of the first half. Timmy was a machine and tackled his heart out. The Claverdon play was relentless, our forwards drove brilliantly, but Claverdon kept coming back and eventually were rewarded with a try. Converted well to draw the score level at 7-7.

Claverdon kept pushing Shipston back into their 22, but Shipston absorbed the pressure. Finally Shipston moved up the field with some fantastic play from Will F at full back. The ball moved left and it looked like Declan was going to break through, the ball came back to the middle, Jonno moved through the middle drawing in players, the ball came back to Henry who hadn't put a foot wrong all game. He kicked the ball right and Sam chased through while we all held our breath. Brilliantly he gathered it in and scored a lovely try for 7-12 to Shipston and after a tense further passage of play a win for Shipston.

Every moment today made us proud of the boys. Claverdon provided great opposition and it was a lovely, even matched game. We look forward to the next encounter.