Shipston U14s are much too strong for Broadstreet

Broadstreet are a big Coventry club and perhaps came to Shipston expecting an easy time. They were a player down and Aeron stepped into the breach to help them out.

Shipston applied pressure from the start, from the first touch of the ball, it was spun out to Alex on the wing who took it into contact and set the tone for the first half. The ball soon resurfaced and was passed around eventually to George V who needed no second invitation. He pinned back his ears and went over in the corner. George Hendy stepped up for the conversion and slotted over a quite awesome goal. 7-0
Broadstreet were awarded a scrum after Shipston were found offside on their own 22. The drive from the pack was incredible and the Broadstreet pack just couldn't compete with them. The ball miraculously came out Broadstreet's side, but Shipston kept the pressure on moving them back up field. The ball popped up from a breakdown for George V to slyly steal it and run from his own half to score his second of the morning under the posts. Another neat conversion from George H and the scoreboard read 14-0
Play restarted and after some loose play Broadstreet gained possession. Not for long though, this time it was Joe Painter who stole the ball passing it to Archie who ran from the halfway to score. Great play! And again George Hendy converted it, his third of the day. 21-0
Shipston were on a roll and playing well. They passed the ball from one side of the pitch to the other and despite being pulled up for the odd forward pass, looked classy and in control. The play moved up the field and this time it was Henry who had the vision to spot a gap and make it over the try line. 26-0
Next it was a scrum and the power was too much for Broadstreet, allowing the ball out to George V giving him his hat trick! 31-0. Half time
Maybe the long grass was tiring the boys out, maybe they'd eaten too many Easter Eggs or perhaps the score line made them complacent, but after half time Broadstreet started to get back into the game. The game slowed and eventually after a scrum Broadstreet distributed it wide for their first try. 31-5
George Hendy was having none of it and after the restart and some tidying passing showed us his trademark sidestep to score a tidy try. 36-5
Broadstreet returned the pressure and got Shipston on the back foot. The scrum was toned down and the resulting clearing play got messy. This time Broadstreet capitalised and scored their second try. 36-10
Shipston were straight back at it and moved play up the field with a nice run from Arlie. From the breakdown Charlie Dews scooped up the ball and dived over the try line Chris Ashton style. Final score 41-10

There were so many good features of the game: thinking in the contact, exemplary from Zak who took a big hit, turned and without slowing play at all passed out; the workrate of some of the players in getting to the breakdown, driving over and keeping possession, particularly Charlie B, Jack and Harry; the awesome scrum built on the sheer strength and skill of the front rows (Joe, Charlie D, Jonno and Ollie); the determination in tackling whichever of the opposition presents themselves, particularly Archie, Timmy and Charlie D; the tenacity of forwards and backs in making the ball available particularly Ilyas, Aeron, Arlie and Alex; the sheer speed of our flyers George V, Alistair and Sam; and all the moments of great rugby thinking that every team member exhibited at some point in the game today, but particularly Henry, Adam and George H.

After the game we all had the opportunity to thank the coaches for what has been a really good season. The boys skills, capability, teamwork and values have all grown so much.

Thank you Pete Deans, Pete Lane, Rob Hendy and Andy McGinn plus the many supporting roles, especially Lou & Pete Dews.

If I have missed anyone then apologies! You can get your own back on tour....