Shippo U16s. What a team!

A visit to Matlock at the start of March could be a cold and wet affair and while that was certainly true outside Mount Cook Adventure centre the warmth and camaraderie inside was (as is now our custom) brilliant.

There were plenty of highlights. The boys zip wire exploits, laughing ladies that lunch and a bunch of old men reading the paper and discussing a rugby game or two over their pints. Rob Hendy is celebrating 10 years of coaching this great team of boys and we celebrated his achievement with a highly amusing ‘This Is Your Life’ with Eamonn Andrews-Deans. From green stones to several unexpected moon risings (Devon and Will), from Spice Girls to The King, from Freddie to Ziggy. Brilliant singing, performing, table top dancing and general tomfoolery.

And then there was a little bit of rugby. We headed off from a snow covered Matlock to Walsall to play a three way match with Veseyans at their ground and fellow visitors Trentham. It was seriously cold and so windy that conversions were in short supply, the ball being blown all over the place.

And play the boys did! As one of our esteemed pundits put it; played two, won three. Veseyans were short of players so we contributed six to their first game against Trentham. It was a pretty intense affair and the Veseyans put pressure on Trentham from the outset. The first half finished without a score, but with some super play, Zak was marauding, Charlie B was all over the pitch. The second saw George V set off through the Trentham team, and score with a massive grin on his face, leaving a trail of bodies in his wake! A second try saw the final score 10-0 to the home team.

Next up was Shipston U16s v Trentham. The scrum was really working against a big opposition pack and the ball was soon moving out and through the phases. The score tally started with Joe P storming over. Next scrum with Charlie B at no 8 took the ball from the back of the scrum, he made ground, Will F took up the action and then, in a moment we have all been waiting for, Jack D picked up the ball from the base of the ruck, straightened and powered over to score. It was quite a moment for all of us on the side lines. Wonderful!

Next up George Hendy, playing second row waltzed over in customary fashion. This boy genuinely has dancing feet as we saw on Saturday night! Dropping the conversion to bring the score to 17-0.

Then Max Morris in the centre, having a fantastic game, took the ball that had passed down the line with great hands all the way to go over for his first. This was swiftly followed by his second, with a lightening break sending him over the line to make the score 28-0 at half time.

The boys came back on and were looking good, they worked through the phases with so many pairs of hands involved finally allowing Joe Painter to fly over to score.
Having started well the boys’ late nights showed a little and their concentration waned. But they were soon back to it and showed us a new move, a 13 man line out, followed by a 14 man maul driving up the pitch. Very enterprising!
Ultimately the ball came out to Sam who showed us his turn of pace to make considerable ground. The ball was passed to Charlie D who spun it out to George H who went over in the corner for a great team try. Final score 38-0.

Finally we watched the home team Veseyans v Shipston. This had a more competitive air with one of the front row making a storming run into Shipston territory. The boys defence remained solid and after a good attacking period from Veseyans they started to gain more control. Charlie D showed some brilliant timing, sucking in several opposition players, before offloading, Charlie B was in fine form all over the park, Timmy showed some real inspiration and Henry played with excellent vision. All this was finished off by the forwards with Zak making the touch down.
Play continued with Shipston on the attack. Jack D and Jonno both making good ground. Then a break away, Charlie D stormed through, passed to George H who passed on to Alistair who had only moments before been in his own half. He went over and converted his own try with a cheeky drop goal.
Then the latest in the boys new moves, the ‘Salsa lineout’. What was it, well the spectators were enthralled, the opposition gobsmacked? The boys showed their salsa dance moves and then popped Archie up in the air to take the ball. Will quickly shipped in out and Charlie D, on great form this afternoon, scored. As the clock ticked down the boys stole an opposition lineout, passed it out to Max who flew forward, committing his opposite number before getting the ball to Henry who flew over for his first, very well deserved try of the afternoon and the last of the tour. 0-23.

Player of the tour: Zak