Entertaining but Tough Game at Old Eds

After a few preseason friendlies a strong Shipston Second team travelled to Nuneaton Old Edwardians for their first league fixture of the 2021-2022 season. The Shipston side was decent with plenty of strength but unfortunately it would prove they did not have enough strength in reserve…they needed the ‘finishers!’

It was a low key warm compared to what looked like an experienced Old Eds team but they won the toss and opted to receive the kick and start the game with possession. This turned out to be a wise move as Fullback Charlie Hutchings very quickly recycled play and tore through the big Old Eds squad to rack up the first score of the day. The kick from scrumhalf Sam James put the score to 0-7 before 5 minutes were up.
Shipton were ebullient but the joy was short lived. Outside centre Joe Treadgold on his first touch of the ball into contact received a hit to his right shoulder… tragedy as this was his first game back after dislocating the same shoulder in the friendly against Stow back in May. It seemed that the injury hadn’t properly repaired itself as his shoulder dislocated again and Joe left the field to the applause of the friendly home crowd…. All at Shipston wish Joe a speedy recovery and hope to one day see him grace the fields of Mayo road again.

Back to the game substitute Matt Toft came on into the back row and openside flanker George Wilcocks moved out to fill the vacant centres spot. The first sub gone within 5 minutes. That didn’t stop Shipston playing and a few minutes later a high tackle on Shipston winger Matt Earnshaw as he raced for the Nuneaton try line saw the Referee raise his arm - penalty try and the Rams were 0-14 up! With a player in the bin the Rams were soon to capitalise on a indiscretion and a penalty from Sam James 0-17 it was all looking good.

However Nuneaton were made of sterner stuff they soon stuck back with a not one but two trys of their own in fast succession 14-17 with 25 minutes played… The Rams realised that there really was a game going on here and then disaster struck, Hutchings received a big blow to the leg and discovered he could no longer run. Paddy Kane coming from the bench into the centres and the remaining backs reshuffling. 30 minutes gone and no bench left, The Old eds then used the bit of disorganisation on the pitch from the reshuffle to find a defensive gap and run the ball in under the post 19-17 and the Rams were losing for the first time in the game.

However the Rams kept going, a bullocking run from Timon White saw him tackled on the Old eds 5 metre line. Timon was just returning from injury and had only expected a quick 10 minutes, instead grafted like a trooper all game and ended up playing for the full 80minutes! Tackled and presented the ball Timon lay on the floor as Shipston team captain and hooker Andy Hunt stepped in to clear out the ruck that just never formed. Hunty was therefore able to pick up the ball and run unopposed under the sticks for the 3rd Shipston try of the day. Half time 19-24 and the Rams had the lead back with Sam James’ easy conversion.

The second half saw more injury woe to the Rams Loosehead prop Ben Haines who’d been battling with a dead arm for most of the first half finally succumbed to the injury and went off the Rams were down to 14. Tom Townend moving forwards into the front row and Josh Lewis moving from 8 to second row leaving the pack short for the remainder of the match.

The Nuneaton then used their man advantage to good effect scoring a try to bring the score to 26-24 and then another 31-24 as the Rams went down to 13 players. This was due to George Wilcocks succumbing to a mysterious illness that had been nagging him all match! But the remaining players were made of stern stuff…. On a defensive scrum the Shipston pack dropped the back row of Tofty and Matty Elliott to shore up the defence line but the sterling work of the remaining five, Tom Townend, Andy Hunt, Stu Owen, Josh Lewis and Timon White saw the Old Eds full 8 man pack get pushed off their own ball!
As the clock ticked into 65 minutes the hard work of centre George Bird finally paid off, he had been smashing into the Old Eds lines all game and finally his hard work saw pay dirt as his off load found Paddy Kane who dodged and danced 30 metres through the Eds team to dot the ball down 31-31 with 15 minutes still to play. However, it was not to be the Old Eds team realised the short fall of the Rams players and despite the amazing tackling from flyhalf Gil Blocksidge and winger Harry Holland the ball made it out wide. The Olds Eds had the lead 38-31 with 5 minutes to go.
As the Rams desperately tried to find a hole in the defence a loose ball was jumped on and despite a brave chase by Rams they were able to make the crucial tackle and the Eds player dived under the post a few minutes before the final whistle went 45-31 and victory.
It was a brave and dedicated performance by Shipston who down to 14 or even 13 players for long periods in the second half grafted right to the final second and were unlucky not to claim a win. Ultimately it was an entertaining game though and Shipston will look forward to the return fixture at mayo road later in the year. Next for the 2s is another away fixture on 23rd October at Newbold on Avon and hopefully can travel there with a full squad of 18 or 19 players and no injuries!