Rampant Shipston in devastating display (From Evesham Journal)

Rampant Shipston in devastating display

7:20pm Sunday 7th March 2010

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Shipston II 62, Birmingham Barbarians 0.

SHISPTON seconds put the Birmingham Barbarians to the sword, executing a comprehensive performance that saw them win comfortably. It was a day that the Shipston seconds bolstered by a reinforcement of fresh young faces that gelled with the more experienced old hands to give a scintillating performance, while the Barbarians couldn’t field a full front row.

This automatically gave Shipston a 30-point win, but Shipston were not satisfied with such a meagre scoreline, going onto more than double it.

From the first instance it was clear that Shipston were in no mood to be denied as they forced the opening try over in the first five minutes. This was despite the frantic attempts of the Barbarians to stem the tide of players that broke over them incessantly. As the contest in the scrum had been negated the line-outs would be a key battle ground.

The second team debutants of Dave Bishop, jumping at two, and Tom Furess throwing in ensured that Shipston didn’t lose a single line-out and unsettled the opposition into losing nearly half of their own.

Scrum-half Carl Slatter fired of arrow like passes from to give his backs time and space to carry the attack on the front foot. He was ably complimented by his fly-half Henry Hobil who played with panache in setting the attack and deft control in defensive kicking to alleviate pressure.

In all, over half the team made it on to the scoreboard with Henry Hobil scoring six conversions to top score on 12 with hooker Furess and outside centre Petry joint top try-scorers with two each. To complete the scoring, six players weighed in with one try as Ben Haines, Ian Petty, Pete Buchanan, Slatter, James Bardey and Howard Boswell all scored.

Rhys Gidley and Bardey combined well as Gidley ran off the scrum to pop a beautifully weighted pass up for Bardey to touch down in the corner. Shipston III 17, Manor Park II 29.

IN a rearranged league match against title-chasers Manor Park, Shipston thirds were defeated. The conditions were difficult for both as the pitch had taken a lot of water made handling difficult. The game was lost in the first 15 minutes when the Rams watched as Manor Park raced into a 15-0 lead. It was only later on in the half that Shipston woke up and the pack started to play as if they meant it this resulted in a penalty try for Shipston.

The second-half started with Shipston firmly taking control of the set-piece and Lee Williams scored after a kick-and-chase. But Manor Park then scored a try and the Rams’ pack further utilised the muscular aspects of the game by employing the rolling maul as an effective ploy.

This tactic resulted in a try for Tim Brendon and a closing of the scores to 22-17. Shipston then had their moments to win the game as the opposition line was nearly breached on a couple of occasions but Manor Park scored again late on.

Shipston’s first-team were beaten 17-5 by Old Leamingtonians in their latest Midlands Three West (South) clash at Mayo Road on Saturday.

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