Shipston-on-Stour 26 Hereford 12
The HRFC team opened their league season with a visit to Shipston-on-Stour and gave four young players their senior debuts. They started well and were unlucky to be 12 – 7 down at half time. In the second half the hosts built on their score and quickly increased their lead with two further converted tries. Despite a number of injuries, the Wyesiders never gave up and before the final whistle scored a further try to take the final score to 26 points to 12.
The very young, fit Shipston team opened strongly, handling well and testing the Hereford defence. The Wyesiders defended well and it was them who took an early lead. They created a good try, moving the ball swiftly through six pairs of hands for an edge to edge try, finished well by Harrison Colgan crossing in the corner for his debut try.
Josh Wright’s conversion gave Hereford a seven-point lead and the momentum, which unfortunately, they soon lost. From the restart, a Hereford error gifted the ball to Shipston, seven or eight phases were followed by a kick over the Hereford defence, touched down for a try behind the posts. An easy birdie at the par 3 5th. The rest of the first half was played out with many errors from both sides. Shipston scored another try just before the interval and changed ends with a 12 points to 7 advantage.
Shipston started the second half with a brace of converted tries taking the score to 26 – 7. This made a very hard hill to climb, a climb made harder by several injuries. A couple of high tackles saw Harrison Colgan, after a great senior debut and another debutant Ewan Hartley, on his nineteenth birthday, have to leave the field. The Hereford team reset after this and put the Shipston line under pressure. Several penalties kept Hereford in the right area of the pitch, before another lovely move from edge to edge saw Drew Price go over in the corner, taking the final score to 26 points to 12.
“How well four of last year’s Colts stepped up for the first time. Both wingers scored a try on their senior debut which is amazing.” said Head Coach, Scott Sturdy “Shipston are very improved side from last season, they have injected new blood and are a very fit side. We let ourselves down in a number of ways, especially around the contact area and there is plenty to work on over the next few weeks. We showed grit to get another score late in the game, but by now the game had gone.
Overall, a disappointing performance in terms of contact, management and attitude, all things we shall have to work on in the next few weeks. Shipston are a very much improved team, we wish them the best of luck and look forward to seeing them at Wyeside later in the season.
The 1870s had an excellent win over a strong Kings Norton team by 55 points to nil. 1870 scorers-Tries Sam Roberts 2, Harvey Vaughan 2, Lewis Goodridge 1, Ben Hyde 1, Tom Denny 1, James Patterson 1 & Matt Milsom 1, Conversions Ben Wood 3 & Sam Roberts2. It was grand to see some returning players as well as old heads and young lads giving a very competent display at home.
We look forward next week to getting three senior teams out. On Friday evening our Lions team travels to Kingsland to take on Luctonians fourths, the HRFC have their first home league game of the season on Saturday against Edwardians and the 1870s travel to Old Yardleians.”
