Shelford gave a gutsy performance this Sunday, showing that they are a team to be reckoned with this season.

Shelford's squad of 20 were so eager to compete this weekend, after having their last game cancelled, that they arrived at Stoneygate before the home team and were confronted with a locked clubhouse. After the warm-up, the starting XV kicked off and took the game to Stoneygate, the lighter Shelford pack holding Stoneygate in the scrums and looking strong. In defence, the visitors were able to thwart the Stoneygate players whether they ran the ball back inside or attempted to run wide. Tia Martin (No 10) and Kim Stephens (No 9) had to work amazingly hard at defending around the scrums while Shelford's tiny wing, Bertille, made some big tackles.

By keeping up the defensive pressure, Shelford forced turnover ball on several occasions and, with the forwards working hard, their backs were able to get quick ball and run with it, eventually leading to some wonderful team work between Sarah Roper and Nomes that saw Nomes go over the line to score. More of this followed but Stoneygate's defence held up and countered so at half time the score line was 0-5.

The second half appeared to promise much of the same, with both teams evenly matched and most of the action occurring between the two 22s. Slowly however, Stoneygate seemed to increase the pressure and began to test Shelford. Twenty minutes into the second half, Stoneygate finally made it over the try line. However the conversion rebounded off the crossbar keeping the score at 5-5. With renewed confidence, Stoneygate started to dominate but Shelford gritted their teeth and showed the benefit of doing so much work on fitness and defensive drills. Again, Shelford's running paid off and Captain Jen Worth dived over the line before Tia kicked the conversion.

The last 15 minutes of the game were amazingly tense as Stoneygate searched for a way back, but the heart and work-rate of Shelford saw the home side repeatedly held up at the line. After the longest half of rugby in quite some time, an infringement by Stoneygate allowed Jen to hoof the ball off the pitch and bring our toughest victory so far this season to a close. A hard win but deserved away win.  The final score as 5-12.

 Back of the match – Tia Martin

 Forward of the match – Janet Jackson