| Under 14's reach semifinals of the Newbury 10's |
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| Written by Andrew Baron | |
| Monday, 03 May 2010 | |
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Pool games Shelford 37 Newbury Roebucks 0 Shelford 15 Devenport Services 0 Shelford 24 Clermont Rugby 0 Quarter finals Shelford 22 Redingensians 7 Semi final Shelford 12 Derby 19 Tries: Walker, Jones Shelford arrived at Newbury to defend their National 10s trophy to finf weather more reminiscent of the cold dark days of winter. The driving rain and cold north wind did not relent all day - the coaches were naturally concerned that the dismal conditions would not suit the handling game was planned. Time would tell. Victory in the three pool games would mean the big guns could be avoided in the quarterfinal stage. The boys prepared with grim intent. Newbury Roebucks were first up and the passing game slotted into gear. Shelford managed 5 tries, with two from Rory Hutchinson, and one each from Sam Jones, Tom Picton-Turbervill, Oscar Giles, Ollie Walker and Aiden Cooper. A conversion from James Knoop completed a 37-0 win. The pack was shuffled for the game against Devonport Services. Tom Sherrington-Scales came in to score the opening try, and further tries from Knoop and Picton-Turbervill made the game safe at 15-0 to Shelford. The final pool game was against the touring French side of Clermont. Clermont had won both games so far, trying to maintain their gallic flair in conditions more suited to a stick-it-up your jumper English style of game. Shelford matched their counterparts in the handling department and scored four good tries from Knoop, Cooper, Giles and Hutchinson. Conversions from Cooper and Knoop completed a 24-0 win. In the quarters without conceding a point and it all been too easy so far. Redingensians were the quarter final opponents.. Tries for Knoop, Jones, Picton-Turbervill and George Smith, with a Knoop conversion resulted in a 22-7 win but the ease with which the opposition centre had skated through the Shelford midfield was an ominous portent for the semiifinal against Derby. The challenge was to contain the pace of the Derby backs who had walked in tries at will against all of their other opponents. A new game was required as we were not going to be able to run around them. Shelford started on top using the power of Oscar Giles and Sam Jones to punch holes through the middle. But Shelford were let down by individual errors as missed tackles and spilled balls led to breakaway tries for the lightning Derby backs. 14-0 down at half time - could the boys come back? Amazingly they found another gear. A kick ahead by Knoop led to a desperate chase - just as he was about to touch down he was clumsily obstructed by the Derby full back. It looked a certain penalty try and yellow card. Amazingly only a penalty was awarded - Ollie Walker grabbed the ball and took the penalty quickly, plungiing over the line to score. Knoop added the conversion and Shelford were back in it. Could they score again. As usualn when the situation was desperate, Sam Jones decided to start playing. Receiving the ball on the left wing he powered towards the line. Would be tacklers bounced off him and he swallow dived over the line. 14-12 and it's anyoneks game. The momentum was now ith Shelford but Derby were still dangerous. A line out in the Shelford 22 was knocked on by a Derby jumper - the bobbling ball was picked up by a black shirted second row and he fell over the line. Unfortunately the knock-on was not spotted by the officials and the try stood. Shelford were defeated and the title was gone. It had been a great second half comeback but in the final analysis a lacklustre first half performance left the boys with too much of a mountain to climb. And that is the last cliche of the season! |
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