Shelford 2’s 19 Cantabs 1’s 7      

Another win against a local first team, our defence, fitness and spirit were very good and were the reason we won this match. However, we never managed to get our game plan working, mainly due to interpretations from the ref, but even so we did not boss the rucks to get the ball back but were happy instead to moan at the ref and his acceptance over the Cantabs play. If we had controlled these phases of the game we would have won by a lot more. 

An early switch off by us defending a penalty five metres out allowed their scrum half to tap and go in relatively unopposed to trail 7 – 0. We dragged ourselves back into the game after this and missed a few opportunities to score. Then a break by Alex Greenberg from inside our half and although he was eventually tackled about five metres out James Worthington was on hand to collect the ball and run in under the posts to make it 7-7 which was the half time score. 

Playing up the slope the second half we continued to press. A break by Richie Cottam down the blind side and a fortunate bounce of the ball allowed him to go over and Shelford were 14- 7 up. As the game progressed it was all Shelford and some very good kicking kept the pressure on Cantabs and the play mainly in their 22. A good break by Dan Conlon almost saw him score but again was tackled just short only for Alex Greenberg to be on hand to take the ball over the line making it Shelford 19 – 7. Things still to work on in training but there are some good positives about our play at the moment and belief and spirit within the side is good.

One more friendly this Saturday to put this right and then our league season begins.  One other thing that definitely needs a mention is an outrageous dummy that came off for James Briggs which not only fooled the Cantabs defence but all of the Shelford players who not only have never seen Briggsy do one of these before but are sure never to see one again.