1. Plastic (C)
2. Dave Pearce
3. Brian Cooper
4. Neil Evans
5. Andy Carson
6. Rhys Williams
7. TBC
8. Jerry Godfrey
9. John Morris
10. Peter Joles
11. Vinnie Sheehy
12. Sam Fothergill
13. Sam Watkins
14. Delroy Wheeler
15. Sean Mathe

RESULT: Grove II 24 Shire Hall 0
Man Of The Match: Dave Pearce

A bargain at only £10!

See Steve Watson to get yours today!

1. Brian Cooper
2. Plastic (c)
3. Neil Evans
4. Andy Carson
5. Stuart Clarke
6. Rhys Williams
7. Dave Pearce
8. Dave Poulter
9. Sam Watkins
10. Scott Thompson
11. Vinnie Sheehy
12. Chris Walker
13. Ben Cullen
14. Sam Fothergill
15. Sean Mathe

16. Delroy Wheeler
17. Dave Nesbitt
18. John Morris
19. Lee Brewer

ALL PLAYERS TO CONFIRM AVAILABILTY WITH PLASTIC BY EMAIL OR PHONE

RESULT: Farnham Royal 41 Shire Hall 0
Man Of The Match: Chris Walker

The first half was a close matched affair with alternate tries from either side. The first Shire try came from Plastic who managed to snaffle a loose ball on Grove’s 22 and sprint (!?!) though to score the try.

After a Grove try bringing them back level, the decision to put Jerry out on the wing was vindicated in some style. I still had my head up someone’s arse, but I hear it was a thing of beauty. With dummy and side-step Jerry cut his way though their lines to place the ball over the line.

The final Shire try of the first half came from the Durban Express. Whilst not quite as poetic as Godfrey’s it was a solid back’s move, Pete slicing his way though Grove’s back-line find the gap and run the ball home.

At half time it was Grove II’s 17, Shire Hall 17.

Unfortunately, Pedro’s pre-half time try was to be Shire’s last of the game. The half started with some stoic defence by Shire on their 5 meter, twice holding the ball up and starting again with a defensive scrum. After 10 minutes camped within the Shire 22, Grove was pushed back out to give the lads from Shire some breathing space.

From this point onwards, tiredness, injured players continuing due to a lack of replacements, and poor tackling lead to Grove taking the half 15 – 0.

Man of the match: Peter Joles.

1: Stuart Clarke (x)
2: Alasdair McCormick (x)(d)
3: Neil Evans (x)
4: Ben Flanagan (x)
5: Andy Carson (x)
6: Tim Haye (x)
7: Nick Honeyman-Brown (x)(d)
8: Jerry Godfrey (x)(d)
9: John Morris (x) (d)
10: Peter Joles (x)
11: Vincent Sheehy (x)
12: Sam Fothergil (x)
13: Ed Tregurtha (x)(d)
14: Chris Walker (x)
15: Mike Osbourn (x)

Reserves
Roger Griffiths (?)

(x) = Confirmed.
(d) = Direct.

We went to Aldermaston with 15 players and thank you to those 15 who played. After the way we finished last season “begging” people to play for Shirehall was not really how we had imagined selection to go however last season we have had to conceded loosing 2 points and there were many unavailable as a one off so we should not worry too much.

Where we need to worry is securing a platform from which to play some rugby off. Two weeks of tough set pieces with scrappy lineout and scrumage ball meant it was very difficult to get out of our own half on Saturday and Aldermaston played to their strengths which involved picking for the corners and securing good ball to roll over our line. They did this to good effect and soon went 7 – 0 up.

Shirehall looked dangerous in the backs with ball in hand, Pedro making a good break and getting it our wide to John Morris and Osbourne who linked well to be stopped inches from the line. However the resulting lineout saw the favoured double dummy scissors in the centre before Brown passed out to Osbourne who score in under the posts. Pedro added the 2 points, 7- 7 game on.

Some solid defence from Sheehy, Davies and Joles kept the midfield closed from Aldermaston attacks and they soon changed their approach on the ball. Aldermaston kicked for the corners and soon made it 12 – 7 scoring another from close quarters in the forwards. The ball Shire did get they tried to use and an unfortunate error in the backs saw Aldermaston collect a spilt ball in their own 22 and run the length of the pitch to score under the posts. Lets try that one next time when we are a few points ahead!

So 19 – 7 at half time and no subs meant a big effort from all and Shire responded scoring soon after the break with Brown running in from a blind side break after Cullen had setup well in the midfield. A difficult conversion was missed 19 – 12 and right back in it.

Brown exited the game with a pulled muscle after the return of Geraint Thomas (worth the entrance fee alone) admitting that he had his kit in the car. The Welsh flier was went to the wing where he immediately got stuck into a wingers job, hitting the rucks and burying himself at the bottom of mauls.

Shire pressed but pressed on scraps and Aldermaston were able to hang on in the end, Shires last chance coming from a good quick tap from Sam Watkins on his return releasing Nick (new boy) who linked well with the backs and almost put Thomas in what would have been a rare and well publicised score to level the game.

All in all, disappointing not to have done better after a spirited effort the week before but we had lots of guys out of position and did well to finish the game with 15. Fair to say we need to work on securing some sort of first and second phase ball up front. No doubt we have pace in the backs and will score tries all season however with only two forwards training on Tuesday, we need to get better organised up front.

MOTM – Vinnie Sheehy

He promises that if we sponsor him enough, he’ll never darken our door again. His sponsorship page is available at http://www.justgiving.com/ashleybrewer1.
Andy

Most Improved Player – Chris Walker
Captain’s Cup – Phil Merrin
Man Of The Match – Peter Joles
Players Player – Peter Joles
David Sanders “life time contribution” Award – Steve Watson

Well done all.

Well then, a game worthy of a cup final!

This was a cracking game on every level and Shire should be really proud of their performance on the day. The performances have been building since Christmas and it was fitting that the best performance of the season came yesterday. A 21-man effort not to forget all the supporters and those who have assisted us week in week out.

Conditions were perfect with the sun shining and a slight breeze but no real advantage to be had from the elements. Shire won the toss and elected to choose ends leaving Broadmoor to kick off. Shire showed good control from the off. It was definitely our best performance of all season at the restart so that is encouraging for next season.

With both teams up for it Shirehall made the early inroads with good kicking from Brown at scrumhalf and chasing from Fothergill on the wing pinning Broadmoor back into their own half. The resulting pressure led to an early penalty kick for Shire so within range, Dodson was given the honours (fresh from a days practice on the Saturday). The miss will be let off only due to an ugly attempt to clear the line from the Broadmoor fullback resulting in Joles diving on the ball over the line for the first score. Converted (hurrah) 7 – 0.

Shire continued to compete at the scrums and lineout with big games from Evans, Cooper, Istvan and Carson throwing their collective mass about. The set piece was scrappy most of the game but in the loose, Shire held their own led by the doggedness of Griffiths at open side.

Further pressure saw another penalty awarded which Dodson slotted to make the score 10 – 0 and leave Broadmoor wondering what was happening to them (déjà vu).

However they showed their class and made good yards trough the middle off loading between the back row and despite big defence for Bishop amongst others, they soon had a promising chance to go in at the corner. Last ditch defending from Big Burtha Tregurtha saw a 25 minute delay due to the Broadmoor winger breaking his leg however Shire had already strayed offside and presented a 3 point opportunity under the posts for Broadmoor to end the half 10 – 3 down.

A focussed and confident mood at half time was continued into the second half with only change Porter making some early breaks on the wing as a result of pickups from Davies at the back of the scrum. Continued pressure resulted in a quick tap penalty taken on by Plastic making good ground and with the quick ball out to the backs Osbourn went over under the posts from fullback – good time to open your account for Shirehall. Dodson slotted to make it 17 – 3 with twenty minutes to play.

Credit where due, Broadmoor up’d the pace and score a try in the backs followed by a conversion from the corner. 17 – 10 game on! Bishop decided to take a 10-minute break for foul play therefore cleverly anticipating extra time. In the meantime Shire made their own changes with Pedro broken (surprise) and Malone entering the fray as well as Perkins, Clarke and Ribbons.

With some big changes in terms of weight, Broadmoor then took advantage of a lineout in Shire’s 22 and drove over despite great efforts to stop them from the pack. There followed another touchline conversion to make it 17 – 17 and Shire suddenly loosing he plot!

With less than 5 minutes to play the game ended with extra time looming. Shire did well to re-group and a break from Brown made good yards into the Broadmoor 22 for what led to the decisive point in the game. Osbourn again appeared to be clean through and with yards to go was only prevented from a high tackle from the last defender. Last defender = penalty try? Not so on this occasion so Shire took the easy 3 points and left thinking they should have had 4!

Second half of extra time and Broadmoor cleared their lines well pinning Shire back into their 22 before scoring a good try to go 20 – 22 up. Yet another touchline conversion made it 20 – 24 with Shire having to score a try with less than 5 minutes to go. The team throw everything at Broadmoor and had 3 penalties they had to take quickly (making that penalty try decision or the more significant). Broadmoor held out and despite a valiant effort, Shire were eventually defeated 20 – 24.

If we are honest with ourselves we will look back at a game we should have won having worked to be in a 17 – 3 position with 20 minutes to play. However considering the start to the season we have had, I think all involved would be grateful we are now in a position to play they way we did and if Shire can keep and build on the current squad, they will be very dangerous for future seasons.

MOTM – Officially Brown & Osbourn, unofficially anyone who was wearing a blue and yellow shirt on the day.

1: Neil Evans
2: Alasdair McCormick
3: Brian Cooper
4: Istvan Katona
5: Andy Carson
6: Adam Bishop
7: Roger Griffiths
8: Jeff Davies
9: Tom Brown (c)
10: Andy Dodson
11: Sam Forthergil
12: Pete Joles
13: Ed Tregurtha
14: Chris Walker
15: Mike Osbourn

Reserves
Nick Malone
Mark Porter
Sean Perkins
Jerry Godfrey
John Morris
Mark Pye
Stuart Clarke