Berkshire Shire Hall R.F.C.

After a week off to rest Shire were looking to take their adventurous approach at Hove onto the league stage and throw the ball around to run in some tries. Anyone who was stood outdoors on Saturday afternoon will know that it was not the best conditions to do so and therefore an opportunity missed some felt.

Shire starter well turning the ball over several times in the early stages and whilst Didcot were up for a tough game, Shire forwards seemed to have the edge. With the wind behind them, Shire kick for field position and found themselves outside the Didcot 22 in a good attacking position. Making the most of the lineout ball, Brown released the backs to see Pedro Joles crash through four tackles on the scissors with Dodson and score the opener. It was a fine run from the South African, marking his third try for the season. Fortunately for Dodson, this weeks misses can be blamed in part to the wind. End result was a miss to make it 0 – 5.
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Opposition: Hungerford I
Kick Off: 19:30
Venue: Redingensians
Meet Direct: 18:30
Dress Code: Number Ones (if possible)

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Harwell: 10 trys, 6 conversions.
Shire Hall: 1 try (Mary Porter), 1 conversion (Animal Magic)

Due to an international in the afternoon, kick off was at an earlier time of 2pm and when promotion chasing Harwell arrived at the ground late, Shire Hall sniffed an upset. Mid week modifications meant that only 5 players played in their regular starting positions, nevertheless the kick off went to plan, Shire kicking deep and 3 players smashing the Harwell receiver. (Shire were to get plenty of practise on restarts, and whilst the Texas Ranger excelled, its not really how we want to spend Saturday afternoons). The teams lack of cohesion quickly began to show, as Harwell went over for the first try of the game.

Despite this early set back Shire did rally well and spent several long spells camped in the Harwell 22. The best chance went to the backs Burtha taking the ball down the blindside, nearly setting Foggy up in the corner. This in stark contrast with the forwards best effort, a training ground penalty move, that as Neil’s ribs will testify needs more work on the training ground. Wind assisted, Harwell were able to clear the ball well down into the Shire 22. With the line out not firing Shire were under yet more pressure, Harwell went over for another try. In the scrum, despite a last minute change of hooker things were going much better, unfortunately on the one occasion that the Brian missed his hook, and Neil assisted with his hand, Shire got penalised and Harwell took full advantage scoring another. Harwell got another 2 before half time and with all 5 converted, led the game 35-0.

In the second half, Shire found their five minutes of inspiration. With the wind at his back Pedro Joles kicked Shire into striking position. Great lifting from Randy and Kerry meant that from the resulting lineout, Shire could get quick ball. Burtha gave the ‘perfect’ pass (his own words) to Mary Porter running full stride. Mary dashed 30 yards beating 5 Harwell players on the way to give the score some respectability, all this with two broken ribs. A spot of animal magic ensured that 5 points became 7!

A lack of fitness/match practice now clearly evident, Harwell began to dominate deep in the Shire half. The Dr soldiering on admirably (shout out to the Doc’s fan club, I know you’re reading) and Bishop receiving running repairs to his boots. The defence was less resolute than in previous weeks and but for Pedro Joles the damage could have been much greater. The Harwell backs now enjoying themselves were brought back down to earth when a cheeky chip was firmly rebuffed by Dingle who went through with his tackle regardless. For the less experienced players it is worth noting that Dingle’s explanation ‘he wanted me to hit him late’ didn’t sway the ref, Shire were sent back 10 metres and a further try resulted.

Shire did attack once more and a for a moment a good grubber from Osbourne looked to have caused Harwell problems but it was not to be and Harwell took their opportunities scoring several more before the final whistle.

Man of the Match: Pedro Joles.

Special thanks to Old Father Time who completed his 350th first team game and to the touchline who were as vocal as the afternoon was depressing.

We’re on the lash in Brighton next weekend and Skip will back so things are certain to improve !?!

Following a good result at Grove, Shire arrived at Tadley in a somewhat subdued mood. Tadley on the other hand, were already on the pitch practicing their drills and getting fired up! A flat warm up led to the skippers riot act 2 minutes before kick off in an effort to rouse some bite.

A perfect day for rugby saw a ten minute “sizing up” of each other with Tadley getting the nudge on Shire in the rolling maul. Good kicking from Dodson and Brown saw Tadley pinned back in their own 22 and when the Tadley fullback ran one out ten metres from their own line, Shire were in a great position. The return of Ribbons in the line out was a bonus and so Neil Evans called a 4 ball “impact”. Ribbons secured the ball and Shire marched over with Jerry Godfrey masterly controlling the maul at the back to get the touch down. Dodson converted from wide, 0 – 7 to Shire.

Good field position saw Tadley under pressure in their own 22 and a stray pass was picked up by Tregurtha who showed good pace to touch down near the corner rather than the preferred option of under the posts. Lack of orientation around the touch line suggests more practice at scoring is needed! The missed conversion made it 0 – 12.

Tadley tried hard to play their way out of trouble but fierce defence from Shire, in particular Joles in the centres, resulted in a firmly shut path to the Shire line. Shire continued to press and good movement in the backs saw Dodson off load metres from the lines and Peter Joles go in near the posts for his second in two games. It was good support from all of the Shire team as we had discussed in training. Two more points from Dodson made it 0 – 19.

Nineteen points up and Shire switched off letting Tadley back into the game and conceding penalty after penalty. With five minutes to go, Tadley crossed out wide to make it 5 – 19 and giving the home side a lift before half time.

Second half and Tadley crossed again within minutes to make it 10 – 19…game on!

Credit due, Shire did not panic and with the upper hand at scrum time throughout the game, it made running out wide easier for the backs. Joles cross for a second time only to be over ruled by an unsighted referee thirty metres behind play…?! The following attacking scrum saw a great effort from the front five and a push over try for scrum half Brown who touched down just before Old Father Time Godfrey could collected his second (sorry Jerry). Dodson missed the conversion to make it 10 – 24.

Further good running from Dodson, Porter and Sheehy saw Shire press on and at one stage even Dr Clarke found himself in open play five metres from the line. A missed penalty would have made it a 17 point gap and a chance to change personnel however at 14 points, Tadley were always in the game and had good pace in the back three.

Five minutes from the end, Plastic nicked another scrum from Tadley on the half way line and with quick ball at the base, Brown made a break on the right before passing to Joles who drew the last defender to put Tregurtha in for his second of the afternoon and third in two weeks. The missed conversion made it 10 – 29.

John Morris and debutant Andy Mallon entered the game and with 5 minutes left, Tadley continued to press and crossed the line in the final play. The failed conversion made it 15 – 29.

Overall it was probably our best performance all season against a decent side. Things to work on have to be our attitude before the game (remember what you do and don’t do impacts on others), our organisation at the restart in receiving the ball and out concentration when in control of the game. We played a good side but at 0 – 19 after twenty minutes we need to close those games out completely as we have experienced first hand this season!

Man of the match – Plastic for his countless strikes against the head in the scrum and general annoyance of the opposition pack.

After a thrashing at the hands of Wallingford it was good to get a game whereby we knew from the off we were in with a chance however Grove II have been a “banana skin” at home for Shirehall over the last 3 years so we were expecting a tough game.

After 5 minutes it was clear that during the 80 minutes against Wallingford with little possession, we had forgotten what the ball looked like, felt like and what to do with it in hand. A ten minute period of excitement followed with Shire winning more than their share of ball. The first score came from an excellent cross field kick from Peter Joles standing at fly half which was collected on the full by Sam Fothergill who cruised in from 30 metres.

Sustained pressure from Shire’s pack saw good running from the backs which led to first tries for centres Peter Joles and then Edd Tregurtha, both showing good pace and in one case, a nice shiny pair of white boots (the game has truly changed since Gerrants days). Tim O’Sullivan added one of the conversions to make the score 17 – 0 after 30 minutes. A further scrum near to the Grove try line saw stand-in fly half Tom Brown dummy scissors with Peter Joles in the centre and go in under the posts for the easiest of conversions. O’Sullivan missed the conversion to make it 22 – 0 at half time.

The half time saw and return to Shire colours for Sean Perkins for a half. Shire relax a little and let Grove back into the game although Grove never really looked like scoring. With twenty minutes to go, Shire regained their form with strong running from O’Sullivan and the wingers. Some good play from the forwards saw Brian Cooper on the wing in clear open space with twenty metres to go. Cooper sauntered to the line only to be stopped 2 metres short by an 8 stone winger and a sudden stiff breeze. Faced with the choice of dragging the winger over the line on his boot lace or off loading, Cooper’s unselfish actions saw winger Chris Walker go over for his second try for the club.

The following kick off was taken by Griffiths who started the best move of the game. Many sets of hands and two rapier breaks from Joles saw the centre off load to Brown five metres from the line to go in under the posts for his second. O’Sullivan missed the easiest of conversions to make the score 32 – 0.

A good chance for Shire to work on their game and the perfect answer to the previous week.

Man of the match – Pedro Joles