Shipston v Rugby Lions

Due to the hard pitches it was decided for safety reasons to play touch rugby instead.

The lions were split into 2 teams of 10 playing 7minutes each way. Results were as follows:

Shipston A 2 v 4 Rugby Lions A

Shipston B 4 v 1 Rugby Lions B

Shipston A 5 v 1 Shipston B

Rugby Lions A 6 v 0 Rugby Lions B

Shipston B 0 v 7 Rugby Lions A

Shipston B 3 v 4 Rugby Lions B

Shipston A 0 v 5 Rugby Lions A

Overall a good performance from both teams on a very hot morning at Shipston. The A team in particular showed some great ball handling technique, but the B team worked hard and defended very well.

Overall combined team scores were:

Shipston 14 tries.

Rugby Lions 27 tries.

The hot sunny conditions dictated that fast handling rugby was the order of the day and both sides obliged.  Although the score shows the Lions as runaway winners, this does not reflect on a gutsy Vipers performance from a team that never gave up. From the back row Tom Barton opened the scoring for the Lions as the forwards recycling of the ball and strong running began to weaken the Vipers defences.  This was followed up by second row Jack White's first of three tries before the back division of Ryan Edwards, Dan Oxberry and Grant Gordon all crossed the line before half time.  Vipers hit back with a well worked long range try for their full-back and Barton then spent 10 minutes in the sin-bin after a rush of blood to the head. The passage of play was much the same in the second half.  White added a further two tries, Edwards bagged his second, Jamie Maxwell claimed a try on his first run out as a flanker and Tom Pollard sprinted 70 yards to round off the scoring.  All but two of the conversions were neatly slotted by Tom Pollard and Sam Rule.  The Vipers pressed for a score at the final whistle but the heat was taking its toll and both sides were glad that the game had concluded as temperatures continued to rise.

Final score: Vipers 7 – 66 Rugby Lions