Sat 13 Dec 2025, 14:15
Shipston on Stour 27-10 Stratford
The local derby rematch, with Stratford travelling to Shipston on this occasion having won the home match earlier in the season. The slope of the Shipston pitch put pressure on the coin toss, which Stratford lost, so started downhill on a dry, bright but chilly day.
After 10 minutes of mainly Stratford possession in the Shipston half, having not managed to break through the Shipston defence, Stratford sensibly opted for three from a penalty in line with the post on the 22, kicker Dan Whitby duly delivered. A mismanaged restart reception welcomed Shipston into the Stratford 22 and not long after they scored with a huge overlap on the Stratford right with not enough defenders working round from the far-left ruck series. The missed conversion left the score at 5-3.
Stratford got back into the game, with penalties and the occasional break or pop to the side allowing them to slowly move Shipston back. A mazy run from winger Andy Oliver the highlight, Stratford pinned Shipston back in their corner with a grubber through inside the Shipston 5 m. Many phases and three penalties later, they chose to take a scrum as the lineout was faltering. With the scrum moving forward, scrum-half Jake Lowe saw an opportunity with a 2-on-1 down the blindside, but for an attempted interception Oliver would have walked in. Penalty try and a yellow for the Shipston defender.
The final 10 minutes of the half played out with Stratford generally in the ascendancy though failing to stretch Shipston whilst they were a man light. Misfires on the lineout and a resolute Shipston defence frustrating Stratford who knew with the slope, they needed to be ahead at half-time, preferably two tries clear. With the whole pack carrying well Stratford failed to build on pressure with some guilty of knock-ons and others isolated and therefore turned over.
An open field gave the Stratford supporters hope when the ball was spread wide to Jamie Jones who cut through the midfield but was halted by a tackle when looking for support. Shipston only really looked vulnerable when their defence was disorganised. Having worked their way to the Stratford 22 through penalties and turnovers, Shipston dealt a blow just before the break scoring a try to the right of the posts, the conversion the only other action before the half-time whistle.
With Stratford now going up the slope and Shipston by now restored to full contingent, the second half got underway. Shipston moved ahead on the scoreboard, taking three points as Stratford had in the first and then began to pin Stratford in their own half at the bottom of the hill. Deep kicks out of the Stratford half were well dealt with and returned in kind. It got worse for Stratford with 10 minutes gone as Shipston made progress into Stratford’s half after benefiting from a Stratford lineout, a deep grubber through back into the 22 and an overlap on the right creating space on the left. Two phases later and it was 22-10 to the hosts.
By now having introduced all three substitutes, Dom Wan and Laurence Birch in the forwards, and Charlie Billings on as full-back, shuffling the pack and the backs, Stratford slowly worked their way back into the match. Moving from their own half to the Shipston 22 through hard work and half breaks through the Shipston defence. A penalty at a ruck gave Stratford an attacking lineout in the red zone, but it was overthrown. Set back by this and a long kick clearing kick that dribbled into touch just outside the 22, Shipston were back into Stratford’s half.
Shifting the focus of the attack, Stratford managed to work back to halfway, but a turnover allowed Shipston back in. Stratford attacks look more promising but sadly for every decisive carry there was one or two following it which were behind the gain line set by it. With 20 minutes of the half gone Stratford were forced to withdraw Lowe, through injury, and fly half Luke Jelley was the man tasked with stepping out of the comfort zone to replace him. Stratford looked good but were missing key opportunities.
With Stratford gaining confidence and Shipston looking tired from their first half exerts, Stratford had most of the possession but were denied possession in the red zone by well fielded kicks and occasional Shipston breakouts. With former fly half’s now playing 13 and 10 (as well as nine) Stratford were able to spread the play quicker and started to test Shipston once again. A scrum move repeated, due to a reset, still worked and allowed Jones to dart into the Shipston 22, Whitby his decoy. A set lineout move broke down in the right-hand corner for Stratford and threatened to deny them the losing bonus point they were now chasing with only three minutes left.
Having thrown everything at securing the bonus point try, a loose ball popped out the side of a ruck and before Stratford knew it they were defending on their own five. With forwards having just run 70 m back lacking the remaining energy to drive Shipston back, they conceded to the left of the posts, Shipston’s bonus point try and the missed conversion the final act of the match, 27-10 the result.
Stratford XV: 1. Michael Dawes* 2. Ben Cole* 3. Tom Stanley* 4. Zak Amond* 5. James Walton 6. Sam James* 7. Toby Mendes 8. Jamie Jones* 9. Jake Lowe 10. Luke Jelley 11. Andy Oliver 12. Gwil Davis* 13. Dan Whitby* 14. Armin Tofighi* 15. Nathan Geekie* 16. Dom Wan* 17. Laurence Birch* 18. Charle Billings*
*Denotes product of Stratford minis and juniors
Stratford-upon-Avon 2nd XV 56-10 Alcester 2nd XV
Copilot summary (not “reviewed”, as I will not be using it):
