Shelford VS Diss - The Highlights

The Highlights of a good 22-10 Shelford win ! Match report : Shelford found themselves minus a number of key midfield players today and had to quickly reshuffle their starting XV accordingly. Shelford started strongly and stamped their authority on the game early on with a mountain of territory and possession thanks to great work by the pack at the breakdown. Territory and possession however do not win you matches on its own as Shelford became frustrated with their own profligacy. Shelford went scoreless during the first quarter of the game as they squandered a number of gilt-edged opportunities, partly through unfamiliarity in the back line, occasionally the wrong option, but more often than not great defending by the Diss midfield. Shelford however stuck to their game plan and when an opportunity presented itself they took it through quick hands to feed Nick Webb joining from full back to finish off at pace, 5-0. Shelfords midfield continued to stutter somewhat, and a lack of pace as well as depth presented the Diss fly-half with an interception pass which he took for a 60 metre run-in to tie the scores at 5-5, which was hardly a reflection on the game at that stage, but a valid lesson of how to take your opportunities when they come along. Shelford responded immediately by regaining the kick-off and the ball was moved to centre James Clare to finish at pace under the posts, converted by Cracknell for a 12-5 half-time lead. Diss started strongly in the second half with good possession, but stout Shelford defence at that stage kept the lead in tact. At this crucial time of the game, good defending was seen by full back Dan Burling as he cleaned up plenty of Diss kicks for him to return with interest. Shelford weathered the storm and moved the ball wide again and after a number of phases we saw Harri Beasley out skin the covering defence and extend our lead to a more comfortable and deserving 17-5 lead. Diss again responded well and moved the ball away from contact quickly to create an overlap to bring the score back to 17-10. Shelford kept their heads and when the opportunity came they switched the play from an attacking midfield scrum to attack blind, with Cracknell feeding Lewis Green with the opportunity to kill the game after drawing the covering defence. This was the last play of a very entertaining game for Shelford to run out deserved victors 22-10. Squad: Sam Porter (Captain), Sam Perry (Captain), Harry OCallaghan, Lachlan Finlayson, Cormac Starling, Dan Smith, Alasdair Kerslake, Iowan Thomas-Mathieson, Jack McDaid, Ben Foster, Michael Russum, Nathan Taylor, Louis Rawlings, George Teeboon, Alex Long, Louis Boulter, Lewis Cracknell, James Clare, Lewis Green, Nick Webb, Dan Burling, Josh Till, Harri Beasley, James Wilson, Lewis Green.