Shipston struggle as opposition master conditions

SHIPSTON coach Matt Corby admitted he had no complaints after seeing his team lose 36-14 to Moseley Oak under the lights on Friday night.

With the Moseley pitch waterlogged, the match was switched to Woodrush only for torrential rain to turn the surface into a mud bath which turned out was more to the liking of the Birmingham side’s powerful and well-drilled pack.

First half tries from back row Ollie Southgate and prop Kris Fenn, one of which was converted, handed the hosts a 12-0 interval lead and when second row Jack English broke upfield to score a converted third early in the second half, it looked like being a long night for Shipston.

But the Rams hit back in style with two of the best tries of the game. First up followed a break from centre and captain Dan Taylor who then fed scrum-half Connor Hutchison who came on as a replacement having been out for a few weeks.

Fellow centre Ben Harris then topped this with an excellent 70-yard break only to be held up short of the line but hooker Harry Clark popped up to tidy up and score the points.

But hopes of the resurgent visitors claiming the win ended as Moseley scored two more tries, Ollie Rowberry with a clever kick and chase before Southgate went over for his second of the game. Lewis Simpson kicked four conversions and a penalty.

A mud-splattered Corby said: “They have a good heavy strong pack and when conditions are like this it is never really in our favour. We gave away too many penalties and they made the most of it and also the conditions, winning easy line-outs and mauls which is their strength. Fair play, they punished us.

“On the few times we had the ball and were able to run with it I thought we played some decent rugby in the conditions. We scored a couple of tries and there were some positives to take.

“It’s always disappointing to lose a game but I can't be too upset bearing in mind the conditions. There were chances to get the four tries and the bonus point which I thought we deserved so that’s the most disappointing thing.

“We carried the ball well in midfield and in a lot of areas around there I thought we won the physical battle which was pleasing. But the game was dominated by set-piece and Moseley’s was the better. It was as simple as that.”