Sat 4 Oct 2025, 15:00
Shire Hall 49 Farnham Royal 10
At last, the league season got under way in sunny Sonning. This was the VP’s 25th Anniversary Dinner and also the game saw Neil Evans make his 500th 1st XV appearance. Shire had a near full strength side with the luxury of 7 players on the bench. There were debuts for Gabriel Barlow and Matt Brazier and also, we welcomed the return of Ashton Field and Jamie Pedder. The early play was very much in Farnham Royal’s favour as they ran hard at the Shire defence but were unable to break through. They did, however, take the lead after 5 minutes with a well struck penalty after an indiscretion at the ruck by Shire. This shook Shire in action with some thumping tackles by Gwyn Robins Ed Gallen and Jamie Perry in particular. After 15 minutes, Shire were on the scoreboard when Jamie Perry’s strength took him over wide on the left. Matt Margot could not add the conversion but 4 minutes later Dave Tridgell deceived the Farnham Royal defence with sleight of hand to score unopposed. Again, Matt did not add the extra points. Shire’s tails were now up and put together some very pleasing passages of play, resulting in Jonny Parry scoring his first try of the season only 3 minutes later. (His Dad was well pleased!) No conversion but a delightfully delayed pass from Dave Tridgell put Matt Margot away who then transferred the ball to a rampaging Luke Barefoot who ran in from 35 metres to ensure the bonus point.(He’ll tell you it was 60!). This effort proved the end of the game for Luke as he had to be replaced by young Gabriel Barlow. A lapse in concentration and some woeful tackling let in the powerful Farnham Royal centre to go over to bring the score to 22 -10. Maybe Shire took their foot off the gas having scored 4 tries in 10 minutes, but this did seem to do the trick as from a lineout, the perfect driving maul saw Gabriel Barlow go over for his debut try. Dan Smedley then had to go off with a gashed ear to be replaced by Sam Joyce.
Half Time Score: Shire Hall 27 Farnham Royal 10
Half time saw the introduction of Ashton Field, Billy Wigley, Matt Brazier and Jamie Pedder but for the first 10 minutes of the half nothing really happened as Farnham Royal’s defence held firm against a determined Shire attack. An ugly high challenge on Gabriel Barlow culminated in a yellow card for the offending Farnham Royal player and after discussion, Billy Wigley stepped up to land the penalty to extend Shire’s lead to 20 points. 10 minutes later it was the turn of speedster Ashton Field to add to the score with a trademark try. Billy Wigley added the extra points and Shire were now in a very comfortable position. The try of the game came with 3 minutes left when virtually every Shire player touched the ball, resulting in Ashton going over for his second try which Billy converted. Matt Brazier’s croc roll on a Farnham Royal player did not please the referee and rightly showed Matt a yellow card. Fittingly Ed Gallen, who had had a Man of the Match performance during the game, broke through some ineffective tackling and went over for his second try in successive weeks. Billy inexplicably missed the conversion, but it did not matter.
This was a thoroughly entertaining game which Shire richly deserved to win. Lineouts were exemplary, tackling was much improved and set pieces were well executed. Work still needs to be done on the support play at rucks, but this is a minor criticism. The VPs were very happy at witnessing the victory although there were some who voiced an opinion of ‘we were better in our day!’ Next week we look forward to visiting our friends at Aldermaston and build on this victory. Clearly having 27 at training on Tuesday and putting out a squad of 22 on match day paid dividends.
Final Score: Shire Hall 49 Farnham Royal 10
Tries: Jamie Perry, Dave Tridgell, Jonny Parry, Luke Barefoot, Gabriel Barlow, Ashton Field (2), Ed Gallen
Conversions: Billy Wigley (2), Matt Margot
Penalty: Billy Wigley
MOTM: Ed Gallen – an outstanding all round performance throughout the game.
DOTD: Tom Overend – damaging a VP’s car before the game!
