Warriors AASE team start planning for next season

Warriors AASE League team, Stourport High School, ran the rule over some emerging talent in a 50-15 victory over Shrewsbury College in a friendly played under the Sixways floodlights.

With their AASE League programme completed before Christmas, the attention has now switched to next season.

“This time of the season is great for some of the younger lads in our squad and gives them a chance to see what we might start to look like next season,” said Stourport coach Ryan Watkins.

“I think our challenge will be to keep moving the ball and create as many problems for the defence as possible. Credit to the lads they have really improved and this was a glimpse of what’s to come.”

Stourport began strongly with surging runs from the forwards and were awarded a penalty at the breakdown which Ruben Ibbotson kicked to the corner. The pack then drove from the lineout with Jack Banford dotting down and Ben Edwards converting.

Shrewsbury responded after a penalty for a high tackle gave them field position and an opportunity. Close to the line a clever offload allowed the support to crash over but the conversion was missed.

Stourport struck again soon after when the ball was moved wide to Reece Davies who showed his finishing skills to beat the full back and score out wide.

Late in the half Stourport piled on the pressure and another well-worked maul saw Banford dot down again after hard work from the pack.

Shrewsbury started the second half the brighter and they reduced the deficit to seven points with another unconverted try from a well-placed kick.

But Stourport started to go up through the gears and they pulled away, scoring a succession of  free-flowing tries. Ben Ralph, Cheick Kone, Ben Edwards all crossed with Davies adding two more to complete his hat-trick with Jonty Monk converting all five.

Shrewsbury did have the last say when the ball was moved wide creating space for their right wing to score.

SIGN UP TO THE WARRIORS WEEKLY NEWSLETTER