The home side showcased a dominant performance, with tries scored by Jordan Perry (2), Toby Casselton, Craig Milford, Chris Hopper, Tom Pitt, and Toby LeRone. Chris Hopper also successfully converted three of the tries.
Shepshed capitalised on a dominant scrum using it to great effect to get the first try of the game early in the first half. Jordan Perry expertly guiding ball at the back of the scrum and dropping on it on the try line as we marched forward.
Stoneygate hit back quickly with a well worked try, the ball making its way through the hands and around the Shepshed defence to dive over the line. A poor conversion attempt kept the scores even at 5-5.
Craig Milford, who was putting on a tackling clinic throughout the entrie game, was next up to dive over the line for Shepshed, conversion missed. However, after all the hard work to get the second try, a brief breakdown in communication from the restart let Stoneygate regather it and run straight over the line for their second try. Conversion Missed, 10-10.
From that point, Shepshed managed to get ahead. Winning a penalty just outside the Stoneygate 22, a quick tap and a big carry from Jordan Perry followed by an offload to the Supporting Chris Hopper allowed him to dive over next to the posts for his first try of the season. Conversion made, 17-10.
After some patient play from Shepshed working through the phases and some nice hands from the back line led to a ruck in the left hand corner, 2 metres out from the try line. Jordan Perry spotted the mis-match on the blind side against the Stoneygate winger and a quick pass out from Tom Pitt, Jordan powered over the line for his second try of the game. Conversion missed, 22-10.
Half Time: 22-10
The half time team talk focussed on raising the intensity in defence and get on the front foot against a hard carrying opposition.
The second half began with Shepshed working through the phases and continuing to dominate in the scrum. Early on, after working the ball through the hands, it landed in the hands of Toby Casselton who powered over for a try which was well deserved for a huge performance from the Shepshed hooker. Conversion made - 29-10.
Following a yellow card for Stoneygate for consecutive penalties at the scrum, scrums went uncontested. This proved to not be a huge benefit to Shepshed who had been working some good moves off the scrum for the entire game.
Shepshed managed to survive a few opportunities for Stoneygate where they couldn't make the last pass land to finish off some well worked moves. Almost against the run of play, Shepshed managed to score a try to the left of the posts, conversion missed. 34-17.
With Stoneygate back up to full numbers and the scrum back to contested and working well, Stoneygate had a scrum just inside their 22 to the left of the posts. A huge Shepshed push to disrupt their scrum meant the ball popped out the back of the scrum which Tom PItt quickly picked up and sniped down the blindside to dive over in the corner. Conversion made - 41-17.
Shepshed managed to close the game out, continuing to win penalties at the scrum and push for more tries in the later stages of the game. While the final score suggests a comfortable win, the match was a very hard-fought battle. Stoneygate proved to be a formidable opponent, and it could have been a very different afternoon had the converted several scoring opportunities in the second half.
This victory marks a positive start to the new year for Shepshed, as we progress in both league and cup competitions. While there is undoubtedly room for improvement, the team's determination and resilience shone through in this challenging match.