Chepstow Vets 27, Shipston III 19 pts FOR the final game of the season, Shipston travelled across the Severn to sample life in the Welsh market town, The ground, as everywhere, was hard, the weather hot and the Welsh side's pack big and powerful.

With only one recognised jumper in the line-out and with the scrum outgunned in the tight, it was obvious from the outset that Shipston were going to have to survive on scraps of possession.

The home side used the strong wind to good effect and, apart from some over enthusiastic kicking, the kept the visitors on the back foot.

Some last-ditch tackling from Chris Forman, Darryl Hunter, father and son Hunter and some heroic holding up to prevent grounding the ball from Tim Brendon kept the home side out for fully half-an-hour.

Once Chepstow had scored Shipston, incredibly, then started to really produce some superb handling open rugby on the counter attack.

Great inter-play between No 8 Brendon, Andy Cox and winger John Alexander led to fly-half Keith Hoskins bursting clear to go under the posts.

An interception try from the home side's outstanding young centre, though, restored home advantage by half-time.

Shipston had a real go at the start of the second half and were in with a real chance of tying up the scores again when an attack broke down allowing the same home centre to run the length of the field to really end the game as a really competitive contest.

Further scores led to the home side feeling comfortable before Shipston stung them in the last ten minutes with tries from the free-running James Horton and Ian Bulger.

Two conversions from Horton gave the final scoreline some respectability.

Outgoing captain Clive Bro-oks thanks all the players who have helped make the last two seasons a rewarding, sporting and social experience.