Last weekend Sutton 1st XV fine tuned their preparation for the coming league programme with an impressive 12 try spectacular as they swept to a 76-0 victory over their Warwickshire Cup first round opponents Berkswell & Balsall. B & B play their rugby in Midlands 1 West a league below Sutton who play in National 3 Midlands but the home side competed well to put in a challenging performance especially in the first quarter of the game, restricting Sutton to a 19-0 lead at half time. However, the host team could not live with the Sutton power and pace which was unleashed on them in the second half as Sutton came into form and scored 57 more points without reply.

The timing of the competitive Warwickshire Cup first round game, coming ahead of the start of league programme, was the perfect way to sharpen team skills at the end of an intense summer training programme and tested the players to ensure they were ready for the rigours of the coming league campaign which starts this weekend with Sutton travelling to Birmingham University to face their old rivals, Bournville in a challenging opening game. Kick off 3 pm.

All Sutton support will be warmly welcomed to encourage the team to do well and go one stage better than last season...

The pre-season competitive games also gave Sutton a chance to bring in their new and returning players, integrating them into the established squad under match conditions together with selected Sutton Colts from last season who made the transition to senior rugby by contributing in an impressive 24-17 win over Dudley Kingswinsford from National 2, in a friendly warm-up mid-week game on Weds 21st Aug but the season started for real with the high scoring cup win at Berkswell & Balsall last weekend.

After an untidy first quarter which saw plenty of unforced errors and penalties as both teams adjusted to the pace and pressure of a truly competitive contest, it was Sutton who settled first and put the Midland 1 side under a period of sustained pressure on their own line. As the pressure built, after a series of penalties which denied Sutton a score, the B&B scrum half was the chosen one to be yellow carded for the home side after they killed the ball once too often. For the restart Sutton spurned the easy penalty and opted for a 5m scrum. Sutton won the ball but kept play close to the scrum as they drove for the line and Sean Harrison, open side prop and skipper for the day appropriately opened the Sutton scoring with a fine try as he drove over from close range. Fly half Josh Rolls opened his Sutton account with the conversion to give the visitors a deserved 7-0 lead after 25 minutes of play.

In spite of falling behind Berkswell continued to compete well and they put up a strong show in the scrums and lineouts but gradually the Sutton quality started to emerge and 5 minutes before the break the backs ran in an excellent try when fullback Tom Lucas made an outstanding break in mid-field and he fed right wing Nathan Burchell who needed no second invitation to race in from 25 metres for a try under posts. Josh Rolls added his second conversion to take Sutton into a 14-0 lead and then on the stroke of half time Sutton opened up again with a classic running try by the backs as the ball was transferred at pace across the Berkswell 22 metre line to put left wing Rob Watts in for a try tight to the corner. The try was called good by the referee and extended Sutton's lead to 19-0 at the break.

Sutton continued to score at will and the second half saw debut tries for fly half Josh Rolls who also contributed 2 conversions in a polished performance plus a deserved debut try for second row David Merlin who proved his mobility and power to score from close range late in the second half. Tom Lucas capped a strong performance at fullback, which included a dramatic try saving tackle under the Sutton posts when the Berkswell centre was clean through and a sharp try following a rebound off a home player 30 metres out. Former skipper and proud family man Brook Davies completed an excellent first game at blindside flanker having moved into the back row from prop to give him more freedom and he celebrated his new role as he charged over from close range following a 5 metre scrum on the left wing to score in the corner 10 minutes from time. The Sutton back row also saw the welcome return of open side flanker Jack Woodcock who demonstrated what Sutton had been missing whilst he satisfied his hunger for adventure in foreign parts but he is now back and in fine form. The new look back row was completed by Simon Millard who moved from 6 to 8 to accommodate Brook Davies at 6 and as always after many years of service the lively 30 year old brought strength and application to the pivotal role.

The game also saw the long awaited return of new dad Dean Harper who is now back in full training after a year of serious distractions and he marked his happy return with a splendid try when he linked up with his hard running skipper Sean Harrison to complete a fine move 50 minutes into the contest. Warwickshire County wingers Nathan Burchell and Rob Watts added further tries in the second half with Burchell completing a hat trick and Watts adding a second try following a B&B restart which was claimed by Brook Davies who fed the winger on the halfway line and he raced in under the posts to stun the home support going into the final quarter of an entertaining contest played under excellent playing conditions.

With just 10 minutes remaining and Sutton leading 55-0, Brook Davies claimed his first try from the back row before Sutton's new outstanding second row partnership brought the try scoring spree to an end with first David Merlin claiming his debut try but then his established second row partner Steve McCormack, also a proud father, raced in for the final try made by the rampaging Jack Woodcock who charged into the opposition 22 before passing inside to the supporting second row player for another splendid score on the stroke of full time. Alex White added the final conversion to bring his conversion tally to 5 for the match and with Josh Rolls providing 2 conversions, fullback Tom Lucas successfully added the extra points when Rob Watts raced 50 metres to score his solo try under the posts and with fly half/centre Josh Groom watching from the touchline on this occasion, Sutton should be well provided with goal kickers when the time comes.

Along with the satisfaction of moving smoothly into the next round of the Warwickshire Cup having despatched a good team in a keen contest and having experienced good game time to blend the new look team and blow away the summer excesses, hard working Sutton can approach the start of the new season with a mixture of confidence and optimism. All will be revealed in the coming weeks!!!