1st XV Match report - 11th March 2023

David Daniels - 1st XV Manager

Match report - 11th March 2023

Belgrave RFC 45 pts v Sutton Coldfield 47 pts

Regional 2 North Midlands

After an error strewn first half, another new look Sutton 1st XV, fielding 3 newly elevated debutants brought in to fill the gaps in the team, found themselves 26-7 down at halftime against a vibrant Belgrave side, who sit second bottom of the table but they found their feet in the first 40 minutes running in the chances that were offered by an out-of-sorts Sutton...and to compound matters it was the home side who opened the scoring 2 minutes into the second half to stretch their lead to 33-7, before Sutton burst into life scoring 6 tries in the second period to unbelievably clinch victory in the closing 2 minutes of a manic contest, with a try in the right corner by winger Harry Slaymaker on debut, followed by an 'impossible' touchline conversion, right footed on the right hand side of the field by Sutton fullback Matt Smith, who judged the wind perfectly to secure an incredible 47-45 win, which moves Sutton back to 3rd place in the league table with just one game to play next week, away to 2nd place Long Eaton in the last game of the season.

In a high scoring contest with each side scoring 7 tries, the Sutton try fest was led by stand-in hooker Curtis Wellington, who had an outstanding game and was well worthy of his hat trick of tries, followed by winger Harry Slaymaker, who scored an excellent brace of tries on debut and with established players, flyhalf Ben Morgan plus inside centre Laurie Harries, adding a try each the game swung back to the visitors in a highly entertaining and satisfactory conclusion for the Sutton team and their travelling support.

Highly commended thanks and appreciation goes to Ollie Turnbull, who made his 1st XV team debut at 37 years old, filling the crucial role of scrumhalf, along with 19 year old Adam Parr, a Sutton youth player, who made his debut off the bench as a backs replacement and special mention goes to the back row of Ed Court at 6, Cameron Marriott at 7 and Jamie James at 8, all making a welcome return to the team and contributing to a spectacular victory. Thanks and recognition also goes to Henry Nevitt, who although out of the team due to injury played a key role in the game by accepting the unpopular task of running touch - thanks go to Henry a talented player always prepared to do his bit to help the team.

As to the game itself, Sutton kicked off in dry but cold conditions, with a breeze to their backs taking play into the Belgrave 22 but ominously Sutton were penalised at the first scrum and then continued to struggle at the set piece with Belgrave putting on a powerful drive and skewing the scrum to put the Sutton pack under pressure when scavenging for their own ball. However, in spite of the carnage Sutton managed to secure some ball and it was the visitors who went ahead after 16 minutes of play, when stand-in hooker Curtis Wellington, showing his skills and pace as a running back made a break in mid-field and weaved his way through the opposition on a 40 metre run to the line to score a spectacular try by the posts.

Fullback Matt Smith landed the conversion to give Sutton a 7-0 lead but that was as good as it got for Sutton in the first half as basic errors disrupted the Sutton game with misplaced passes and missed tackles plaguing their progress, allowing Belgrave to run in 4 tries, 3 converted, to take a 26-7 lead into the break. The first Belgrave try during this fateful period of play came on 20 minutes when Belgrave fullback Tatenda Chirata picked up a loose pass by Sutton deep in the Belgrave half, broke through a missed tackle then raced 80 metres to score under the Sutton posts giving scrum half Connor Jackson an easy conversion to level the scores at 7-7, then on 30 minutes outside centre Nial O'Connor raced in from close range to score under the posts for Connor Jackson to convert giving Belgrave a 14-7 lead, which was extended to 19-7 on 34 minutes, when inside centre Kevin Curtis went on a 50 metre solo run down the left wing to score wide out on the left. The conversion was missed but 1 minutes before the break as Sutton set up a promising attack in the Belgrave 22, flyhalf Roddy James intercepted a loose pass by Sutton and the flyhalf won the race to score Belgraves 4th bonus point try to the left of the Sutton posts and scrum half Connor Jackson added his third conversion of the game to give Belgrave a daunting 26-7 lead at the break.

The halftime team talk recognised that Sutton had to avoid the set scrums were possible and keep the ball alive to use their running skills and ability in open play. However, armed with this new game plan Sutton received the ball from the restart but a chipped clearance kick by Sutton was gathered by Belgrave fullback Tatenda Chirata, who ran the ball back from within his own half and he cut a swage through the Sutton defence, which evaporated as he raced through the space to score under the posts for Connor Jackson to add the conversion extending the deficit facing Sutton to an even more daunting 33-7.

Responding to the challenge Sutton set up a powerful response from the restart, with first hooker Curtis Wellington taking play back into the Belgrave half before linking with flanker Ed Court, who carried the ball into the opposition 22 but as the play slowed the ball was fed left to Sutton flyhalf Ben Morgan, who side stepped the defenders and darted in to score under the posts. Matt Smith added the conversion and Sutton were back in the game at 33-14 after just 4 minutes of play in the second half.

True to their second half game plan game to keep the ball alive Sutton continued to build on their attacking play led by skipper George Ord and as they progressed into the opposition 22 closing in on the try line, the ball was fed right to winger Harry Slaymaker, who squeezed into the tightest of spaces in the corner to score his first try and Sutton's third, closing the score to 33-19 with 10 minutes of the second half played... then still in forward mode inside centre Laurie Harries made a decisive break taking play into the Belgrave 22 before passing to Curtis Wellington, who broke through the first tackler then raced in to score a great try in the right corner, which Matt Smith expertly converted to bring Sutton right back into the game at 33-26 with 26 minutes left on the clock.

But midway through the second half the Sutton recovery suffered a setback when Belgrave scored from a catch and drive following a lineout on their right wing and after a 20-metre drive replacement hooker David Towel claimed the try wide out on the right. The difficult conversion was missed but the home side had re-established a 12-point lead at 38-26.

Undeterred the spirited Sutton side renewed their attacking focus from the restart and a break in the Belgrave 22 set up Curtis Wellington to score his third try with a weaving run to the line scoring to the right of the posts and with Matt Smith landing the conversion, once again Sutton were back in the game at 38-33 with 18 minutes left to play, with the game building towards a dramatic conclusion.

With 25 minutes of the second half played Sutton suffered another setback when they received a yellow card at the breakdown and went down to 14 men for a crucial 10 minute period and the home side took full advantage when they chipped over the Sutton defence on the Sutton 22 and regathered the ball for inside centre Kevin Curtis to score to the right of the posts. Connor Jackson made no mistake with the conversion to extend the home side's lead to 45-33 with 10 minutes left to play.

Once again Sutton bravely faced up to the set back and from the restart they mounted an attack taking play into the Belgrave 22, then awarded a penalty they took a quick tap and fed the ball left to inside centre Laurie Harries, who darted over for an excellent try to the left of the posts, which Matt Smith converted to bring Sutton to within 5 points at 45-40 with 5 minutes left to play.

During the final minutes Sutton came under increased pressure in their own half but they managed to break free taking play back into the Belgrave half, where Sutton's flyhalf Ben Morgan, made a break on the Sutton right before passing to right wing Harry Slaymaker, who found space in the corner to squeeze over for the try that set up the match winning touchline conversion by fullback Matt Smith and a famous 47-45 victory; which to be fair the Belgrave hosts took in good part and although gutted by the close defeat they were magnanimous in their acceptance of the result as they brought a jug of ale into the Sutton dressing room as an act of true sportsmanship - well done to them and better luck in their final game plus whatever happens this season - good luck next season.

Next week Sutton travel to Long Eaton to complete their rearranged fixture, which was postponed due to a ground frost & mist back in January 2023.

All support welcome for the final game of the season with 3rd playing 2nd in what should be an entertaining finale to the season.

Kick-off 3 pm.

Other team results - Sunday 12th March 2023:

Moseley Ladies 0 pts v Sutton Ladies 74 pts

Sutton Ladies overwhelmed Moseley Ladies scoring 11 tries in their 74-0 demolition of their opposition giving the new coaching team of Ryan Stewart and Tom Foulsham their third consecutive victory - well done all.

Walsall Colts 15 pts v Sutton Colts 22 pts

Sutton Colts proved to be very effective when moving the ball and were in a different class as long as they avoided the strong-arm wrestling, which the big Walsall forwards preferred - another good win for the young men of Sutton plus their coach Mark (Slim) Olivier and manager Bryn Thomas - well done all.