Sutton Coldfield RFC 1st XV
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Sat 03 Dec 2022  ·  Regional 2 North Midlands
Sutton Coldfield RFC
Sutton Coldfield RFC 1st XV
30
28
Moseley Oak
1st XV Match report - 3rd Dec 2022

1st XV Match report - 3rd Dec 2022

Ken Sims7 Dec 2022 - 20:10
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Sutton Coldfield 30pts v Moseley Oak 28pts

David Daniels - 1st XV Manager

Match report - 3rd Dec 2022

Sutton Coldfield 30pts v Moseley Oak 28pts

Regional 2 North Midlands

As in the first fixture between these two teams last September at Moseley, this return leg followed the same pattern with the team's level on 25-25 with 5 minutes left to play but with time running out Moseley kicked a penalty in the Sutton 22 to move ahead 28-25. From the restart Sutton besieged the Moseley try line forcing a penalty in front of the posts but instead of taking the 3 points to level the scores with 4 minutes left to play Sutton's skipper George Ord bravely opted for a kick to the corner and go for the winning try. Unfortunately, Sutton failed to control the ball at the 5 metre lineout and it appeared that they had blown their chance but such is the belief in the team, they pressed forward to win the ball back and flyhalf Matt Smith squeezed over from close range for the winning try to secure a dramatic 30-28 victory deep into injury time, vindicating the captains decision to go for the win, which moves Sutton back to third in the league with 12 games out off 22 played so far.

 Moseley kicked off on a dull and overcast day applying all the early bustling pressure in the Sutton half and on two minutes they made the perfect start as no8 Ollie Southgate was driven over for the opening try to the right of the posts, with flyhalf Gongalo Vasco Costa adding the conversion for a 7-0 lead, which stunned Sutton into life and from the restart Sutton took the game to their feisty opponents before player/coach Nathan Burchell playing at inside centre spotted a gap in mid-field and marked his return to the fray with a trademark break with his illusive running to set up a try for left wing Will Mitchell, who sprinted 30 metres down the left touchline to score a superb try in the left corner. 

Unfortunately, the wide conversion drifted to the left but Sutton were up and running and on the scoreboard with a score-line of 5-7 after 5 minutes of play, but just 2 minutes later Moseley flyhalf Costa landed a 30-metre penalty to stretch ahead 10-5 before adding a second penalty mid-way through the first half to extend the visitors lead to 13-5.

Sutton were coming under increasing pressure in the scrum, which appeared ominous. However, using their props in rotation as allowed in the laws Sutton managed to control the scrums and as the game developed the Sutton pack contained the threat allowing the backs to operate effectively, with Matt Smith moving from fullback to flyhalf in the absence of regular flyhalf and vice-captain Laurie Harries, who was on study leave, the Sutton back line worked well with Nathan Burchell coming out of retirement to plug a gap in the centre to great effect and Miles Gregory making a long awaited return to the right wing, the prodigious Henry Nevitt moved to fullback and with the multi-talented Jack Wells slotting in at outside centre alongside the very productive Will Mitchell on the left wing the Sutton backs retained their pace and constant threat.. and with 18-year-old Matt Smith stepping into the key flyhalf role perfectly, scoring two tries on the day plus another 18-year-old Henry Nevitt playing a mature game at fullback, contributing a penalty & conversion to the winning margin and the team performance under a new playmaker showed to great effect the youth and versatility in the Sutton set-up, which bodes well for the future.

With Sutton coming back into the game they won a 5-metre lineout on the right wing and as they mauled their way to the line hooker Dean Ginn peeled off to claim a try wide out on the right wing making for a difficult conversion, which drifted to the right of the posts but Sutton had moved back to 10-13 with 14 minutes to play to the break...then came a moment of magic when Matt Smith took the ball in mid-field moving left just inside the Moseley half then using Nathan Burchell on a dummy run the flyhalf dummied the defensive line creating a gap which he raced through at pace to score a spectacular try to the left of the posts taking Sutton into the lead at 15-13 ten minutes before the break.

But the final 10 minutes belonged to the visitors as first flyhalf Costa picked up an interception on the halfway line and raced 50 metres to score under the posts, adding the simple conversion himself to retake the lead 20-15 with 6 minutes to play to the break, then fullback Vasco Torres took advantage of a clear overlap on the right wing to score an unconverted try giving the visitors a 25-15 lead at the break.

Undeterred, Sutton made a positive start to the second half when after 4 minutes fullback Henry Nevitt landed a 35-metre penalty in mid-field to close to 25-18, then player/coach Nathan Burchell smuggled the ball over the try line under the posts after the Sutton forward drive was stopped short of the line and Henry Nevitt calmly added the conversion to level the scores at 25-25 with 27 minutes of the game left to play.

For the next 22 minutes the well-balanced game ebbed and flowed with neither side troubling the scoreboard but then with 5 minutes left on the clock Sutton were caught off side in front of their posts and Gongalo Vasco Costa kicked the points to edge Moseley ahead 28-25 setting up a dramatic finale as Sutton fought to find the winning try, which they did after besieging the Moseley try line with successive forward drives before Matt Smith took the ball on at close range and dived through the ruck of players to score the most dramatic of match winning tries, securing a well-earned 30-28 bonus point victory.

Todays game was also special because it marked the 100th league appearance for club captain George Ord, who has led the team in establishing their winning ways and achieved the best first half of the season finish in many seasons, long may it continue.
 
The game also saw the welcome return of Ollie Gregory, who is an immense presence in the Sutton second row, together with the return of winger Miles Gregory, who is a formidable attacking option and a strong tackler to strengthen the Sutton backline and with the valued introduction of Dave Sandford at second row plus the welcome return to on field action for Nathan Burchell, who is a great asset to any team at any age.

It should also be noted that both Nathan & his life partner Charlie Byrne, a key figure in the development of Ladies rugby at Sutton, both returned to the rugby field on Saturday having semi-retired before the birth of their daughter in the summer, as the Sutton Ladies kicked off at 12 noon followed by the Sutton Men at 2.15, quite an achievement for Sutton and the happy couple.

This weekend Sutton travel into Staffordshire to test themselves against league leaders Leek, who sit 3 points above Sutton having won 10 games and lost 2, whilst Sutton have won 8, lost 3 and drawn 1, so it should be another compelling top of the table clash against a team that inflicted a heavy defeat against a much changed Sutton side back in September 2022 - watch this space!! All support welcome. KO 2.15pm. 

Sutton other team results:

Sutton Casuals 19pts v 'Flaming Unicorns' 15pts - Friday 2nd Dec 2022 7.30 pm KO.

The floodlit Charity game last Friday evening was well attended and was a highly entertaining game of rugby raising funds and awareness for a mental health charity, who focus on Men's Mental Health issues and provides excellent support and assistance for troubled men.

Sutton Ladies 49pts v Birm/Moseley Ladies 0pts - Saturday 3rd Dec 2022 12 noon KO.

The Sutton Ladies were just too strong for the opponents in this double header, with the scheduled league fixture and cup game at stake for the two sides in a somewhat one-sided affair, which saw the welcome return of Charlie Byrne to the field after the birth of her daughter earlier in the summer.

Evesham Colts 19pts v Sutton Colts 14pts - Sunday 4th Dec 2022 2pm KO.

Sutton Colts travelled to Evesham expecting to have 14 fit players but late cry-offs reduced the travelling squad to 12 before a player fell ill before kick-off meaning Sutton only had 11 fit players to start the game, so the league fixture was conceded and Sutton took to the field for what became a friendly fixture with 4 players loaned by their opponents, making the journey worthwhile. Unfortunately, with all the disruptions before kick-off Sutton were not best prepared for the contest and in spite of their best efforts the visitors went down 19-14 after an entertaining contest.

Match details

Match date

Sat 03 Dec 2022

Kickoff

TBC

Competition

Regional 2 North Midlands

League position

4
Sutton Coldfield
5
Moseley Oak
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Sponsorship & Advertising Opportunities - Sponsorship at SCRFC
Main Partner & Club Sponsor - Ansons Solicitors
Key Sponsor  - EHSmith Buillders Merchants
Sponsor - Thermaset Ltd
Sponsor  - Sewell & Wood Network
Sponsor - Hat Box Ltd
1st XV Top Sponsor  - Maptalent
Player Sponsor - Henry Nevitt - Renderclad
Player Sponsor - Jack Wells  - Social Scalers
Official  Kit Supplier  - Vulcan Sports