1st XV Match report - 22nd Oct 2022

David Daniels
SCRFC 1st XV Team Manager

Match report - 22nd Oct 2022

Sutton Coldfield RFC 36pts v Long Eaton RFC 26pts

Regional 2 North Midlands

Last weekend the inform Sutton 1st XV welcomed league leaders Long Eaton to the Roger Smoldon Ground, Walmley Road; with Sutton facing their sternest test of the season so far, as the league leaders came into the game unbeaten, taking maximum points from each of their previous 6 games and with Sutton sitting in third place having won 4, drawn 1 and lost 1, the scene was set for a keen contest...and so it proved, as once again Sutton sparkled in the autumn sunshine and came through the test with flying colours to record an emphatic 36-26 victory after an enthralling and compelling contest, which brought the best out of the two well matched teams.

In a magnificent team performance, which saw the very best of all 18 Sutton players in Green; in terms of their creative attacking skills, organised defence and the strong character they showed when things did not go right... but the standout individual performance from a team of 18 individual heroes came from fullback Matt Smith, who at just 18 years old, scored 3 tries and 4 conversions plus a key drop goal to ease Sutton ahead at a crucial point in the game, for a personal tally of 26 points.

The whole of the Sutton club and in particular his teammates were proud of Matt's performance and achievements but none more so than his father Dave Smith, who as a long serving heroic Sutton veteran was playing in the same game in the Sutton front row as his son lined up at fullback. Another proud moment of rugby magic and history for the Smith family, loyal servants of the SCRFC family.

As to the game itself, Long Eaton kicked off in bright sunshine, on a good pitch and in front of a large expectant crowd, who were not going to be disappointed by what was about to unfold. The visitors were a big side with a powerful pack and quick backs but Sutton were undaunted by size or reputation and the Sutton pack held their own in the first scrum of the day. However, 5 minutes in the league leaders put their stamp on the game, when they took a quick tap penalty in front of the Sutton posts and two short charges took them over the line for the opening try scored by loose head prop Declan Neary and converted by fullback Louis Kendrick for a daunting 7-0 lead after just 5 minutes of play.

Showing their positive approach to the game, from the restart Sutton took the game to their illustrious opponents and although Long Eaton cleared the ball back into the Sutton half, left wing Will Mitchell gathered the ball and made a strong break down the middle of the field before the ball was spread to the wide right where fullback Matt Smith joined the line at pace sweeping past the Long Eaton defenders to score a superb try in the right corner and he matched the quality of the try with an equally superb touchline conversion to level the score at 7-7, with just 7 minutes played.

A fired-up Sutton took just another 3 minutes before they extended their lead with a second try, when 2nd row Harry Moxon was sent racing for the left corner after good approach play by Sutton but the flying lock was stopped just short of the try line. However, Sutton were quick to the breakdown and the ball was recycled infield going right before no8 Jack Wells raced in under the posts for another well worked try. Matt Smith added the conversion to take Sutton into 14-7 lead with 10 minutes played.

For the next 15 minutes the game ebbed and flowed with the teams equally match but just beyond midway through the first half the visitors won a lineout on their left wing just outside the Sutton 22 and they fed the ball left to right across the 22 but on a planned move their outside centre Will Millett cut back against the run of play to wrong foot the Sutton defence and he raced into space to score a well-executed try to the left of the posts. Fullback Louise Kendrick added the conversion to again level the score at 14-14 with 15 minutes to play to the break.

With half time fast approaching Long Eaton won a scrum in midfield and fed the ball through their backs to the wide right where Max Perryman was able to touchdown in the right corner. The difficult conversion drifted wide and the score remained at 14-19 at the halfway point of an enthralling contest.

Under vice-captain Laurie Harries, who stood-in for captain George Ord (hopefully enjoying a delayed honeymoon on the day), Sutton made a positive start to the second half creating a number of chances that failed to go their way in the opening minutes, with what appeared to be a perfectly good try for winger Will Mitchell denied for a perceived knock-on when Sutton went to ground the ball in the left corner, then with the try line open the ball was lost forward in the right corner. These and other chances/set backs came and went for Sutton, then 10 minutes into the second half Long Eaton mounted a sustained attack on the Sutton try line with successive driving rucks and mauls, which Sutton defended well until hooker Matt Freer finally squeezed over for a try by the posts. Fullback Louise Kendrick added the conversion to extend the lead to 26-14 with 30 minutes left to play.

Faced with an increased deficit against the league leaders Sutton could have been forgiven for losing heart but not this Sutton in their current form and to their credit they stepped up their game and applied increasing pressure in the Long Eaton half with driving runs by the backs and forwards as the minutes ticked by, then midway through the second half a strong attack led by Harry Moxon was again stopped short of the try line but the ball was quickly recycled infield and centre Josh Groom found a gap to score an excellent try under the posts, which Matt Smith converted to draw Sutton back to within 5 points at 21-26 with 18 minutes to play.

Sutton continued to press and their star was in the ascendency when an attack down the right wing found fullback Matt Smith on the wide outside and the flying fullback crossed for his second try in the right corner and Sutton's fourth try of the day gaining them a valuable bonus point. Although the tricky conversion drifted right, the try levelled the scores at 26-26, with 14 minutes left on the clock. Straight from the restart Sutton returned play into the Long Eaton 22 and space opened up in front of the posts to give Matt Smith a drop goal opportunity, which the talented fullback struck perfectly to take Sutton into a crucial 29-26 lead with full time 12 minutes away, setting up a dramatic end to a pulsating contest.

During the final minutes Sutton remained calm and composed as they countered the Long Eaton efforts to maintain their unbeaten record, with everyone making the tackles needed and chasing back to cover the chips ahead, as Long Eaton probed for that decisive breakthrough but it was Sutton who found the magic ingredient when Will Smewin came off the bench to join the backline late in the game. The illusive runner produced a series of incisive weaving runs making ground through the midfield to create space for the Sutton runners to take the ball on and once again Matt Smith was on hand to take the ball over the try line to the right of the posts for his third try of the day. He then added the conversion to give Sutton a more comfortable margin of 36-26 going into the final 7 minutes of the cliff-hanger game.

Sutton came under increasing pressure in the closing minutes but they held out firmly and in the final minute with the game surely secure in Sutton's favour, Long Eaton were awarded a penalty in the Sutton 22 and mindful of the 10 point deficit the visitors opted for the kick at goal to close to within 7 points gaining a second bonus point but the final kick narrowly missed and Sutton cleared the ball to touch to end the game at 36-26 and start the Sutton celebrations with commiserations to Long Eaton after a close fought, highly entertaining contest, which was a credit to both teams.

This excellent result, which has moved Sutton to 2nd in the table, not only marks the progress Sutton have made through the early stages of this season but also identifies that there is still potential to be released as the team settle to the task ahead. The game also marked an impressive debut for flanker Ed Court, who made his first appearance for the 1st XV having previously played for the Sutton age grade section, together with Will Smewin, who made an impact off the bench with his first appearance of the season for the 1st XV and former club captain Sean Harrison, who continues to provide front row cover for the team when needed, all of which adds to the 200 + appearances he has already notched up for the 1st XV.

This weekend, with a spring in their step, the Sutton team & their supporters, travel to Oadby Wyggestonians RFC, Leicestershire, who currently sit 5th in the league table, as Sutton look to continue their run of good results and consolidate their 2nd place in the league table. All support welcome. Kick-off 3pm.