1st XV Match report - 25th Feb 2023

David Daniels - 1st XV Manager

Sutton Coldfield RFC 32 pts v Matlock RFC 35 pts

Regional 2 North Midlands

There was a dramatic sequence of events in Sutton 1st XV's last home game of the season last weekend, with the highlight being a superb brace of tries, one either side of halftime for Sutton's 17 year old outside centre Austin Nevitt making his debut for the 1st XV just 9 day's after his 17th birthday. The club received special RFU age grade clearance, approved by the Warwickshire rugby Football Union in time for Austin to play last weekend making him the youngest player in Sutton's 101 year history to play for the 1st XV, displacing Kieran Henderson, who was 17 years and a few months when he played for Sutton 1st XV in 2017...but amid all the Sutton celebrations of Austin's achievement, the visiting team on Saturday, Matlock ruined the Nevitt party by snatching victory with the last penalty kick of a close fought contest, taking the score from 32-32 going into injury time to a final score of 32-35.

The fateful kick condemned Sutton to their 5th straight defeat in as many games after they had won 10 pf their first 14 games of the season, taking them to 2nd in the table in the second week of January 2023 but the defeats have seen them now slip to 4th place equal on points with 3rd place Melbourne RFC, who Sutton face this Saturday in the first of three away game that takes Sutton to the end of the season.

Matlock kicked off into a stiff breeze, unusually coming from the North end of the RSG but with bright sunshine bathing the playing surface and generally decent conditions, however, Sutton made an ominous start to the game conceding a first try after 4 minutes of play, when Matlock drove hard at a scrum in the Sutton 22, disrupting the put-in and winning the ball driving right towards the Sutton try line before spinning the ball left across the face of the Sutton posts to put winger Charle Tallis into space for a try in the left corner, then the hosts found themselves tailing 10-0 after 11 minutes of play, with scrum half Tom Morton finding a gap in the Sutton defence in the Sutton 22 to score to the right of posts.

With poor kicking conditions neither try was converted and Sutton prepared to repair the damage with no 8 and captain George Ord working hard at the base of the scrum to get the ball out quickly and into play to counter the powerful Matlock pack. The plan succeeded as Sutton came back into the game scoring an excellent try on 15 minutes through flanker Ed Court, who was in close support in the Matlock 22 when inside centre Ben Morgan made a dart for the line but was stopped just short, however the ball was smuggled to Court who went over to ground the ball to the right of the posts and Sutton fullback Henry Nevitt added the conversion to close the score to 7-10, with Sutton right back in the game and on the offensive.

Over the next 20 minutes the teams exchanged penalties with first Matlock scrum half Tom Morton landing a penalty in the Sutton 22 when Sutton were caught off side to take the score to 7-13 on 30 minutes but then Henry Nevitt stepped up to redress the balance with a penalty when Sutton's skipper George Ord was brought down by a high tackle in the Matlock 22 as he set-up a promising attacking position for Sutton, who had to be content with the 3 points and a 10-13 score line with 7 minutes to go to the break.

Unfortunately 5 minutes before the break Sutton conceded a team yellow card for successive penalties and the visitors took full advantage of the extra man when outside centre Harry Boyd raced in for an unconverted try to the left of the posts after another strong drive by the Matlock pack took play to the Sutton line right field then the ball was swung to the left and into space for the centre to cruise home extending their lead to 18-10 with 2 minutes to play to the break.

With halftime approaching there followed 4 minutes of Nevitt magic, aided by some veteran Burchell magic; as 2 minutes before the break player/coach Nathan Burchell made a trademark break down the left wing taking play into the Matlock 22 before feeding debutant winger Austin Nevitt, who used his pace and twisting movement to make it to the line for an outstanding try, which his elder brother fullback Henry Nevitt matched with a superb touchline conversion to bring Sutton to within 1 point at the break 17-18.

Then 2 minutes after the break Sutton recovered the ball from the restart and set-up a fast moving attack down their left touch before the ball was passed to Austin Nevitt, who found space and raced down the wing before cutting infield to score giving brother Henry an easier conversion and Sutton the lead for the first time as they deservidly moved ahead 24-18, which fullback Henry extended to 27-18 with a penalty in the Matlock 22, with 9 minutes of the second half played and Sutton looked set fair but all credit to Matlock, who fought back when a relieving penaty kick by Sutton missed touch, was gathered by Matlock and returned at pace down the right touchline, then a missed tackle by Sutton opened up the line and right wing Charlie Tallis raced in for his second try of the day scoring to the right of the posts.

Flyhalf James Fairclough added the conversion to close Matlock to within 2 points at 27-25, with the mid-point of the second half approaching but just minutes later Sutton took a quick tap penalty in the Matlock 22, moving left and into the hands of fullback Henry Nevitt, who joined his brother on the try scoring chart with a fine try to the left of the posts, which he converted himself to extend the Sutton lead to 32-25 with 18 minutes to play.

In the tense closing period of this close fought contest the outcome was hard to predict but with 10 minutes left on the clock it was the visitors who powered back into contention with a pushover try out on the left wing scored by no 8 Simon Wright and converted by James Fairclough to level the scores at 32-32 with 10 minutes left to play and the game on a proverbial knife edge.

With time running out all the pressure appeared to be in the Sutton 22 but Sutton were weathering the storm and going into injury time when Sutton's 2nd row Ollie Gregory skilfully stole the ball at a Matlock lineout 5 metres from the Sutton try line and the Sutton pack gathered to drive the ball clear, desperate Matlock conceded a penalty, which should have allowed Sutton to clear the ball to touch and retain possession running down the clock to protect the draw...but unfortunately kicking against the wind, a gust brought the ball back infield and Matlock gathered the ball launching a counterattack running into the Sutton 22 catching Sutton off side in front of their posts giving the visitors a penalty attempt to win the game deep into injury time and flyhalf James Fairclough held his nerve, kicking with the wind behind him to land the penalty snatching the victory out of Suttons grasp with the last kick of the game in a 32-35 defeat.

A simple analysis of the Sutton score sheet shows that between them the Nevitt Brothers, on their first appearance together in the Sutton 1st XV, contributed 27 of the 32 points scored by Sutton in the match. 17 year old Austin scored 10 points with two spectacular tries on his debut and his 18 year older brother Henry scored a try, 3 conversions and 2 penalties for a personal tally of 17 points in an epic performance by the Nevitt Brothers. The only score not made in the Nevitt household was the excellent try by Ed Court, which opened the Sutton account on 15 minutes.

The proud parents of Austin & Henry were at the ground as always, to witness this special Nevitt family occasion, as were the proud parents of Ed Court, who set the team on their way with the opening try for Sutton, who were only denied an honourable draw in the closing seconds by a gust of wind, which kept the ball in play setting up the match winning penalty for Matlock, after a hard fought contest that deserved a better outcome for the essentially young Sutton side but well done all on a special day at SCRFC.'

Another plus for Sutton after a disappointing end to an exciting game of rugby was a debut off the bench for Sutton flanker Cameron Marriott, who was originally signed up with the Sutton mini/junior section but Saturday was his first game for Sutton 1st XV after signing for the senior club and an impressive debut it was on a day when both debutants impressed.

This weekend Sutton travel to Melbourne RFC looking to return to winning ways and avenge the 31-38 defeat at Sutton in the reverse fixture 26th November 2022.

Other match results:

Sutton Ladies - Sunday 26th February 2023:

Sutton Ladies 30 pts v Bury St Edmunds 14 pts

Women's Championship 2 Midlands

After facing the challenge of Lichfield Ladies in Cup and League competitions over consecutive weekends recently; Happily Sutton Ladies under new coach Ryan Stewart & long serving regular coach Tom Foulsham, returned to winning ways with a covincing 30-14 win over Bury St Edmunds at home last weekend, to the delight of the coaches -well done the girls.

Sutton Colts - Sunday 26th february 2023:

Dudley K Colts 21 pts v Sutton Colts 31 pts

In a game to remember playing with only 14 players the young Sutton Colts made light of their disadvantage as they matched and bettered the Dudley side in a convincing 31-21 victory - well done the lads and coach Mark (Slim) Olivier plus manager Bryn Thomas.