Match report - 2nd April 2016

David Daniels
SCRFC 1st XV Team Manager

Sutton Coldfield 23 pts v Syston RFC 58 pts

National League 3 Midlands

Once again the injury hit Sutton side had to shuffle the pack in the build up to last weekends game but this time the situation required that home grown front row players Scott Toy and Tom Morahan respectively were promoted from the lower teams under the late season 24 hour emergency registration provision in order that Sutton could field an eligible front row plus a replacement to avoid conceding the game.

In the event the new look pack performed well against strong opponents and newly promoted props Scott Toy and Tom Morahan both rose to the challenge, proving their strength & long term potential against noted opposition and acquitting themselves with great distinction in a baptism of fire alongside skipper Chris Hanley and hooker Dean Ginn.

In the backs, newly installed Mike Burns (21 years old) continued to impress at fullback, safe under the high ball and quick to set up effective counter attacks alongside the likes of livewire centre Ollie Chitnis (19) and strong running wingers Mike Iwanowicz (18) & Martin Browning (23) but the pick of the backs was centre Tom McNamee, who was outstanding in defence and attack capping a strong performance with an excellent try and fly half Alex White contributed 3 penalties and 2 conversions with a faultless display of goal kicking.

To a man the Sutton players played well individually but collectively they still lack the sharpness and instinct at the breakdown to compete effectively with their National 3 opponents, who have the speed of thought and action to punish every simple mistake made by the eager but inexperienced Sutton players and any fumble or error by Sutton in the opposition half has invariably lost possession and field position leading to a long range score against them.

Although Sutton suffered another heavy defeat against strong National 3 opposition, going down to 5th placed Syston RFC by 58-23 and outscored 8 tries to 2, the loyal Sutton supporters saw the potential of their new look team and had a glimpse of the future as the young Sutton players fashioned some good enterprising play during the early stages of the game and contributed two well worked tries in the second half of an entertaining contest.

Sutton started the game well keeping in touch with their erstwhile opponents and although conceding an early try they took a 6-5 lead on 26 minutes but they trailed 9-18 at the break and slipped further behind in a busy start to the second half conceding two more tries and a conversion in the first 8 minutes. However, spirited Sutton pulled back to 16-30 on 49 minutes before conceding a penalty try to trail 37-16 after 52 minutes and then responded with an excellent try to bounce back to 37-23 on 55 minutes but that was as good as it got for under pressure Sutton and the visitors ran in 3 more converted tries to complete the scoring at 58-23 with the last score coming on the stroke of full time.

Syston started the scoring on 10 minutes with a try for no8 Alex Edmunds after winning an attacking lineout on the Sutton try line. The visitors won the ball to set up a driving maul but although the initial drive for the line was stopped short by Sutton, Syston reformed and drove over the line to score in the right corner for a 5-0 lead.

Sutton responded well and for the next 10 minutes they applied sustained pressure in the Syston half leading to a deserved penalty chance in midfield just outside the Syston 22. The well taken kick by fly half Alex White pulled Sutton back to 3-5 midway through the first half before the fly half kicked Sutton into a 6-5 lead with 26 minutes played when Syston were penalised for not releasing 30 metres out but 10 minutes before the break Sutton surrendered the lead when they were caught offside in front of their posts and centre Adam Nunney kicked the penalty to give Syston an 8-6 lead, which they extended to 15-6 on 34 minutes with a fine 40 metre run to the line by fullback Ian Smith in which he executed two exaggerated side steps to score an outstanding solo effort under the posts.

Adam Nunney added the simple conversion but on 36 minutes Alex White kicked his third penalty to keep Sutton in touch at 9-15 but with time running out at the end of the first 40, Nunney kicked a simple penalty when Sutton were penalised at a scrum in front of the Sutton posts to leave the home side trailing 9-18 at the break.

Unfortunately for Sutton, Syston made a dramatic start to the second half with a try for second row Adam Davey after just 5 minutes, when Sutton attempted to break out of their own 22 but the ball was lost following a knock-on and the visitors recovered possession to form a driving maul, which they trundled over the try line from 5 metres to extend their lead to 23-9. Following the restart the visitors set up an attack down their right wing taking play up to the Sutton 22, from where quick hands swung the ball quickly across the Sutton posts and into the hands of left wing Sam Reid, who ran in unhindered on the overlap to score a well worked try, which was converted by Nunney to extend the lead to 30-9 with 48 minutes played.

Spirited Sutton bounced back with a converted try within a minute of the restart to close to 16-30. The try was scored by centre Tom McNamee after an outstanding break by fly half Alex White, which took play almost up to the Syston try line before the fly half cleverly off loaded to the hard running centre to complete an excellent score. Alex White added the extra points with a well struck conversion but the home cheers had only just died down when Sutton suffered a further blow, receiving a yellow card and a penalty against them for an infringement in their 22. Syston opted for a 5 metre scrum following the penalty and were then awarded a penalty try as the scrum collapsed and Sutton were deemed responsible. Adam Nunney added the conversion to take their lead up to 37-16.

But once again Sutton rallied and showed great resolve to fashion an excellent score with centre Tom McNamee leading the charge to the try line and although tackled short of the line the ball was recycled and like all good open side flankers supporting the play Rhoss Price (21) was on hand to reclaim the ball and force his way over for the score to the left of the posts. Alex White added the conversion to close to 23-37 with 25 minutes left to play.

Unfortunately the Sutton recovery faltered at this point and the visitors went on to score 3 more converted tries before the close of play. The first of the final trio of tries was scored by left wing Sam Reid on 60 minutes following successive scrums on the Sutton try line before the ball was fed out to the quick fire winger, then fullback Ian Smith showed his running skills again with a side stepping break in the Sutton 22 on 75 minutes before Adam Davey having moved to no8 scored the final try from close range on the stroke of fulltime and with Adam Nunney adding all three conversions the game ended 58-23.

This weekend Sutton take the short journey down the M42 to play their penultimate game of the National league season against 7th place Birmingham-Solihull looking to improve on recent results but as well as sharping up their teamwork in their remaining games in preparation to make an immediate impact in Midland 1 for next season Sutton are preparing to face Newbold upon Avon in the Warwickshire Cup Final at Coventry RFC, The Butts Arena on Sunday 24th April 2016. All support welcome.

Sutton other team results:

The Sutton Development Side made up of 2nd team players and a large contingent of 3rd XV players due the recent ravages on the club's resources from the 1st XV downwards from a growing injury list, came good with a comprehensive league victory over Worcester Wanders 2nd XV at the RSG, Walmley Road to keep the Sutton fans smiling.