Match reports - Sat 1st Oct 2016

Pictured, The Vets after their victory over Cannock Vets.(picture taken by Gerald Shanahan)

The above picture includes 4 club captains from previous seasons, three of whom played: notably; Pete Benson (1997-2000), Paul Finnemore (2004-07) and Steve McCormack (2009-12) with Andy Beaten, who was club captain in the early 90's (1992-95) supporting from the touchline.

The team picture also provides photographic evidence that the current Club Chairman Jim Haywood still looks good in green after his brief cameo appearance playing for Sutton and then sportingly the Sutton chairman played for the visitors to help out after an injury to one of their players. The sporting Sutton chairman is in the back row 5th from the right with Vets Captain and chairman of the mini & junior section Pete Benson to his left.

David Daniels
1st XV Team manager

Match reports - Sat 1st Oct 2016

Sutton Coldfield 22 pts v Newport RFC 28 pts

Midlands 1 West

With two wins and two losses to their name so far this season Sutton welcomed league leaders Newport to the RSG last weekend to put their unbeaten home record to the test against the only unbeaten team in the league but after an engrossing contest which went right down to the wire it was the league leaders who kept their unbeaten record with a 28-22 hard fought victory but Sutton had the consolation of a losing bonus point keeping them in 8th place in the league, with Newport extending their lead at the top to 4 points.

At the end of last season Newport sat one place above Sutton at the bottom of National League 3 Midlands, level five and both teams were relegated but clearly the experienced Shropshire side has made a better start to life at level six than Sutton with an unbeaten run of 5 games, however the young Sutton side are gaining experience week by week and their promise and full potential will be released as they learn how to manage their games and break down opponents, having camped on the Newport try line for the closing period of this close fought game seeking the match winning converted try that their efforts deserved.

Sutton kicked off in a steady drizzle, which had persisted most of the morning but otherwise the playing conditions were good and Sutton took the game to their illustrious opponents applying the early pressure leading to a penalty when Newport were caught offside in midfield and fly half Ben Morgan landed the 40 metre kick to give the home side a deserved 3-0 lead after 6 minutes of play.

However, Newport came storming back from the restart and they battered the Sutton defence which held firm but unfortunately after a serious of defensive penalties conceded within the Sutton 22, Sutton were shown a yellow card for pulling down a driving maul and from the subsequent play Newport used the extra man to drive over for try to the left of the posts. The ball was grounded by hooker and captain Tom Cowell and converted by centre Liam Holder giving the visitors a 7-3 lead 16 minutes into the game.

Encouraged by the score and the extra man Newport continued to bombard the Sutton defences but again Sutton held firm although they found it difficult to break out of their own half and found themselves under sustained pressure in their own 22. 25 minutes into the game the Newport pressure told and no8 Nathan Parker charged in under the posts giving Liam Holder a simple conversion and the visitors a 14-3 lead, which they extended to 21-3 when centre Chris Perry went on a 35 metre weaving run through the Sutton defence to score by the posts for another straightforward conversion by Holder, giving Newport a comfortable lead 10 minutes before the break.

However, with no further score before the break Sutton made a bright start to the second half with a debut try for Lewis Suckling, son of Sutton legend Paul Suckling, who played for Sutton Colts before moving to Moseley RFC in their prime and then returning to Sutton in the early 90's to finish his career. Happily 20 year old Lewis, who has played at Sale, Harrogate and most recently Shrewsbury has returned to Sutton and registered to play for the club this coming season. Although a centre, Lewis started his first game for the club on the right wing and he was on hand to take the ball on over the try line after a powerful charge for the line by prop Chris Hanley was stopped short but the wily prop managed to off load to the supporting wing and with Ben Morgan adding the extra points Sutton made the perfect start to the second half closing to 10-21 after 5 minutes play.

Sutton continued to press but midway through the second half Newport fly half Henry Vaka went on a mazy run evading the Sutton defenders to score a fine solo effort under the posts and with Holder adding the conversion the league leaders restored their lead to 28-10 but with 20 minutes left to play Sutton were not finished and the home side continued to pile on the pressure leading to consecutive yellow cards for defensive infringements by the under pressure opposition. During this period, 67 minutes into the game Sutton claimed a try through replacement prop Jeff Large after Sutton kicked a penalty into touch for a lineout in the Newport 22 on the Sutton right wing.

The ball was caught cleanly and the Sutton pack drove over for the score which was converted by Ben Morgan to close to 28-17 before with 5 minutes to play with Sutton attacking down the Newport left wing Sutton centre and player/coach Alex White kicked accurately on the Sutton left wing where under pressure centre Tom McNamee gathered the ball and grounded it over the try line to close to 22-28.

Unfortunately the difficult conversion drifted wide but Sutton were on track for a valuable losing bonus point and only a converted try away from snatching the game in the closing passage of play. Sutton threw everything they had at the table toppers during the final minutes of a captivating game but they could not find a way through the resolute defence of the experienced Newport side who retain their unbeaten record.

This weekend Sutton travel into Staffordshire to face Stoke on Trent, who sit one above Sutton in the league table, with the hope of showing the full potential of this young Sutton side in what will be their 6th league game of the season, looking to square the wins and loses columns again.

Sutton Other team results:

Saturday 1st Oct:

Newport 2nd XV 39pts v Sutton Development Side 34 pts:

The Sutton Development side went down 39-34 at Newport in a high scoring affair. Tries were scored by Tom Foulsham, Laurie Harries and Joe Brown(2) with Harries kicking 2 penalties and 4 conversions.

Cannock 2nd XV 63pts v Sutton 3rd XV 5pts:

The 3rd XV suffered a 63-5 defeat at Cannock 2’s, details of the Sutton try scorer are not to hand.

Sunday 2nd Oct 2016

Stafford Colts 19pts v Sutton Colts 5pts:

Sutton Colts journeyed to top of the table side Stafford on Sunday with a much depleted side. Late cry offs and no shows left Sutton taking the field with 13 players against a full squad side of 23.

For the first twenty minutes Sutton played the better rugby, but were unable to finish off some dogged build up work. It was only late in the half that a chip and chase over Suttons thin line of defence enabled Stafford to turn around 7-0 ahead.

The start of the second half saw some great teamwork from Sutton with winger Mitch Barker fending off the defence to score in the corner. Real belief of an upset surged through the Sutton side and a period of sustained pressure nearly bought about a further score, only for the ball to be intercepted and ran in for Staffords second converted try. With plenty of fresh players and Sutton tiring it was inevitable that another score was coming. However, Staffords third try was to be their last with Suttons tenacious spirit denying the opposition a bonus point victory. The final score 19-5 didn't reflect the great effort put in by all players. Special mention must go to Tom Marshall, Josh Wheeler, Will Smewin and man of the match Cam Marriott.

Friday 30th Sept 2016:

Friday night rugby themed social evening:

Last Friday night SCRFC organised one of the many rugby themed social evenings they will be running at the club during this coming season, with everyone welcome.

The evening included a great game of rugby on the floodlit 'International' pitch followed by a enjoyable evening in the bar afterwards with a tremendous atmosphere, enjoyed by all those who attended, with the teams, Sutton supporters and opposition alike all mingling
together to enjoy the evening, true to the old fashioned and time honoured spirit of rugby union football.

Sutton Vets v Cannock Vets:

On Friday evening at the RSG on the floodlit 'International' pitch the Vets delighted the sizeable crowd with an emphatic 39-0 win over a sporting and game Cannock Vets side. Five 1st half tries by Ashley Battison, Warren Spiers, Dave Sproson, Tony Worthington and Tudor Jones with the evergreen Pete Benson converting two, saw Sutton lead 29-0 at the break; the somewhat shorter 2nd half saw the home side extend their lead through further tries by flying prop Dave Smith and a 2nd for centre/fullback Dave Sproson.

The crowd were privileged to see 2nd row Tony Worthington at his 'action man' best, playing second row in the set plays and fly half in the open play at the heart of everything good about Sutton and a joy to behold. Alongside Tony, captain Pete Benson was the complete player and a mastermind at scrum half; Warren (Wozzer) Spires was a 'will o the wisp' as ever and Paul Finnemore was power personified as he drove Sutton forward. Dave Sproson not only scored a brace of tries himself but he also made the try for Warren Spires with a deft back of the hand flip to send the winger racing in for a fine try.

All in all it was a great game and every member of the Sutton side are to be congratulated on a fine performance and thanks also go to the Cannock players and supporters for their sportsmanship and participation in a fine game and a great evening!

One of many to be enjoyed at SCRFC this season - watch the club website for notice of future events.

Picture is the Vets team after their victory on Friday.