Match report - 10th Dec 2016

David Daniels

SCRFC 1st XV Team Manager

Match report - 10th Dec 2016

Crewe & Nantwich 32 pts v Sutton Coldfield 15 pts

Midlands 1 West.

Another disappointing away day for Sutton 1st XV and no festive cheer for their travelling supporters as Sutton handed gifts to their opponents but failed to take their own chances in a 32-15 defeat on their first visit to the Vagrant Sports Ground, Nantwich, which is home to Crewe & Nantwich RFC.

After their excellent victory over third place Burton the previous weekend when Sutton played with controlled commitment and discipline to lift the spirits and expectations at the club, last weekend presented the perfect opportunity for the Sutton side to win back to back victories with their opponents sitting in 13th place one place below Sutton in the bottom three of the table but as the game unfolded it was the battling home side who belied their lowly league position and took the initiative with successive breakaway tries, the first coming after 5 minutes, when a succession of missed tackles allowed centre Ben Stelmaszek to race in for the opening try. The centre then repeated the feat with a second try on 16 minutes, both converted by fly half Jim Creighton but in the meantime Sutton had landed a penalty by centre Tom McNamee on 15 minutes and then the visitors created a well worked try for winger Miles Gregory after an excellent break down the Sutton right wing by centre Luke Stewart, for a score line of 14-8 midway through the first half.

However, Crewe bounced back and just 3 minutes later the Crewe right wing Tom Roberts spun out of tackles to score in the right corner extending the Crewe lead to 19-8. The difficult conversion drifted wide and Sutton set about clawing back the 11 point deficit with a period of positive direct play. A break in midfield took play into the Crewe 22 where under pressure the home side conceded a penalty but instead of going for goal the penalty was taken quickly with a quick tap and Sutton drove up to the try line. Although the initial drive was held up, 2nd row George Ord gathered the ball and peeled off driving over from short range. Tom McNamee added the conversion to close to within 4 points at 19-15 with 13 minutes to play to the break.

In the closing minutes of the first half Crewe came back strongly to win a penalty 40 metres out and fly half Jim Creighton added the points to close the first half at 22-15 but with Sutton appearing to be in the ascendency.

The game had kicked off in a steady drizzle with overcast skies and soft underfoot but by halftime the conditions were very murky and with no floodlights it seemed the game may not reach full time in the gathering gloom.

However, Sutton restarted the second half with a new impetus and for the opening period the visitors responded well to the challenge ahead. Sutton were holding up well in the scrum with Zac Loffman making an impressive debut at open side prop and the lineout was working efficiently but missed tackles and unforced errors had proved to be their undoing in a combative first half and although Sutton stepped up their play to good effect at the start of the second half their recovery faltered when they lost a player to the bin 10 minutes into the second half for an infringement at a ruck just 5 metres from their own try line. Crewe opted for a 5 metre scrum and with a man advantage they drove Sutton back for a pushover try scored by no8 Ollie Buckley and converted by Jim Creighton to extend their lead to 29-15 with 11 minutes of the second half played.

Although Sutton tried hard in the final 29 minutes they lacked the composure shown in the Burton win and they tended to rush their play and force the final pass with penalty kicks also missing touch when searching for that extra metre or two. So with the rain increasing and the light diminishing Sutton's hopes faded with the light and 10 minutes before the end of normal time Crewe ended the contest with a second penalty kicked by Jim Creighton for a final score line of 32-15 giving Crewe a try scoring bonus point with a try count of 4 to 2.

This weekend Sutton regroup to face a resurgent Hereford side, who now sit 7th in the table, to start the return leg of fixtures knowing that there is enough talent and ability in the side to turn things around in the second half of the season.

KO at the RSG, Walmley Road 2.15 pm for what should prove to be a compelling contest and ideal pre Christmas rugby entertainment for what will be the last league game before the Christmas break.

Sutton other team results:

Sutton Development side.

With the Sutton 3rd XV, Colts,Vets and Ladies team all resting last weekend the only other Sutton team to play was the Development Side, who travelled to Shakespeare's Town to face the Stratford upon Avon 2nd XV in the second round of the Warwickshire 2nd Team Cup but unfortunately in spite of a valiant effort Sutton will take no further part in this years competition and they will be unable to defend the trophy they won last season after a 12-8 victory for Stratford in a close fought contest.