Match day report - Sat 21st Jan 2017

David Daniels
SCRFC 1st XV Team Manager

Newport RFC 47 pts v Sutton Coldfield 10 pts

Midlands 1 West - level 6

Sutton's unbeaten start to the second half of the season faltered in the hills of Shropshire when the host club and league leaders Newport took full advantage of an out of sorts Sutton performance to continue their unbeaten run at the top of the table with a convincing 47-10 victory.

It is a truth that when nothing goes right 'everything goes wrong' and such was Sutton's fate on a day when they needed everything to go right if they were to topple the unbeaten league leaders.. but a day of missed tackles, missed kicks to touch, a misfiring lineout and poor handling at crucial points of play led to Sutton's demise. However, in spite of the many frustrations, what was certainly not lacking from the Sutton team, was the drive and desire plus the courage and character of the men in green, who strived against the odds and dominated possession and territory in a highly entertaining second half. Unfortunately, however in spite of their brave efforts the visitors were unable to make the break though and in the end Sutton had to settle for a solitary consolation try scored by fullback Martin Browning, who made a notable and dramatic impact from the bench. The try was converted by fly half Ben Morgan to complete the scoring.

Sutton kicked off on a dry, cold day at the very scenic Old Showground, Forton Road, Newport and immediately the visitors took a 3-0 lead, when, under pressure from a strong follow up by Sutton following a perfectly executed kick off, Newport were penalised for holding on. Fly half Ben Morgan lined up the 40 metre kick and with no wind to help or hinder the flight, the ball sailed between the posts for an encouraging start... but a 3-0 lead after I minute of play was as good as it got for Sutton in a torrid first half.

Newport responded positively from the setback and they launched a series of attacks from the restart putting Sutton under sustained pressure. Sutton initially held firm but a missed tackle on the Newport right wing allowed the winger to race down his wing and when challenged he passed inside to fullback Liam Holder, who completed the run to the try line to score the opening try to the right of the posts.

Liam Holder converted his own try to give Newport a 7-3 lead after 5 minutes of play and as the game developed, although Sutton competed well in the opening exchanges, whilst they were winning the scrums they lost the lineout battle and basic handling errors and penalties started to cost them possession and territory.

Ten minutes into the games as Sutton setup an attack crossing the halfway line, a chip ahead seeking to set up the Sutton right wing was charged down and as Sutton tried to recover the ball they were penalised when the ball went to ground. Newport kicked the resulting penalty into the left corner and they comfortably won the resulting lineout driving for the Sutton try line. Sutton stopped the initial drive but Newport spun off the side of the drive and scrumhalf Ash Paterson scrambled over for a try.

Liam Holder landed the difficult conversion to extend the Newport lead to 14-3 with 11 minutes played and with Newport dominating play midway through the first half a Sutton attack broke down and the ball went to ground. Liam Holder gathered the loose ball and raced down the right wing to score his second try of the day stretching the lead to 19-3.

Although the difficult touchline conversion was missed Newport continued to press Sutton and 10 minutes from the break Newport won a lineout on their left wing inside the Sutton 22. They quickly spun the ball across in front of the Sutton posts and another missed tackle allowed winger Sam Hughes to race into the right corner for a fourth and bonus point try.

This time Liam Holder landed the difficult conversion for a 26-3 score line before the prolific fullback completed the first half scoring with a try and conversion to end a disappointing half for Sutton. Prior to the build up to the Newport try, Sutton were on the attack and centre Jack Braniff made a superb break taking play promisingly into the Newport 22 but as the player went to ground the home side stole the ball and fullback Liam Holder raced down the right touchline cutting infield to score under the posts, punishing Sutton yet again for another lapse as Newport closed the half 33-3 ahead.

Sutton made a disastrous start to the second half as they knocked on at the restart handing the initiative back to Newport, who wasted no time in breaking through the Sutton defence and Ash Paterson, having moved from scrumhalf to centre, broke through in midfield to race in for Newport's 6th try. Liam Holder added the conversion and Sutton kicked off again facing a deficit of 40-3 with only 2 minutes of the second half played.

10 minutes into the second half Sutton suffered a further setback as another crucial missed tackle in midfield on the halfway line allowed fullback Liam Holder to race in for an excellent solo effort as he scored under the posts for his fourth try of the day, which he then converted to complete an outstanding game with a personal tally of 32 points including 4 tries and 6 conversions.

In spite of the daunting score line against them, during the remaining 30 minutes Sutton showed their true fighting spirit and setting aside the many setbacks they had endured during the course of the game, they mounted a series of attacks putting the home side under increasing pressure, which led to consecutive yellow cards for Newport during the final quarter of what had been a very sporting contest. Unfortunately, Sutton were unable to take advantage of the numerical advantage and it was only after Newport were restored to their full compliment that Sutton constructed an excellent try for fullback Martin Browning, who came off the bench and made an immediate impact with his positive running and explosive pace. Sutton mounted an attack which developed up the right wing creating space for the flying fullback, who raced 50 metre up the right touchline outpacing the Newport defenders to score under the posts.

Ben Morgan added the conversion to close the score line to 47-10 with 5 minutes left to play and the game played out with Sutton pressing for a closer score line....

On a disappointing day for Sutton and their travelling support with little to celebrate, high on the list of possible celebrations was the successful return to Sutton 1st XV action of former Sutton youth and 1st XV player Joe Gavin, who graduated with a Masters from Loughborough Sports College and is now Head Coach at the Sutton Club.

This weekend Sutton welcome Stoke-on Trent RFC to the Roger Smoldon Ground, Walmley Road with the home team intent on returning to the winning ways they had established in the opening games of 2017. KO 2.15 pm.

Sutton Development Side 7 pts v Newport 2nd XV 54 pts

Unfortunately, the normally impressive Sutton Development Side suffered a rare malfunction as they succumbed to a very well prepared Newport 2nd XV, who had the better of the exchanges in a 54-7 victory.