Match report - 28th Jan 2017 (updated)

Inspirational club captain Jack Woodcock, who has led by example and had a key role in Sutton's recent success capping another great performance on Saturday with a fine try.

David Daniels
SCRFC 1st XV Team Manager

Sutton Coldfield 21 pts v Stoke on Trent 15 pts[/b]

Midlands 1 West

Last weekend Sutton had to bounce back after their disappointing performance away to league leaders Newport the previous weekend... and so it was as back on home soil they returned to winning ways with a hard fought and well deserved 21-15 victory over a strong Stoke side in a 'must win' game for both sides.

With both teams languishing in the bottom half of the table this was a key game for both clubs and both needed a win to help propel them up the table and safeguard their future at level 6 with just eight games to be played to the end of a challenging and close fought season.

With everything to play for Stoke kicked off in dry conditions with an increasing breeze and a fading sun on their backs but Sutton made a tentative start to this crucial game and their early play suggested a hangover from the previous defeat at Newport as the visitors took an early 8-0 lead with a penalty by fullback Tom Vickers when Sutton were caught off-side in front of the posts on 5 minutes, followed by a try on 12 minutes for winger Cameron Brown, who raced into the right corner after good three quarter play but in spite of a heavy downfall of rain midway through the first half and miserable playing conditions Sutton hung in there with an improving defensive performance to prevent further scores and good attacking play leading to a penalty by centre and player/coach Alex White which brought Sutton back to 3-8 at the break.

The Sutton game had improved in the second quarter with fullback Nathan Burchell terrorising the Stoke defenders every time he received the ball with his mesmerising runs from deep and flanker turned centre Jack Braniff continued to impress in his new role as Sutton stepped up their game with some good passages of play. Against this backdrop, Sutton started the second half well with a second penalty for Alex White from a well struck 40 metre effort, when Stoke were penalised for not releasing after the tackle, to close to 6-8 just 3 minutes after the restart... but then resurgent Sutton suffered another setback when, against the run of play Stoke stole the ball in midfield and assisted by a lazy runner, not spotted by the referee, centre Laurence Rawlins raced in for a try converted by fullback Tom Vickers to stretch the Stoke lead to 15-6 with just 5 minutes of the second half played.

To their credit Sutton responded well to the increased deficit and led by the pack the home side stepped up their play taking the game to their opponents with the forwards starting to dominate the scrums and with the accuracy of the Sutton lineout returning to parity the Sutton team play started to function well stepping up the pressure on the Stoke side.

The increased pressure led to third penalty for Alex White, who brought Sutton back to 9-15 with a well struck 30 metre penalty after 15 minutes of play in the second half, before the all powerful Sutton pack drove second row George Ord over for a try in the right corner after a penalty in midfield was kicked into touch for a 10 metre attacking lineout and a perfectly executed catch and drive brought Sutton to within 1 point at 14-15 midway through the second half.

With Sutton closing in on their desired victory, the second row partnership of try scoring George Ord and all-action man Dean Harper, happily restored to the Sutton second row after a period of work related enforced absence, continues to flourish and it was this second row powerhouse that enabled the dominant Sutton pack to drive the Stoke forwards back over their own try line allowing skipper and no8 Jack Woodcock to claim the match winning try after Sutton were awarded a 5 metre scrum when the try they might have scored was judged to have been held up over the try line.

Alex White added the conversion to give Sutton the lead for the first time in the hard fought game at 21-15 with 15 minutes left to play and it was now up to Sutton to show their true identity and strength of character as they defended and sought to extend their precious 6 point lead in a dramatic end to a highly entertaining contest.

During the tense climax to the game Sutton were fortunate to have the experience of forwards player/coach Alan Keylock on from the start returning to the key role of hooker in this crucial game, along with backs player/coach Alex White and both contributed hugely to Sutton's celebrated recovery from their early struggles. The strong Sutton bench also contributed to the sides success with exceptional front row replacement Jeff Large replacing super-prop Sean Harrison early in the contest, backs replacement Max Craven was an effective alternative to the irreplaceable Nathan Burchell, who twinged a hamstring on one of his mazy runs and back row Rhoss Price proved to be effective replacement for flanker Anton Taylor, who is enjoying a fine run of form.

Sutton stood their ground well to defend their 6 point lead through to the end, against a fierce onslaught from the increasingly desperate Staffordshire side and the hosts even had to endure a final 5 minutes reduced to 14 men, when they received a puzzling yellow card but otherwise the Sutton side held their discipline and wound down the clock to earn a celebrated victory, having recovered from a slow start with a magnificent second half performance.

Player/coach Alex White also started the game as a Sutton record holder having topped 1,000 points to overtake Alan Rowlands, who had amassed a total of 1,001 points for Sutton 1st XV in a career spanning from 2005/6 to 2012/13 scoring 941 points with the boot plus 60 points from 12 tries, with Alex White scoring 1012 points from 2011/12 to the present, scoring 777 points from the boot plus 235 points from 47 tries following his 19 points in the Moseley Oak match on Friday 13th Jan 2017.

Sutton 1st XV take a well earned break from league rugby this weekend before they return to league action on Sat 11th February 2017 away to old rivals Stratford on Avon, who sit in 5th place with Sutton in 8th, for what should prove to be another compelling contest. KO 2.15 pm

With no game this weekend the Sutton 1st XV will be free to support the other Sutton teams followed by watching the opening games of the 6 Nations Rugby Competition live in the Sutton Clubhouse, where the atmosphere will electric. All visitors will receive a warm welcome both on the touchline and in the Clubhouse. Please feel free to join us for a beer and a rugby themed experience.

Sutton Other Team Results:

On a good day for the Sutton Club not only did the 1st XV win a crucial game but the 2nd and 3rd teams also won their respective fixtures giving the men in green a 'Green Sweep' with all the senior teams winning on the same day for the first time in some time!

The Sutton Development Side playing as a 2 XV returned to winning ways by beating Stoke on Trent 2nd XV 30-12 in a great game of rugby at the Stoke ground and to cap a great day Sutton 3rd XV beat National 2 side Luctonians by 41-5 at home.