Match report - 22nd April 2017

David Daniels
SCRFC 1st XV Team Manager

Picture:Sutton try scorer Miles Gregory, in the green, turns defender to ward off his opposite number as D-K mount an attack.

Last Saturday Sutton brought the curtain down on their 2016/17 league campaign with another disappointing defeat away from home but the young Sutton side produced enough good winning performances throughout a difficult season to finish in a respectable 7th place in a league of 14 high quality teams competing in the Midlands 1 West level 6 league, which sits just one level below the National Leagues.

In many ways this final game reflected Sutton's season of mixed fortunes as they started strongly playing well against their 5th placed opponents taking a 10-0 lead in the first 30 minutes with a penalty plus a converted try but they also missed several chances to extend their lead and the match started to slip away as Dudley stepped up their game to score 2 tries and a conversion to take a 12-10 lead at the break... and then Sutton had to chase the game and in an ill tempered second half Sutton kicked a second penalty but conceded 3 tries, 2 conversions and a penalty, with the final try coming in the 79th minute as Sutton chased a losing bonus point but a careless pass on the halfway line gifted the home side a 50 metre interception try under the posts to give Dudley K a flattering 34-13 victory, which lifted them to 4th in the table and avenged Sutton's victory on the opening day of the season at the RSG, Walmley Road.

The game kicked off in bright sunshine with Sutton receiving the ball and the visitors started strongly taking the game to their illustrious opponents with some good attacking play. Right wing Miles Gregory set an excellent example when he punted the ball up the right wing and out jumped the D-K players to re-gather the ball setting up another attack, which led to a penalty opportunity for Sutton when D-K were penalised at a scrum in midfield. Sutton's fly half Laurie Harries calmly kicked the 25 metre penalty to give Sutton a deserved 3-0 lead after just 3 minutes of play.

From the restart Sutton continued to build the pressure in the D-K 22 but although Sutton applied sustained pressure gaining successive penalties against a stretched defence, they were unable to make the breakthrough and extend their slender lead. 15 minutes into the game Dudley K lost their blindside flanker to the sin bin for 10 minutes but still Sutton were unable to add to their opening score with unforced errors preventing them turning pressure into points.

Unfortunately mid-way through the first half Sutton were on the wrong end of the referee's wrath as they suffered also a yellow card to level the sides at 14 each but 4 minutes later Sutton suffered a second yellow card to go down to 13 players on the pitch. Sutton held out during the critical period when 13 played 15 and then, restored to 14 against 15 Sutton were awarded a penalty in midfield and winger Tom McNamee took a quick tap racing into the D-K 22. Twisting and turning the powerful winger drove forward before off-loading to centre Luke Stewart who raced towards the try line taking play to the right before passing to fullback Nathan Burchell, who attacked the try line and then slipped the ball to right wing Miles Gregory, who completed an excellent passage of play with a try in the corner. Laurie Harries added a perfect touchline conversion to extend Sutton's lead to 10-0 after 30 minutes of play.

Unfortunately for Sutton their hosts bounced right back following the restart as centre Stefan Shillingford made a superb break through the midfield before setting up right wing Tom Walker for an excellent try in the right corner and fly half Tom Huggins landed an impressive touchline conversion to close to 7-10 and then within 2 minutes of half time an error at a Sutton lineout conceded possession to Dudley on the halfway line on the Sutton right wing and the D-K players took full advantage as they raced towards the Sutton try line pulling Sutton infield before feeding left wing Liam Marshall, who raced into the left corner to score on the overlap.

The touchline conversion was missed so Dudley K started the second half with a slender 12-10 but cheered on by their very vocal and partisan crowd in the West stand D-K received the ball from the restart and after a brief build-up their outstanding centre Stefan Shillingford raced in to score an excellent try, which was converted by Tom Huggins to extend the lead to 19-10 after just 2 minutes of play in the second half.

Faced with an increased deficit Sutton responded well and stepped up their game winning a penalty when D-K were caught offside in midfield and Laurie Harries kicked the points to close to within 6 points at 19-13 with 5 minutes of the second half played.

Encouraged by the reduced deficit Sutton restarted play with a sense of purpose and a Sutton counterattack was led by winger Tom McNamee, who raced out of his own half, chipped ahead and re-gathered the ball to carry on the attack but the rumbustious player was brought down short of the try line. Sutton recovered the ball but were bundled into touch conceding a lineout to D-K who duly cleared their lines and from the ensuing play Sutton were penalised for a high tackle in midfield and Tom Huggins kicked the penalty from just outside the Sutton 22 to extend the D-K lead to 22-13 with 25 minutes to play to the end of the game.

As the game continued to ebb and flow Sutton failed to maximise their hard earned chances and although they continued to stretch the D-K defence they were unable to add to the score sheet. In the final period, with time running out it was the home side who dominated the close of play with another try for man-of-the-match Stefan Shillingford for a score line of 27-13 and then any Sutton comeback was crushed by a devastating interception on the halfway line in the 79th minute by replacement wing Nick Adams, who swept up a careless Sutton pass and raced in under the posts. Tom Huggins converted the final try to close the game on 34-13 in Dudley K's favour.

At the close of this the final game of the league season the Sutton side and their loyal supporters can reflect on the positives that have come out of a difficult and challenging season, which started with the need to bounce back after the disappointment of suffering relegation from the National Leagues the previous season. With a new look and largely inexperienced squad of players the new player/coaching set-up headed by Alex White and Alan Keylock have done an excellent job to guide the team to a respectable mid-table finish.

One real positive from this game was the welcome return of Matt Black, who was able to start in the last game of the season having missed the whole season with a back injury but the talented second/back row player came through this game unscathed and is looking forward to resuming his career at Sutton next season.

Along with the late return of Matt Black, earlier in the season Sutton were very pleased to welcome the return of the versatile Jack Braniff and 2nd row Dean Harper both of whom made a valuable contribution to the success of the team during the past season.

The season also saw young players like Laurie Harries, Miles Gregory and Ollie Green rise to the occasion and produce maturing performances when called upon to play in the 1st XV and mention should be made of Tom Harris and Ben Morgan, who stepped into the roles of scrum half and fly half respectively serving the club well, with both players having to adjust to the less familiar role of scrum half when called upon.

As the season comes to an end we are due to lose club captain Jack Woodcock, who has led the team admirably this season but along with his girlfriend he is setting off on a global adventure starting with a flight to Thailand. We thank jack for his leadership this season and wish both of them a safe and enjoyable adventure.

Along with losing Jack, Sutton also have to face up to losing match winning backs Tom McNamee, who is going to Canada and Nathan Burchell, who is seriously considering retirement after an illustrious and loyal career at Sutton, from his exploits with Sutton and the England youth teams through to his recent starring roles in the Sutton 1st XV and he is widely recognised as the Sutton player opposition teams fear; prop Chris Hanley has also announced his retirement after giving up to 18 years invaluable service to Sutton in the top teams and Jack Braniff is considering taking a break from rugby next season and we thank him for his excellent contribution this season and also the service he provided in previous seasons before he left the area.

Thanks go to the physio team led by Lance and Chris, who have provided excellent physio care for all the Sutton players throughout the season along with Andre, who provides physio support when required but he main role is that of video analysis and team selection admin. It is possible that Andre will stepping down this summer and therefore it is essential that we thank him for his many years of invaluable service to the club as masseur, physio, video operator and occasional player.

We also have to thank John Gawthrope for his knowledgeable and reliable role as touch judge at all home and away games, which has been very much appreciated and hopefully will continue next season.

Sutton other team results:

Sutton took three teams to Dudley K including a combined 2nd/3rd XV led by head coach Joe Gavin and manager Daniel Harvey, who have guided the Development squad to success this season and 3rd team skipper Steve Marshall, who has worked tirelessly with the 3rd XV and a women's team, led by Charlie Byrne and the injured Sammi Allwood and whilst the 1st XV and women's teams suffered defeat, the Sutton combined 2nd/3rd XV recorded an impressive 60-12 victory over the equivalent D-K team.

Mention must be made of Sutton's very successful youth teams, who have had another remarkable season under the guidance of Paul Smith, Simon Davies, Andy Court, Sandy O'Hare and Daniel Lockley, reaching the final of the Fred Rowley Memorial Tournament again to be played on Tuesday 2nd May, after beating Wolverhampton Colts convincingly in the semi-final on Thursday 20th April at Walsall RFC.

Further acknowledgements:

Away from the field of play we should acknowledge and thank the contribution made by Richard Harries, longstanding fixture secretary;

Kenneth Sims for managing the Sutton Web-site and Gerald Shanahan for researching the club playing statistics and running the social media services plus the Morgan family and associates, who have run the bar and the club house functions over many seasons through Doc & Helen together with Frank, who has swept and tided the changing rooms week after week throughout the playing seasons, so we have clean conditions to change in before each game - all very much appreciated.

Finally thanks go to all the loyal Sutton supporters and helpers, who have shared the emotions of a season full of highs and lows and stayed true to the cause, with a mid table league finish putting Sutton in a good position to progress further with the rebuilding programme next season.

There will be more rugby to enjoy at the RSG, Walmley Road, when Sutton stage the Midlands 7's tournament of festival rugby on 10th June - all supporters welcome for a festival of fun with a rugby theme.

Best wishes for a great summer from all the players, coaches and team management at SCRFC.

David Daniels

1st XV Team Manager