Match report - 14th Dec 2019

Picture - Saturday’s 1st XV try scorers against Dudley Kingswinford, Chris Duckworth and Tom Harris.

David Daniels
SCRFC 1st XV Team Manager

Sutton Coldfield 19pts v Dudley Kingswinford 45pts

As if facing the league leaders Dudley Kingswinford at the RSG with second place Lichfield breathing down their neck just 4 points behind after 12 games played out of 26 and with Sutton languishing next to bottom of the league table after a disappointing run of results was not enough, Sutton needed everything to go their way on this day of all days but they could not have gone more wrong. With key players unavailable for selection before the game, during the game Sutton rose to the challenge but in spite of playing well at times a combination of loose play and bad luck combined to thwart their efforts...and as if their erstwhile opponents needed any help in a confusing first half Sutton gifted their visitors 5 tries, with 4 interceptions, including a knock-on that bounced forward into the arms of an onrushing D-K player, who raced on to score, 2 passes which went to D-K players and also a ball was ripped from the arms of a Sutton player on contact in midfield setting up another try to leave Sutton trailing 33-7 at the break....and with 2 players injured during the robust exchanges in the first half including inspirational club skipper Dean Ginn, who took no further part in the game things looked bleak for the battling Sutton side. But true to their mantle Sutton came out fighting in the second half with both sides scoring 12 points in a much more even contest but on this occasion Sutton's long time rivals took the honours with a 45-19 victory to boost their chances of outright promotion to National 3, level 5 having missed out in the playoffs in each of the past two seasons. We at Sutton wish them well.

The events and fortunes of the game showed the contrast between a team that is flying high as Dudley K are and a team that is struggling for consistency and form plus confidence in their play not helped by the constant team changes due to injury as shown by the ever expanding list of injured players as registered by Club Physio Lance White.

Dudley kicked off in bright late Autumn sunshine with a blustery breeze blowing down the field towards Sutton with soft but playable conditions underfoot. Sutton fielded the ball and set up a strong attack taking play back down field and in the first scrum the Sutton pack was solid winning good ball. All the early signs were very encouraging for Sutton but then a good clearance kick was fielded by a D-K player, who was smartly bundled into touch by quick fire left wing George Creed to gain good ground but the referee judged that the player was still in the air when the tackle was made and awarded a penalty to D-K taking play back deep into the Sutton half. D-K won the resulting lineout and set up an attack just outside the Sutton 22 with the backs moving the ball quickly but as Sutton stepped in make a sharp interception and set off down field the referee again found in favour of D-K and the Sutton player was called back for being offside allowing D-K to kick the ball into touch on their right wing. D-K won the ensuing lineout again setting up an attack travelling right to left across the Sutton 22 and speedster Charlie Baffour showed his finishing power as he raced into the left corner for the opening try after 5 minutes of play.

The difficult conversion was missed but the visitors had taken a 5-0 lead somewhat against the run of play but 4 minutes later the lead was extended to 12-0, when following a good period of play by Sutton misfortune struck as Sutton set up a strong attack running the ball at D-K, a firm pass bounced off a Sutton players chest into the arms of an onrushing D-K player, who gathered the ball and raced into the Sutton half setting up a second try for left wing Charlie Baffour but this time the conversion was made by fullback Sam Vaughan for a 7 point score.

Undeterred, after the restart Sutton stepped up their game again and with the pack performing well in the scrums and lineout the backs had a strong platform from which to base their attacks. From one such attack 2nd row powerhouse Jack Ward made a strong break in midfield taking play into the visitors 22 and then as the Sutton support arrived quickly the ball was driven towards the try line before it was released to bring right wing Chris Duckworth into the play and the burly winger drove over for a well deserved try, which was converted by fly half Ben Morgan from a position to the right of the posts reducing the arrears to 5 points at 12-7 after 13 minutes of play.

However, in an ever changing game 6 minutes later, after more good play by Sutton a misplaced pass on the halfway line went to a D-K player, who ran the ball through the midfield before left wing Charlie Baffour raced in for his hat-trick try to the left of the posts. The try was converted by Sam Vaughan extending the score to 19-7 midway through the first half.

Once again Sutton stepped up to the mark with the pack in particular performing well as they took the ball against the head on a D-K scrum and continued to perform well at the lineout but unfortunately it was the visitors who again benefited from a Sutton error as Sutton ran into contact the ball was snatched in the tackle and fly half Harry Bayliss ran down the left wing before cutting infield to score under the posts, giving goal kicker Sam Vaughan an easy conversion for a 26-7 lead with 31 minutes played. Then once again following the restart Sutton surged into the D-K 22 on their left wing but a possible scoring pass was intercepted and the visitors raced down their right wing before chipping ahead into the Sutton 22. Although the covering Sutton players got to the ball first the bounce eluded them and right wing Tom Walker was able to control the ball and score to the right of the posts. Again Sam Vaughan added the conversion to take the score out to 33-7 with 6 minutes to play until the break.

At the break Sutton reviewed their injuries sustained during the first 40 minutes with hooker and skipper Dean Ginn having to withdraw from the front row and acting no8 Rhoss Price having to take a period out from the back row meaning the pack had to reform with the reliable Dave Smith moving from prop to hooker and new signing Taboka Habvane coming off the bench to take his place in the front row with the versatile Jonah Falconer came off the bench into the second row enabling Jack Ward to move from second row into the no8 slot alongside the resourceful Jack Wells at 7 and the returning Jermaine Toques at 6. Later in the game Rhoss Price rejoined the game to lend assistance and centre Arwyn Jones entered the fray to lend a hand to the Sutton cause in the closing stages.

Sutton started the second half with a rearranged pack and as the new look side settled into the game D-K exploited space on the right wing for winger Tom Walker to score a long range solo effort for his second try of the day and the visitors 6th. The conversion was missed but the score moved onto 38-7 with 6 minutes of the second period played,

Once again Sutton settled to the task of chasing down the increasing deficit and they made a good start 12 minutes into the second half when scrum half Tom Harris went over by the posts following a 5 metre scrum dominated by the Sutton pack. Ben Morgan added the conversion to close to 38-14 but as Sutton were coming back into the game they found themselves a man down with a yellow card for a swinging arm tackle after 55 minutes and on 61 minutes the visitors took full advantage when the ball broke from a melee in the Sutton 22 and substitute James Ryan weaved his way over the try line for Sam Vaughan to add his 5th conversion of the game extending the D-K lead to 45-14 with 19 minutes to the end of play.

Again the home side had the guts to pick themselves up off the floor and in the closing quarter they took the game to their high flying opponents gaining just reward when long striding winger Chris Duckworth raced in for his second try of the day as he scored in the right corner to make the score 45-19, with 72 minutes played.

The difficult conversion was missed but in the minutes remaining Sutton went all out for a fourth try and the consolation of a try scoring bonus point but it was not to be and the score at the final whistle remained 45-19.

This weekend start the return leg of fixtures with a visit to Kenilworth RFC before taking a break over Christmas returning to league duties with a home game against Kidderminster on 4th Jan 2019.

Please note: kick off for the Kenilworth game will be 3 pm, not 2.15 as normal, with the second half played under floodlights.