Match report - 21st Dec 2019

Picture - Former Club Captain Sean Harrison scored Sutton's try.

David Daniels
SCRFC 1st XV Team Manager

Match report - 21st Dec 2019

Kenilworth RFC 37pts v Sutton Coldfield 7pts

A disappointing last league game of 2019 for Sutton 1st XV after a first half of the season plagued by injuries and a constantly changing team... but when a team short on form and on a losing run sitting second from bottom of the table meets a promotion chasing team, second from the top of the table and on a winning run, the 37-7 defeat for Sutton at Kenilworth was not surprising. However, the score does not tell the full story for Sutton competed strongly throughout the contest but true to the pattern of the games in the Sutton season so far - the team who takes their chances wins the game and this was the same story repeated again with Sutton playing well to create chances and then handing the initiative back to their opponents, who promptly score leading to Sutton's present plight!

Sutton kicked off in dry conditions with the pitch in surprisingly good condition and the floodlights were on from the beginning due to the agreed 3pm start to allow the host club to complete their pre-arranged Christmas Lunch, which was well attended and the delayed kick-ok meant the participants could enjoy a leisurely lunch without missing the start of the game.

The Sutton pack, which included new signing Chris Lamb in the second row held-up well in the first scrum against strong opposition and Sutton were able to apply the early pressure in the Kenilworth half producing some strong attacking runs through their backs and putting in some good tackles in turn as Kenilworth tried to break out from their own half. Eventually the home side did escape into the Sutton half winning a penalty 35 metres out when Sutton were penalized for wheeling the scrum and centre Jayde Cruickshank kicked the points to give Kenilworth a 5-0 lead after 5 minutes of play. 8 minutes later the same player added a second penalty when Sutton were penalized for handling in the ruck in their own 22 to extend the lead to 6-0 and although Sutton responded well to produce some good attacking runs taking play up to the Kenilworth try line the referee was not generous to Sutton and it was the home side, who kept the scoreboard ticking over up to half time with first fullback Garrett Ball racing in for the opening try on 22 minutes extending the score to 11-0 and then no 8 Bobby Thompson scored from a pushover try for 16-0 on 29 minutes before on the stroke of halftime prop Jake Dodds scrambled over for a try under the posts. Centre Jayde Cruickshank added the simple conversion to close the half in Kenilworth's favour at 23-0.

Sutton made changes in the front row at half time with last season's captain Sean Harrison making a welcome return to strengthen the side but 9 minutes into the second half Kenilworth broke down their right wing and with good interplay winger Sam Morris raced in for Kenilworth's bonus point try to the right of the posts. Jayde Cruickshank added the conversion for 30-0 and then on 52 minutes substitute Callum Armstrong crossed for a fifth try, which was converted by Jayde Cruickshank to take the score to 37-0 but in the closing minutes Sutton showed their true grit and fighting spirit as they pressed for a consolation score with fullback Miles Gregory showing what Sutton had missed during his many months of absence due to injury, with a strong defensive display and producing some fine attacking runs from fullback but it was the old warhorse Sean Harrison, who produced the magic as the Sutton pack drove for the try line and the try scoring prop drove over from close range to score on his return. Fly half Ben Morgan added the conversion with a quickly taken drop goal to get the ball back into play as soon as possible as Sutton strove to gain what they could from the game in the remaining 4 minutes but for all their efforts there was no further score and Sutton had to settle for the 37-7 defeat vowing to do better next year.