Match report - 14th March 2020

[i]Player Photo: Luke Stewart made a welcome return to the Sutton side last weekend after a late start to the season then a long absence following the game against Worcester on 16th Nov 2019

David Daniels
SCRFC 1st XV Team Manager

Match report - 14th March 2020

Sutton Coldfield 22pts v Stoke RFC 19pts

Continuing the excellent form they have shown in 2020, last weekend Sutton 1st XV travelled to Stoke RFC to play their postponed league fixture, which was cancelled back in February due to Storm Denis and against a team placed 8th in the league but still holding ambitions of promotion, on the day once again the Sutton spirit prevailed to extend their unbeaten run in 2020 to five games with a close fought 22-19 bonus point victory.

In another game of high drama and mixed emotions, after a stuttering start to the game with a below par opening performance Sutton found themselves trailing 13-0 but then they produced moments of outstanding rugby to race into a 22-16 lead going into the final phases of the game only to see their combative opponents close to 22-19 with a penalty in the final minutes to set up a dramatic conclusion to the game with only 3 points separating the teams… but Sutton are getting used to these close finishes and once again they showed enough discipline and spirit to hold out against the final desperate Stoke onslaught as the home side went all out for the victory spurning a penalty chance with 2 minutes to play opting instead for a kick to the corner and a chance for glory! However, Sutton successfully defended the ensuing 5 metre lineout and gaining possession they retained control of the ball to run down the clock before celebrating their 6th victory in seven starts this year.

The secret of Sutton’s recent run of excellent results lies in the high octane performance of the pack, which has benefited from the regular appearance of props Sean Harrison and Liam Hills along with Sutton’s talented and versatile forward replacement Jonah Falconer, who has proved to be a valuable asset when called upon and the Sutton pack has gone from strength to strength. Although Sutton’s regular hooker and inspirational skipper Dean Ginn was unavailable last weekend due an ankle injury sustained the previous week against Worcester meaning the stricken skipper could only watch from the sidelines, flanker Rhoss Price proved to be a very able replacement as he moved from the back row to the middle of the formidable front row to give Sutton a strong scrum, which dominated through out the game, with the second row partnership of Jack ward and Lewis Belton providing exceptional power in the engine room at the heart of the Sutton pack. In this game the Sutton back row also saw the welcome return of outstanding open side flanker Luke Stewart, who had been out of action since the game against Worcester on 16th Nov 2019 but he returned to the action at Stoke and fitted in perfectly alongside Mike Burns at blindside flanker and outstanding no 8 Jack Woodcock, who has made an excellent contribution to the Sutton performances since his recent return to the team and last Saturday he stood in as acting skipper to lead the team to another important win in the absence of Club Captain Dean Ginn.

As to the game itself, Sutton kicked off in dry conditions on a surprisingly good playing surface against a gusting wind but the Stoke side had the best of the opening exchanges taking a 3-0 lead after 7 minutes of play with a penalty kicked by fly half Ciaran Shone in mid field and then just 2 minutes 2nd row George Boughly went through to score in the left corner after Stoke exploited the blind side following the restart to lead 8-0 after 9 minutes of play and then after 18 minutes of play after a scrum on the Stoke left the ball was transferred across the Sutton 22 creating an overlap which fullback Tom Vickers exploited to score a well worked try to the right of the posts.

Again the conversion was missed but after a sleepy start Sutton found themselves facing a 13-0 deficit midway through the first half.

However, following the restart Sutton awoke from their slumbering start and led by a strong scrum and good lineout play they started to put together some good attacking moves turning the tables taking the game into the Stoke half and putting their hosts under increasing pressure, which led to defensive penalties. From one such penalty Sutton kicked deep into the Stoke 22 on the right touchline and winning the lineout Sutton drove firmly for the try line before 2nd row Jack Ward broke free to power over for Sutton's opening try on 30 minutes.

The difficult conversion was missed but Sutton were back in the game at 13-5 and although Stoke hit back with a second penalty for Ciaran Shone in front of the Sutton posts to take the home side into a 16-5 lead just minutes before the break but Sutton finished the half on a high when right wing Chris Duckworth squeezed into the corner for a crucial score deep into in to injury time to end the half at 16-10 in Stokes favour.

Sutton made a great start to the second half but little mistakes and unforced errors cost them territory and possession until a moment of magic from inside centre Sam Grimshaw turned the game in Sutton's favour with a spectacular try. In the build-up to the try Sutton won a scrum in front of their own posts and spotting a gap Sutton scrum half Tom Harris made a decisive break taking play to the edge of the Sutton 22 before passing to his supporting centre Sam Grimshaw who found himself in space racing up the middle of the field at pace before veering left to avoid the covering defenders and then rounding the defenders he showed great pace and courage to complete a magnificent run to score an outstanding try in the left corner. Once again the difficult conversion drifted wide but Sutton had moved to within 1 point at 16-15 with 11 minutes of the second half played.

Encouraged by the score Sutton stepped up their game and their efforts were rewarded six minutes later when no 8 Jack Woodcock capped a great captains performance as he drove over for Sutton's fourth try to secure a valuable try scoring bonus point following a break by hooker Rhoss Price. The all important break took play deep into the Stoke 22 and set up the opportunity for the crucial fourth try. Fly half Ben Morgan then added the conversion to take Sutton into the lead with a score-line of 22-16 with 23 minutes to play.

For the remaining part of the game the Sutton defence took the strain and apart from conceding a penalty midway through the second half kicked by Ciaran Shone, which brought Stoke to within 3 points at 19-22, Sutton maintained their composure and saw out the game without conceding further points, closing the game on 22-19 with a bonus point win worth 5 points in the final reckoning.

Match report - 14th March 2020
Sutton Coldfield 2nd XV 67pts v Ludlow RFC 2nd XV 0pts

Midlands reserve League - Division 3 play-off

A powerful Sutton 2nd XV were proud to host a Ludlow 2nd XV but Sutton showed no mercy as they raced into a 34-0 halftime lead by halftime before completing a 67-0 victory with due respect to the visiting team who showed great sporting spirit to the end of the game, which finished early due to an unfortunate head injury, which rather curtailed events. The Ludlow player was treated by medics on the field but was allowed to leave without hospital attention and we understand has suffered no after effects.

Colts League

After a close fought contest Sutton Colts were very unlucky to lose a close fought match with the final play of the game as they slipped to a narrow 19-17 defeat away to Worcester Colts.

Sutton scored 3 tries, contributed by Neil Madden, George Bonnell and Billy Bateman respectively with Tom Bishop adding a conversion to complete the scoring on a frustrating but commendable day.