Sutton Coldfield suffered another disappointing away day defeat when they failed to take their chances against a strong and highly motivated Nuneaton side who did take their chances and avenged their double defeats last season with a 31-20 home victory, against a Sutton side who are still seeking the winning ways of previous seasons.

The Nuneaton win sees the clubs change places in the league with Nuneaton replacing Sutton in 5th place and Sutton dropping to 6th on 20 points with 4 points separating the clubs. After 7 games Sutton find themselves 10 points adrift of league leaders Old Halesonians, who are the visitors at the Roger Smoldon Ground, Walmley Rd this Saturday. KO 3 pm.

After three incredibly successful seasons in which the Sutton club reached two promotion play-offs (Midlands 1 in 2011 and National 3 in 2013), plus outright promotion from M1W to National league 3 in 2012, with a current playing record of played 60 league games lost just 6, including last weekends loss at Nuneaton, Sutton find themselves involved in a rebuilding exercise.

Having lost key players at the end of last season Sutton have introduced talented new players into the senior squad but it is taking time for the new look team to gain the winning habit. This problem is exasperated by a plethora of injuries which have caused the team sheet to change game after game, prolonging the settling in period. Although Sutton are not far off the finished article, the standard of play in this highly competitive league is such that simple errors in team play at critical moments in the game, are severely punished and Sutton must persevere with their regeneration and re-establish their winning formula.

At Nuneaton before KO there was a respectful minutes silence in memory of David Warner a past chairman and stalwart of the Nuneaton club, who died suddenly having been diagnosed with a severe liver condition just the previous week. All at SCRFC send their condolences to his family, friends and club colleagues.

When the game got underway Sutton kicked off but immediately the home side put them under pressure running the ball back into the Sutton half and the sustained early pressure forced a penalty for off side by the visitors which flyhalf Joe Wilson kicked from 35 metres in mid field to give Nuneaton a 3-0 lead after 5 minutes. The flyhalf extended the lead to 6-0 after 13 minutes with a second penalty, when under pressure Sutton were penalised for not releasing. Sutton rallied briefly with some good attacking play but things just would not flow for Sutton and simple errors lost them possession and field position. However, their strong play earned them a penalty by centre Alex White, which brought the score to 6-3 after 23 minutes but following the restart a poor Sutton clearance was caught by fullback Ruaridh McConnochie who raced up the left wing, then off loaded to Llyn Griffiths allowing the rangy 2nd row to gallop into the corner for a stunning long range try giving Nuneaton an 11-3 lead 26 minutes into the game.

Although caught out by the score Sutton responded well following the restart to set up a series of strong attacking moves and they were unlucky not to score when a charge down on the Nuneaton try line was adjudged to have gone forward at the point of scoring... and Nuneaton cleared the danger from the resulting defensive scrum.

With injuries and availability still dictating selection Sutton had to field yet another second row combination. For this game Adam Bennett, who was making a welcome return to 1st team action after a long absence, teamed up with Jack Woodcock, who had also made an impressive return earlier in the season, in the key roles at the power centre of the pack. Although back row players by choice, both men performed exceptionally well and the rearranged Sutton scrum was competing well against the strong Nuneaton pack by holding their own in the set plays but a harsh yellow card depleted the Sutton pack and Nuneaton took full advantage with a pushover try for no8 Sam Gibbons. Joe Wilson added the conversion to stretch the deficit to 18-3 but 14 man Sutton fought back with positive play, which produced good ball for left wing Ian Miller, who found space on the left and he raced down his wing. Although stopped by a high tackle round his neck the winger had set up a strong attacking position just outside the Nun's 22. Sutton won possession from the ensuing play and scrum half Mark Rayner chipped the ball neatly into the left corner. Once again Sutton were first to the breakdown and they quickly recycled the ball leading to a scrambled score for prop Sean Harrison who forced his way over the line for a well worked try, which was converted by Alex White to reduce the deficit to 18-10 at the break.

The tight contest continued into the second half with Joe Wilson adding a penalty after 2 minutes but Alex White replied in kind for 21-13 just 3 minutes later. However Nuneaton maintained their momentum and again they were able to field a misdirected Sutton clearance to set up a counter attack which took play into the Sutton 22. Nuneaton kept the play alive and as they cut in field off their right wing flyhalf Joe Wilson found a gap in the Sutton mid field defence to score under the posts for a try which he converted himself to extend their lead to 28-13 with 25 minutes to play.. but Sutton responded immediately from the restart when the ball went to ground and winger Nathan Burchell darted in to toe poke the ball away from the Nuneaton players before making a clean pick up and racing down the right wing to score under the posts giving Alex White a simple conversion and closing the score line to 28-20.

Although Sutton competed well in the closing quarter it was all to no avail and it was Joe Wilson who closed out the game with a final penalty on 67 minutes. Sutton did have a chance of securing a losing bonus point 4 minutes before the end with a quick tap penalty in front of the posts but typical of their day the ball went forward off the hand and the score remained 31-20.

Once again Sutton have to regroup after another disappointing away day but they are so close to perfecting their play and cutting out the basic mistakes and simple errors that have crept into their game... and this weekend's match against league leaders Old Halesonians would be a good time to turn the corner and bring out their best play for a full 80 minutes!!

Sutton other team results:

The developing Sutton Development Side, which includes a large proportion of last seasons Colts, who are making the transition from Colts to senior rugby, frustratingly lost a close game 10-14 at home to a strong Lichfield 2nd XV and although losing, the Sutton coalition of youth and experience showed the progress they are making in the challenging arena of senior rugby by running an established side so close. However, a positive lift to the spirits at SCRFC was provided by Sutton's magnificent 3rd XV, who produced an impressive winning performance, which included a cameo appearance by Club Chairman Jim Haywood, who celebrated his birthday by contributing to a superb 79-17 away win against Lichfield 3rd XV.