After their disappointing start to the new season, in which the previously all conquering Sutton side suffered a series of uncharacteristic away day defeats, last Saturday saw Sutton return to their best form with a convincing 34-19 victory over league leaders and old rivals Old Halesonians, who fought hard in a compelling contest but it was the home side who edged ahead to celebrate a deserved bonus point victory.

In their stuttering start to the season it has been small margins and loss of form at pivotal points in the game plus simple errors that have cost Sutton in their away defeats and not-withstanding the problems of team selection, which has been heavily disrupted by a constantly growing injury list testing the strength of the Sutton squad... but with the injury list improving and key players returning to the fray, this victory heralds a welcome return to their best form and bodes well for Sutton in the future!!

Even this day of celebration started ominously when mercurial winger Nathan Burchell injured his Achilles tendon in the warm up and he had to withdraw but luckily scrum half Luke Ward was 'travelling reserve' and at short notice he stepped into the team with the versatile and highly regarded Mark Rayner moving from scrum half onto the wing in place of the absent winger. The game also saw the welcome return of no8 Fraser Tait and centre Josh Groom to their key roles after injury problems together with Simon Millard, who has been out of the team for the past 3 weeks but was able to make a telling return in the 2nd row alongside the impressive Steve McCormack, who was not available the previous week but the inspired new 2nd row pairing proved their worth in the lineout, scrum and open play. The game also saw a first appearance for new backs player/coach Ben Toft and his wide experience proved to be a steadying influence at fullback.

All the returning players contributed significantly to this excellent victory and brought the best out of their teammates who had persevered through the troubled games and now shared in this excellent statement of intent from the revitalised Sutton side. The improved play and result do not reflect badly on the previous team selections but merely shows how close Sutton were to putting on a show of this calibre.

Sutton kicked off and immediately advanced into the visitors half applying sustained pressure but Old Hales resisted and the opening period saw sharp exchanges between the two teams before Sutton struck with a well judged penalty by centre Josh Groom, which gave Sutton a 3-0 lead after 15 minutes of play when Old Halesonians were penalised for not releasing after the tackle. However, as befits their position and pedigree, the league leaders responded positively with a try for flanker Loz Breeze who crashed over in the corner and centre Pete Clifford added an excellent touchline conversion to give the visitors a 7-3 lead midway through the first half. Sutton faced up to the setback and showing growing confidence and purpose in front of their loyal supporters, the home side fought back with good attacking play led by Simon Millard and the charging runs of flanker Brook Davies. The positive play nearly brought Sutton a try in the corner but the ball was adjudged to have been knocked on over the try line and although denied the score Sutton certainly had the visitors on the back foot. Sutton continued to produce wave after wave of probing attacks on the Old Hales try line and inevitably, 5 minutes before the break Sutton prop Liam Hills drove over the try line to retake the lead and with Josh Groom adding the conversion Sutton approached halftime with a narrow 10-7 lead... but on a high, Sutton again continued to dominate play close to the Old Hales try line and on the stroke of halftime Sutton's fine utility forward, Simon Millard stretched over from close range to extend Sutton's advantage and with Josh Groom slotting the conversion Sutton went into the break with an impressive 17-7 lead over the league leaders.

Sutton continued in the ascendancy at the start of the second half and within 8 minutes they extended their lead to 24-7 when flyhalf Josh Rolls ghosted in for a try under the posts, converted by Josh Groom but the visitors responded immediately following the restart when a quick tap penalty in their own half was run at pace down the right wing taking Sutton by surprise and fullback Chris Hooper claimed a well taken try which was converted by Pete Clifford to close the scores to 24-14 with 30 minutes to play. However, with Old Hales threatening a comeback Sutton continued to pile on the pressure with their scrums and lineouts working well and their relentless pressure led to a penalty which Josh Groom converted for 27-14 before Old Hales winger Chris Oxford raced 40 metres into the left corner for a fine solo try, 15 minutes before the end of play.

On a day when, unusually this season, the luck was going Sutton's way, the conversion rebounded off the upright and the score remained 27-19 but Sutton had the final word when again relentless pressure lead to a 4th try and an all important bonus point as scrum half Luke Ward finished off some fine attacking play by Sutton with a try under the posts and Josh Groom added the conversion for the winning margin of 34-19 on the stroke of full time.

The result moves Sutton up to 5th place in a very tight top of the table battle and the bonus point win puts Sutton within 5 points of Old Hales, who in spite of losing to Sutton stay top, 1 point ahead of 2nd place Broadstreet who move up after a convincing win over Lymm replacing Hinckley who could only draw against Longton. Hinckley therefore slip to 4th with Nuneaton moving up to 3rd just 1 point behind Broadstreet after a big win at struggling Bedford Athletic and Sutton are just 2 points behind 4th place Hinckley with everything to play for in the run up to the Christmas break.

This weekend Sutton travel to Sandbach to face an unpredictable team who before Sutton's win were the only other team in the league to have beaten Old Halesonians this season. So Sutton will have to overcome their indifferent away form and continue with their new found focus, if they are to do themselves and their supporters justice. KO 2.15 pm.

Sutton other team results:

The Sutton Development side continued with their adjustment to senior rugby when they faced a strong Worcester Wanders 2nd XV and although Sutton suffered a 36-26 defeat they competed well and it was only occasional lapses in defence that allowed their illustrious hosts a home victory.