Sutton 1st XV continued their impressive return to form last weekend with a comprehensive 29-13 victory away to a strong, if unpredictable, Sandbach side, who were to be no pushover as they are the only team other than Sutton to have beaten league leaders Old Halesonians in the 9 league games played so far this season...but Sutton cast aside this seasons away day blues to produce a well orchestrated and much needed bonus point away win.

A late arrival at Sandbach due to a delayed departure and slow coach journey was not the best preparation for a Sutton side struggling with their away form but the hosts and the referee were generous in their patience and understanding.. and after a hastened warm-up session the visitors took to the field just 5 minutes after the scheduled start time.

Sutton kicked off playing up the slight slope and although the rain held off, a strong and swirling cross field wind threatened to disrupt the ball in flight giving a slight boost to the side playing up the slope. Early Sutton pressure drove play into the Sandbach half but a series of penalties against the over eager Sutton side allowed Sandbach to relieve the pressure, manoeuvring play back into the Sutton half and within range for flyhalf Ben Elliott to kick Sandbach into a 3-0 lead after 9 minutes of play, with a well struck 45 metre penalty.

Setting aside the early errors, Sutton settled into the game with positive play gaining field position and winning back penalties. The strong play by backs and forwards created an opening for winger Rob Watts who crashed over in the left corner to give Sutton a 5-3 lead 15 minutes into the game. Sutton continued to dominate the play for the remainder of the first half, faring well in the scrums with Brook Davies restored to prop in the absence of vice captain and front row fixture, Sean Harrison and competing well in the lineouts where the dream team of Steve McCormack and Adam Bennett starred. Sutton also dominated in the breakdown areas by taking good turnover ball to set up strong attacking play with the back row of Simon Millard, Luke Stewart and no8 Fraser Tait all making a telling impact. As a direct result of this dominance centre Ian Miller and fullback Dave Edwards respectively crossed for 2 well worked tries before the break and with fellow centre Josh Groom converting both tries Sutton took a deserved 19-3 lead into the interval. The Miller try came on 25 minutes when a well directed chip up the left wing by Josh Rolls was re-gathered and fed to the illusive centre who broke through would be tacklers to score to the left of the posts. Following the score which extended Sutton's lead to 12-3 Sutton continued to press and were twice denied a score in a matter of minutes when first winger Nathan Burchell was called back for a forward pass and then an ill timed scoring pass was intercepted on the try line and cleared to safety.. but a rampant Sutton were not going to be denied and on the stroke of halftime skipper and fullback Dave Edwards raced through for a well worked try after a storming break up the left wing by replacement centre Alex White to set up a ruck short of the try line.

Sandbach made a brief revival at the start of the second half with a second penalty for Ben Elliott to close the scores to 19-6 after 15 minutes but Sutton stepped up the pressure again with flyhalf Josh Rolls scoring two tries in closing period. The first came midway through the second half after a penetrating run by Josh Groom was taken on by fullback Dave Edwards who gave the perfect scoring pass and his second came on the stroke of full time after he latched onto a loose pass by Sandbach on the hallway line and started a race to the try line. Although caught by the very quick pursuing defender the wily flyhalf veered left and fended off the would be tackler with a perfectly executed handoff and then ran on for an excellent score in the corner. The two Sutton scores were interspaced with a consolation try for centre Simon Verbickas, which was converted by Ben Elliott closing the score line to 24-13, to give cheer to the home side and their vocal supporters with 10 minutes to play but their renewed hope was short lived and Sutton tightened up the play to close out the game at 29-13, having scored 5 tries and gained a valuable 4 try bonus point.

This weekend Sutton entertain Scunthorpe at the Roger Smoldon Ground, Walmley Rd, looking to continue their pursuit of the league leaders who are just 5 points ahead of Sutton with Broadstreet, Nuneaton and Hinckley squeezed between the two in a very tight top of the table battle. KO 2.15 pm.

Sutton other team results:

On Sunday 3rd Nov 2013 the Sutton Development Side progressed to the second round of the Warwickshire 2nd Team Cup with a pleasing 13-20 win away at Earlsdon. In a close first half Earlsdon scored a scrappy converted try and a penalty but Sutton kept in touch through fly half Ben Morgan, who kicked three penalties plus a drop goal to give Sutton a narrow 2 point lead at the break, with the score standing at 10-12. In a low scoring second half, Sutton restricted their opponents to a single penalty, whilst scoring a try by Fleming, before Ben Morgan closed out the game with a final penalty for a personal tally of 15 points, in a satisfying 13-20 victory.

Back to Saturday action - unfortunately Sutton's 3rd XV faced a strong Stourbridge Lions 2nd XV but in spite of a brave performance they were blown away on a blustery day, as they suffered a 12-52 defeat at home.