A disappointing last minute defeat

In their last league game before the Christmas break, Sutton 1st XV suffered an agonising last minute defeat in their top of the table clash at the impressive Broadstreet, Binley Woods ground, Coventry, the venue for three of their four Warwickshire Cup wins. The defeat was especially painful after hard working Sutton had overturned a 10-0 halftime deficit and put themselves into a 17-10 winning position with just 5 minutes left to play.. but Sutton were unable to close out the game and to their credit Broadstreet played positively in the closing minutes to level the scores at 17 all and then the battling homeside won a penalty 3 minutes into overtime to claim a dramatic 20-17 victory.

Sutton had won the toss and opted to play the first half against the strong wind, which was blowing straight down the field and clearly offered an advantage to the side with their backs to the wind. Sutton had attacked straight from the kick off putting the home side under sustained pressure and creating a series of four successive penalties in the opening 5 minutes. The penalties gave Sutton the early initiative and kept them creeping towards the Broadstreet try line but the breakthrough would not come and any mistake by Sutton causing a turnover was punished by long range clearance kicks, which aided by the strong wind kept Sutton on the back foot. After their opening period of pressure Sutton were pinned in their own half and came under increasing pressure themselves with only a strong well organised defence plus fullback Tom Lucas bringing off successive try saving tackles prevented Broadstreet going ahead during the second phase of the game. With the increasing pressure resulting from the wind assisted attacks and powerful driving mauls by the opposition pack, Sutton did well to restrict the home side to a 10-0 lead at the interval. The Broadstreet scores came from flyhalf Lee Chapman with a 35 metre penalty after 25 minutes and then flanker Beau Carney crossed for a try which Lee Chapman converted for a 10-0 lead 5 minutes before the break.

However, a resurgent Sutton made a strong start to the second half and 5 minutes into the second period a penetrating break by winger and skipper Dave Edwards took play deep into the Broadstreet 22 close to the try line in the left corner. The Sutton pack were quick to the breakdown and quick release of the ball infield by scrum half Mark Rayner sent flanker Brook Davies charging over from close range for a well worked try. Centre Alex White added the conversion and the Sutton fight back was up and running at 10-7.

The come back continued and midway through the final period, following much the same procedure as for the opening try, centre Ian Miller raced into the left corner to set up an attacking position close to the try line. This time the ball was spun out to replacement hooker Jamie Scott who crashed over to give Sutton the lead. Alex White added the conversion for a 14-10 advantage which he extended to 17-10 with a penalty with 5 minutes to play.

But with victory in sight the Sutton recovery faltered and first hooker Stewart Pearl scrambled over for a try which Lee Chapman converted and then 3 minutes into overtime Lee Chapman drove the final nail into Sutton's coffin for a 20-17 victory.

The loss drops Sutton into third place on 51 points with a losing bonus point and Broadstreet move 1 point ahead of them in second place with Nuneaton still on top with 56 points after another bonus point win. So it is still very tight at the top with everything to play for and anything can happen in 2014 with 12 games remaining before the league title and promotion places are decided.

After a 3 week Christmas break Sutton return to league action with the visit of Hinckley to the RSG, Walmley Rd on 4th Jan 2014 looking to make a winning start in 2014... with an unbeaten run to the end of the season, which is well within their compass.

The game kicks off at 2.15 pm and all supporters and spectators will receive a warm New Years welcome on the touchline and in the clubhouse after the game.

In the meantime, the Sutton 1st XV squad under skipper Dave Edwards and the coaching team led by Matt Nevitt plus the physio staff led by Hannah and video analyser Andre together with Team Manager David Daniels, thank all the many loyal supporters, who make up the Green Army for their continued support and we wish everyone:-

A MERRY CHRISTMAS & A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Sutton other team results:

In contrast to the disappointment suffered by the Sutton 1st XV, the Sutton Development side and 3rd teams both enjoyed impressive festive home victories with the Development side defeating a Dudley Kinswinford 2nd XV by 45-0, with wing wizard Ellis Brindley scoring an excellent hat trick of tries and the splendid 3rd XV beat a Ludlow 2nd XV team by 36-12, to enter the Christmas period on a high!!