Sutton win return leg

It was thanks to the magnificent early morning water clearing efforts of the SCRFC ground staff led by Darren Morgan after the recent heavy rains that this game took place at all... but, although it appeared that the heavy ground conditions would suit the power play of the visitors, with their strong scum and driving mauls, in the final event it was the home side who played the energy sapping conditions better and took their chances well to start 2014 with a satisfying 25-0 victory over visitors Hinckley, avenging their defeat in the away fixture earlier in the season.

This all important win over 5th place Hinckley keeps Sutton in 3rd place and in close contention at the top of a very competitive league table. In the current standings with 15 games played and 11 games to play, Sutton are 5 points behind league leaders Nuneaton and 2 points behind 2nd place Broadstreet, who frustratingly secured a narrow 3 point victory over Sutton with the last kick of the game, in the last match before Christmas. This most recent of home victories continues Sutton's long standing impressive home record, with just two defeats at home in the league since losing to Mansfield in the M1W to National League 3 play-off on 30th April 2011. The winning record spans 34 games and includes 1 league defeat on 11th Nov 2012 against South Leicester after promotion to NL3 and defeat in the play-off against Harrogate for promotion to National League 2 at the end of last season!!.
 
Last weekend, after the Christmas break, both sides were struggling to find their form and touch in the difficult conditions and it was of little surprise that the game was full of fumbles and early errors but after soaking up the early pressure Sutton broke out of their own half and took play deep into Hinckley territory where, after a sustained period of solid pressure Hinckley were handed a yellow card and Sutton were awarded a penalty following a series of defensive infringements by the pressurised visitors.

With both the regular first choice fly-half's unavailable, the talented Alex White moved from his normal place at inside centre to take the key playmaker role and he started a man-of-the-match performance by kicking the penalty to give Sutton a 3-0 lead after 15 minutes of play and then he added a second penalty under similar circumstances 10 minutes before the break. With Sutton leading 6-0 they stepped up their attacking play and no8 Fraser Tait crossed for a try, converted by Alex White to give Sutton a 13-0 lead at the interval.

The opening try came in a spectacular fashion showing the best of Sutton's running game and close support play. The passage of play leading up to the try started with a high clearance kick from Hinckley which was bound for touch on the halfway line but as part of his man-of-the-match performance Alex White standing infield leapt high and expertly tapped the ball back into play in front of left wing Rob Watts. The powerful winger gathered the ball cleanly and raced into the Hinckley 22 where he found support from right wing Nathan Burchell and the forwards, who drove the ball towards the Hinckley try line. As the play progressed no8 Fraser Tait broke free and weaved his way over the try line for an excellent touch down by the posts. 
 
Sutton maintained their momentum into the second half and although under pressure in the scrums they continued to apply sustained pressure in the open play creating two great scoring opportunities at the start of the second  half but they were denied by first a knock-on over the line when winger Nathan was judged to have lost the ball forward in a try saving tackle, which sadly also caused the winger to leave the field following a clash of heads 5 minutes after the restart ... and then agonisingly the referee was unsighted when prop Liam Hills was driven over the try line and he was unable to award the try. In good humour, before awarding Sutton a 5 metre scrum the referee made the rectangular signal indicating a video replay to establish the validity of the try, which is obviously not available to him at this level of the game. Although as it happened, the Sutton match photographer had a clear photograph of the ball grounded over the line but again this could not be used!!

Cruel though it is, because a bonus point for a 4th try would have brought Sutton to within 4 points of Nuneaton and only 1 point behind Broadstreet, at this level with no video referrals and no help for the referee, we all accept that if the referee does not see it he cannot give it!! 

However, in spite of the disappointments, Sutton continued to press and defend superbly when called on, until their chance came with 3 minutes to play and prop Liam Hills put his name on the score sheet as he drove over from close range for an undisputed try. Alex White kicked the conversion for 20-0 and then with only minutes left, showing superior fitness and intent, Sutton again drove towards the Hinckley try line following a penetrating run by in-form flanker Marcus Harewood to set up a strong scoring position on the left flank and scrum half Mark Rayner applied the perfect finish to take the score to 25-0 with smart play, when he picked the ball from the base of a ruck formed by the Sutton pack on the Hinckley try line and dived over for Sutton's third try. Anxious for a fourth try Sutton shunned the conversion and raced back for the restart but in spite of their enthusiasm and commitment they were unable to conjure up the illusive bonus point for a fourth try in the time remaining but they can be pleased with an excellent victory over a strong and ambitious Hinckley team, who had come to the RSG with victory in mind... and both sides should be congratulated on putting on a very entertaining post Christmas contest of high quality in spite of the heavy conditions, with Hinckley edging the set scrums and driving mauls but Sutton more than compensated with their strong defence, attacking skills and fitness levels in the closing period.  
 
This weekend Sutton travel to Longton, Stoke on Trent for another tough contest in their National 3 league campaign. KO 2.15

HAPPY NEW YEAR plus Good Health and Success in 2014 to all SCRFC members and supporters from;

David Daniels (1st XV team manager), Matt Nevitt (1st XV head coach), Nick Burke (forwards coach), Ben Toft (backs coach) and Hannah and Jane (physio's) plus Andre (video analyser and physio), Dave Edwards (1st XV captain)