Battling Sutton ground out a hard fought 12-6 victory over a resurgent Lymm side, who have improved their league position and status since the clubs met earlier in the season when Lymm surprised themselves and all the pundits by beating the Midlands side 22-0. However, Sutton exacted revenge in this return fixture to move within 4 points of the new league leaders Broadstreet, who have overtaken Nuneaton at the top of the table after the Nuns suffered a surprise defeat at Scunthorpe.

Lymm brought a strong back division with plenty of pace complimented by a powerful pack but in a close contest Sutton's disciplined and well organised defence held firm when it mattered and the Sutton pack fronted up to match their powerful opponents in the scrums and driving mauls. After previous disruptions the Sutton backline were pretty much back to full strength with Mark Rayner restored to the scrum half berth and Josh Groom resumed at fly half after injury, to sharpen up the distribution of the ball from the base of the scrum. But unfortunately there was a late change to the forwards and therefore the Sutton lineout misfired briefly during the opening stages of the game as stand in hooker Jonathan Ursell came to terms with his elevation and an unexpected starting place in the 1st XV. The surprised hooker had been called up at short notice from the second team on the morning of the game when the selected hooker Jamie Scott failed a late fitness test. In the event, Jonathan had an excellent debut for the 1st XV making good runs in open play and performing well in the scrums and forward exchanges... and once he had adjusted his throw-in at the lineout to suit his new team mates, the lineout, with 2nd row Steve McCormack to the fore alongside Adam Bennett, happily restored to the team fully fit after his neck injury the previous week, once again proved to be a solid platform from which Sutton were able to launch a series of threatening attacks keeping Sutton on the front foot.

Sutton kicked off against a slight breeze and although Lymm drove the play back into the Sutton half with powerful play and strong running it was Sutton who made the first impact when, after 8 minutes of play right wing Nathan Burchell raced 80 metres for the opening try following an interception in the Sutton 22. The breakaway try was a replay in reverse of an interception try scored by the Cheshire side against the run of play in the away fixture at Lymm, which gave the home side a commanding 14-0 lead after 20 minutes of play, following a converted try under the posts, which caught the travellers cold in the first 5 minutes and Sutton never recovered in the 22-0 defeat. This time the Lymm backs were quick to turn and give chase forcing the Sutton winger out to the corner making for a very difficult conversion which was just off target but still Sutton had an important 5-0 lead.

As the game developed both sides were well matched and each had their chances leading to some exciting play and a charge down in the Sutton 22 nearly led to a score but both defences held firm, helped by some poor handling at times with both sides guilty of some loose play under increasing pressure and mid-way through the first half Lymm replied to the Sutton score with a penalty in the Sutton 22 by winger Cormack Nolan and the 5-3 score line carried through to the break.

Sutton made a good start to the second half, stepping up the pace and putting Lymm under increasing pressure with strong scrummaging and positive play, if a little frantic at times! but the Sutton pack started to secure the scrums and 15 minutes after the restart, left wing Ian Miller completed a fine attacking surge by Sutton to claim Sutton's second try to the left of the posts, which centre Alex White converted to extend Sutton's lead to 12-3... but within minutes Lymm replied with a simple second penalty by Cormack Nolan to close to 12-6. The narrow 6 point difference set up a tense final quarter but with no further score Lymm earned a losing bonus point and Sutton claimed 4 important points for the win keeping them in close contention, just 3 points behind second place Nuneaton!

Unfortunately a Lymm player suffered a neck injury which laid him low late in the game and although he was showing signs of recovery he was taken to hospital by ambulance from the pitch side and everyone at SCRFC wish him well for a full and speedy return to full fitness.

Just nine games left to play and the title race is wide open with just 6 points, (61 to 67), covering the top four places with Sutton on 63 points, so this weekend Sutton travel to Newport (Salop) looking for another good win to continue their quest for league honours at the end of the season.