Sutton continued their great run of home victories with a comprehensive 46-24 bonus point win over a strong and competitive South Leicester side who were the last team to beat Sutton on home soil in a scheduled league fixture on the 3rd Nov 2012. The only other home defeat in the last three seasons was in the NL3 play off against Harrogate in April 2013 but on this occasion it was the quicksilver attacking flair of the Sutton side that won the day... and with the other league results also going Sutton's way, with Nuneaton in 3rd place and Old Haleonians in 4th place both losing their respective games, Sutton strengthen their 2nd place moving 6 points clear in the contest for the play off position with just 3 league games left to play and another chance at promotion to National League 2 via the play off.

Unfortunately the Sutton win came at a high price with three first choice front row players unable to complete the game after injuries sustained in the opening 20 minutes! First off was tight head prop Chris Hanley with a badly twisted knee after 10 minutes, replaced by Jeff Large and then open side prop Sean Harrison went off to hospital with a dislocated shoulder after 15 minutes. At this point Simon Millard bravely moved from flanker to fill in at prop to try and keep the scrum contest going but when Jeff Large went over on his ankle causing a bad strain, Sutton had 3 front row players off the field and with hooker Jamie Scott the only recognised front row player able to continue, the game had to go to uncontested scrums. As a 'penalty' Sutton had to play the remaining 60 minutes with only 14 men.

Sutton had kicked off brightly and having withstood early pressure the home side raced into a 17-0 lead after 20 minutes with tries by winger Nathan Burchell, following an excellent handling movement across the visitors 22 on 12 minutes and then flanker Simon Millard scored a great try when he supported a break by fellow flanker Luke Stewart who raced towards the South Leicester try line before off loading to the charging flanker to complete an excellent score by the posts after 20 minutes. Meanwhile, centre Alex White demonstrated his excellent kicking form by adding a well struck penalty on 15 minutes and he completed the conversion of both tries, the first from a wide angle and the second from in front of the posts.

It was at this point the scrum arrangements had to change and South Leicester took full advantage with a try for no8 Andy Gates, who drove over from close range and with scrum half Ricky Aley adding the conversion the visitors were back in the game at 17-7 but the revival was short lived and Matt Black, who was upgraded from the bench into the 2nd row at short notice when the stalwart Steve McCormack called in sick on the Saturday morning, capped another impressive performance when he raced 30 metres for an excellent breakaway try under the posts. The try came from a Sutton ruck after a period of Sutton pressure taking play to just outside the South Leicester 22. Sutton's alert scrum half Mark Rayner picked up from the base of the scrum and spotting a gap the pair combined brilliantly to send the mobile 2nd row/flanker racing for the try line to score under the posts. Alex White added the conversion 3 minutes before the break and then kicked a penalty on the stroke of half time to give Sutton a deserved 27-7 lead at the interval.

South Leicester bounced back at the start of the second half scoring a try through 2nd row Josh McLaurin, which was converted by Ricky Aley to close to 27-14 after just 5 minutes but Sutton responded immediately with tries by flyhalf Josh Rolls and winger Ian Miller respectively and with Alex White hitting the post with the first conversion but landing the second Sutton stretched their lead to 39-12 with 15 minutes left to play. Again the visitors showed their true fighting spirit and responded well using their powerful driving mauls to gain valuable metres. Although Sutton defended well the tough Leicester side were not to be denied and they scored two more tries to claim a deserved bonus point as consolation for scoring 4 tries. The final tries came from skipper Luke Coltman and winger Lee Robinson respectively with Ricky Aley converting the first but missing the second to close to 39-24. However, Sutton had the final word with a second try for mercurial winger Nathan Burchell who had tormented the opposition all afternoon with his illusive running and he crossed for his second try of the day following a superb break by Sutton skipper and fullback Dave Edwards. Alex White added the conversion to complete the 46-24 score line with the final kick of the game for a personal tally of 5 out of 6 conversions plus 2 penalties i.e. 16 points, as Sutton secured another high scoring and entertaining win at the Roger Smoldon Ground, Walmley Road, Sutton Coldfield.

Sutton have another key home game this weekend when they welcome Syston to Walmley Road for their penultimate home game of the league season. KO 3pm.

Sutton's other team results:

The young Sutton Development Side again showed their Warwickshire Second Team Championship credentials with an impressive 31-15 victory away to Old Halesonians 2nd XV. The lively Sutton side scored 3 tries in the first 40 minutes through Joe Gregory, Tom Harris plus a debut try for Miles Gregory and with Joe Hibbs contributing 2 conversions Sutton led 10-19 at the break. The second half saw 2 more tries for Sutton provided by Jon Ursell and Luke Fleming respectively and a conversion by Joe Hibbs gave Sutton a comfortable 15-31 margin of victory over a strong Old Hales team.

Unfortunately Sutton's 3rd XV did not fare so well against local rivals Old Salts losing 23-13 away to their 2nd XV, who were just too strong on the day but the Sutton side played well considering the fact that a representative group of 3rd XV players had competed in the SCRFC monthly quiz the previous night in the clubhouse and had still been fit enough to take to the field the following day!!