Syston RFC defied their lowly league position and the threat of relegation, to produce a powerful and passion filled performance to test promotion chasing Sutton to the limit in a thrilling contest. The visitors kept in touch with their hosts at 5-5 after 20 minutes and 12-12 after 55 minutes but in the closing period Sutton pulled ahead at 19-12 with 15 minutes to play and then secured a 4th try for an all important bonus point and a 26-12 victory on the stroke of fulltime.

The result takes Sutton another step towards securing the play off place for promotion to National 2 at the end of a challenging season and extends their lead over 3rd place Nuneaton to 7 points meaning another win will secure the place with just two league games to play.

After the devastating list of front row injuries grew with three more added in the game against South Leicester the previous week, Sutton were fortunate to be able to field a new look front row for this game, with two new fast track signings Stephen Crane and Stuart Collard taking their place in the front row alongside the established Jamie Scott at hooker. All front row players distinguished themselves after just two training sessions together, then straight into a National 3 league game and a baptism of fire.

Stuart has recently returned to England and luckily had not signed with anyone, so Sutton were able snap him up and his experience will be very welcome as Sutton navigate their way through the National Leagues. Stuart's registration was straight forward but Sutton were even more fortunate with Steve, who is a home grown talent having come through the mini and junior section and last season played for the successful Sutton Colts. At just 19 (20 in May), Steve is now registered as a 1st XV player and he made a fine debut last Saturday against powerful opponents, proving him self ready for rugby at this standard.

On a fine and sunny spring day at the RSG and boosted by a competitive new look emergency front row Sutton opened the scoring after 15 minutes with a try for centre Alex White following a great cross field run by left wing Ian Miller, who came off his wing to support the attacking play and set up the score on the right wing but Syston replied in kind when their captain Bryn Ferris raced in for a try wide out on their left wing after an impressive flowing attack starting on the Sutton 10 metre line. With both conversions drifting wide the score stood at 5-5 after 20 minutes but after a great run to the line by Alex White, captain David Edwards stepped inside the final defender to score Sutton's second try and edge the home side ahead on the stroke of halftime. Centre Alex White stroked home the conversion to give Sutton a 12-5 lead at the break.

At points in the first half, first one pack and then the other seemed to have the edge in the scrums but Sutton gradually settled into their new formation and edged ahead in the second half, with Adam Bennett and Steve McCormack continuing to show their dominance at the lineout and in the powerhouse of the pack. The back row also had a new look due to absentees with Brook Davies continuing at blind side flanker until early in the game, an injury sustained during the warm up forced him to withdraw to be replaced by Mike Worthington, who showed what an asset he is to the team either at hooker or flanker, with another all action performance spurring his teammates on with his tenacity. Mike joined Ben Bottomley at 7, who proved yet again what a quality and versatile player he is whether playing in the second row or at open side as in this game and Simon Millard another great utility forward completed the new back row trio with an excellent game at no8.

Unfortunately high flying Sutton again fell foul of the injury curse in this game when first flanker Brook Davies had to leave the field early in the contest and then winger Ian Miller was cut down in mid flight and had to leave the field on route to hospital with a damaged ankle. In the meantime, Sutton's new touch judge Hannah Hayward, having made her successful and very welcome debut last week, was one of the casualties this week and she had to hand her new duties over to regular 1st XV flanker Luke Stewart, who was on a rest weekend but was pressed into service when Hannah was indisposed in the opening period of the game.

With the loss of their outstanding wing Ian Miller, the Sutton backline had to be rearranged mid-way through the game, with Josh Groom coming off the bench to slot in at flyhalf and Josh Rolls dropping back to fullback with skipper Dave Edwards moving from fullback to take over on the wing. Although causing disruption on the day the new formation provided an equally formidable line up alongside established centres Alex White and Jon Raistrick plus scrum half Mark Rayner, offering outstanding pace and ability.

However, although Sutton had started to assert themselves at the end of the first half, Syston bounced back in the second half and they continued to test Sutton's defence, which stood firm but with 55 minutes played Syston took a quick tap penalty in front of the Sutton posts and centre Warren Coles caught Sutton by surprise as he ran through to score on the left. Flyhalf Matt Goggins landed a well placed wide conversion to level the scores and set up a tense finish with 25 minutes to play... but Sutton responded well and stepped up the pressure in the visitors 22, leading to a penalty, which scrum half Mark Rayner took quickly and fed flyhalf Josh Groom, who swept through a gap to score an excellent try to the left of the posts. The try was converted by Alex White to restore Sutton's lead to 7 points with 15 left minutes to play.

Looking to make the game safe and chasing the all important 4th try to secure a bonus point, Sutton pressed hard and opened up the Syston defence again for Josh Rolls now playing at fullback to drive through for the key try, which was converted by Alex White on the final whistle for a final score line of 26-12 and another bonus point win for Sutton.

Sutton travel to bottom of the table Bedford Athletic this weekend looking for the win which will secure their play off place ahead of their final game of the season at home to Bournville on Saturday 12th April! KO 3pm.

For Sutton there then remains the little matter of the Warwickshire Cup Final against National 3 league leaders Broadstreet and hopefully the promotion play off game to be played at the end of a long and challenging season against thr runners up in the National League 3 Northern Division. The dates and venue for the Cup Final and play off games are still to be confirmed. Watch this space or the SCRFC web site for details.

Sutton other team results:

After their success in winning the Warwickshire Second Team Trophy the Sutton Development side suffered a narrow 26-24 defeat at home to National 2 Bromsgrove's 2nd XV and Sutton 3rd XV were also disappointed on their away trip to local rivals Veseyan's, suffering a 45-22 defeat to their strong 2nd XV.