1st XV Match report - 29th Oct 2021

David Daniels
SCRFC 1st XV Team Manager

Worcester RFC 31pts v Sutton Coldfield 29pts

Sutton 1st XV's season of misfortune, self inflicted or otherwise, continued last weekend in the Friday evening fixture away to fellow strugglers Worcester RFC, who like Sutton were still searching for their second win of the season but in spite of leading 29-24 going into injury time at the end of a compelling contest, luckless Sutton succumbed to a late long range try to level the scores at 29-29 and then with the final kick of the game the well struck conversion handed victory to the home side and defeat to the Sutton side.

As the Sutton team, their coaches, support staff and supporters made the return journey up the M5 they had to wonder when their luck would change and good fortune would smile on them.

The game had started so well for the Sutton side, who had set aside their previous disappointments and they came at this game with a very positive approach as they followed up their kick-off at pace to steal the ball on the Worcester 10 metre line and feed it back infield to set up a ruck inside the Worcester half on the Sutton right wing. Sutton scrum half Tom Harris had control of the ball and heeding a call from Sutton right wing Charlie Steventon the wily scrum half launched a perfect box kick deep into the Worcester 22 with the speedy winger in hot pursuit and it was the Sutton winger Charlie Steventon who got the better of the Worcester defenders to gather the ball and twist over the try line for a dramatic opening try in the first minute of the game.

The difficult conversion drifted wide but Sutton had a shock 5-0 lead within the first minute after the dramatic and skilful start and they went on to extend their lead to 12-0 on 10 minutes when Tom Harris stole the ball in midfield and set up an attack down the right wing which took play into the Worcester 22 before an off-load sent 2nd row Harry Moxon racing past the Worcester defenders to score to the right of the posts. Fly half Ben Morgan duly added the conversion but then a series of penalties against Sutton interrupted the flow of the game and although no8 Luke Stewart made a trademark burst down the right wing, all too often Sutton players were isolated and penalised for not releasing the ball after the tackle.

With Sutton increasingly on the wrong end of the referee's decisions around this time Worcester came back into the game and although a promising attack down their right wing was held up the ball was switched from right to left and fullback Will Carroll raced through a gap for a try on the wide left. Fly half Alex Crawshaw added the conversion to close the score to 7-12 with 16 minutes played and then minutes later the elusive fullback went on a weaving run from right to left in front of the Sutton posts to score again on the left and again fly half Crawshaw landed the conversion to give the home side a narrow 14-12 lead with 22 minutes played which they then extended to 19-12 when a penalty against Sutton was kicked into the right corner and the Worcester pack drove over for an unconverted try from the resulting lineout with 9 minutes left to play to the break.

In the remaining minutes leading up to half time Sutton tried to make amends for their brief lapses in the first half and the half ended with Sutton pressing on the Worcester try line but Sutton lost the ball forward in the final exchanges allowing Worcester to clear the danger and end the first half with no further success for Sutton, who faced a 7 point deficit at the start of the second half.

Sutton stuck to their task at the start of the second half and with a strong scrum and steady lineout play Sutton continued to apply pressure in the Worcester half, which was rewarded 11 minutes into the second period when right wing Charlie Steventon went in for his second try of the day, after the ball was fed from left to right in front of the Worcester posts and then the smart winger dodged inside the final defender to score wide out on the right giving fly half Ben Morgan a difficult conversion but the left footed fly half judged the kick perfectly bringing the scores level at 19-19...then midway through the second half coach Joe Gavin brought on super-sub Tom McNamee, who came on in the centre and made an immediate impact bursting through the Worcester midfield defence to take play deep into the 22 before being brought down just short of the try line but support was quickly on hand and the ball was recycled to send the strong centre on a second charge which carried him over the try line scoring the all important fourth try to the left of the posts and Ben Morgan again obliged with the conversion to provide the extra points to take Sutton back into the lead at 26-19, with 20 minutes to play.

However, as desperate as Sutton were for the win so were Worcester, who fought back and with 26 minutes of the second half played a penalty against Sutton was again kicked into the corner and from the ensuing lineout the Worcester pack drove the maul towards the Sutton try line and substitute tight head prop Joe Murcott broke through the middle to score wide out on the left.

The conversion was missed but the score closed the margin to 24-26 but this was extended to 24-29 when Sutton fly half Ben Morgan landed a 35 metre penalty to give what should have been a winning margin with 10 minutes to play...and so it seemed as Sutton held Worcester at bay with the 80 minutes played and just injury time to play out but Worcester were not to be denied and deep into injury time their 'man of the match' fullback Will Carroll received the ball in his own half and made a break down his left wing before cutting infield successfully avoiding the would be Sutton defenders ending his run to the right of the posts with an outstanding hat-trick try, which levelled the score at 29 each, with the conversion to come.

Fly half Alex Crawshaw held his nerve to land the conversion and deny Sutton the illusive victory they are striving for but all credit to Worcester, who had the character to show their own determination by playing on and snatching victory in the most dramatic fashion with a 31-29 final scoreline.

As small consolation Sutton were able to bank 2 bonus points but now have to overcome their disappointment and prepare for this weekends trip to Whitchurch RFC, who sit 9th in the league and will present another stiff challenge that Sutton can overcome if they hold their game together and play their 'A' game for 80+ minutes, without hesitation or distraction! KO 2.15pm.

Sutton other games:

Sutton 2nd XV 77pts v Worcester 2nd XV 7pts
​League game - Sat 30th Oct 21

The Sutton second string produced another outstanding result as they ran in 13 tries in an exhilarating performance, whilst restricting their opponents to a single converted try by way of consolation.

The Sutton try fest was led by Josh Bailey with a hat-trick, followed by the following 4 players with a brace each, Raheel Hussain, Liam White, Nick Boddington and Curtis Wellington plus a try each for the evergreen Paul Spiby and Sam Harris.

Sutton Casuals - Sat 30th Oct 21

The Sutton Casuals travelled to Bromsgrove to face a traditionally strong Vets side, who enjoyed a comfortable win over the Sutton social side.

Sutton Colts 29pts v Camp Hill 40pts
League - Sun 31st Oct 21

In an entertaining contest the Sutton Colts found their Camp Hill opponents just too strong on the day as they slipped to an honourable 29-40 defeat.