Match Report - 2nd Oct 2021

David Daniels
SCRFC 1st XV Team Manager

Match Report - 2nd Oct 2021

Old Halesonians RFC 30pts v Sutton Coldfield RFC 14pts

Having made good progress the previous week with an excellent 27-17 bonus point victory at home to old rivals Newbold RFC, unfortunately last weekend Sutton 1st XV took a step backward when they succumbed to a strong Old Hales side at Wassell Grove losing 30-14 in a tight contest, where the try count was 3 converted tries to 2 converted tries in favour of the home side but Old Hales also converted 3 penalties for good measure and the accurate kicking of full back Nick Adams made all the difference with the 15 points from his boot taking the result away from Sutton.

For Sutton it was another game of what-if! What-if Sutton had landed one of the two long range penalty chances they had won in the opening minutes of the game or what-if instead they had kicked for the corner on either occasion, won the ball and scored a try to take an early lead...or what-if just after taking the lead with an outstanding try to lead 7-3, they hadn't dropped the ball on the restart leading to a converted try for the hosts, thereby surrendering the hard won lead within minutes to trail 10-7 with 10 minutes to play to the break. All these what-if's play out in any game, however in this game Sutton made a strong start but they needed things to go their way and on this occasion it was the host club who took their chances and although Sutton played well enough to deny their hosts a bonus point, once again the visitors were left rueing what might have been if things had gone their way.

Sutton kicked off in steady drizzle making for a greasy ball and very wet conditions but Sutton made a good solid start winning a penalty on the half way, which fell just short of the posts and then in the following play Old Hales were penalised again this time on their 10 metre line and once again the ambitious long range penalty attempt missed the target but the Sutton chase pinned the home side in their own half during a scrappy period of play. Then 25 minutes into the game Sutton were penalised at a scrum in their 22 and the pendulum swung when full back Nick Adams stepped forward to kick the penalty giving Old Hales a 3-0 lead, against the run of play.

Sutton responded well following the score and although under pressure in the scrum, Sutton no 8 Luke Stewart made a trademark break from the base of a scrum on the halfway line and breaking right the illusive runner found support to keep the play flowing and the ball was carried down field at pace with good interplay involving centre Mike Burns and right wing Curtis Wellington, who raced into the Old Hales 22 before passing inside to centre Will Mitchell, who burst through the remaining defenders to score an outstanding try to the right of the posts. Sutton fly half Ben Morgan added the conversion to take Sutton into a deserved 7-3 lead with 29 minutes played...but disaster struck at the restart when Sutton fumbled the ball on their 22 metre line and Old Hales pounced on the mistake. Making the most of the opportunity Old Hales open side flanker Jake Humpheries raced in to score a gifted try to the left of the posts and full back Nick Adams added the conversion to retake the lead 10-7 with 10 minutes to play to the break.

Although stunned by the setback Sutton played out the remaining minutes of the first half but it was the Black Country side who dominated the early play in the second half with winger Luke Smith opening the scoring on 4 minutes with a weaving try to the right of the posts, converted by Nick Adams to stretch the lead to 17-7, then Nick Adams added two penalties on 8 minutes and 15 minutes respectively taking the score to 23-7 before on 35 minutes hooker Sam Jones drove over from a lineout on the left wing and with Nick Adams once again on target with the conversion the scoreboard showed 30-7 in Old Hales favour.

With time running out Sutton rallied and showing their true character with a final flourish led from the front by skipper Dean Ginn, Sutton camped on the Old Hales try line with a succession of lineouts in the left corner as the under pressure Old Hales pack conceded penalty after penalty, which Sutton kicked accurately into touch for 5 metre lineouts and unerringly Dean Ginn found 2nd row Tom Foulsham, who rose high and brought the ball down each time to set up an impressive driving maul. The pressure was maintained over successive lineouts until scrum half Zak Tyler found the gap and scrambled over for a consolation try, which was converted by Ben Morgan with the last kick of the game and a final score-line of 30-14.

Again Sutton came away disappointed with the end result but individually the players performed well, however the constant enforced changing of the team selection and line-up due to injury and availability week by week is not helping the collective team effort... but once a settled team can be established there is enough talent in the team squad to go on a convincing winning run with players like Ben McElhannan, who made an impressive debut in this game playing alongside established players plus people who have impressed on their return to the match day team like Jonah Falconer, Mike Burns, Chris Henley, George Creed and young winger Curtis Wellington, who has impressed since his recent introduction into the 1st XV.

This weekend Sutton look forward to the visit of Stoke-on-Trent RFC, who have made a good start to the season currently laying 2nd in the table, so they will provide another stern challenge to the Sutton campaign. All support welcome. KO 3pm.

Other team results & match summary:

Sutton Coldfield 2nd XV 69pts v Old Halesonians 2nd/3rd 0pts.

Sutton put together a strong second string performance, organised by the redoubtable Steve Marshall to overcome their Old Hales opposition, made up of 2nd & 3rd team players, who felt the full weight of the Sutton strength in depth as they succumbed to a one sided 69-0 defeat.

The Sutton points came fast and furious with the try fest led by Josh Groom and Luke Fleming, who scored a brace each followed by a try each for Sam Scadeng, Tom McNamee, Joe Gregory, Vaughan Brown, Sam Harris, Josh Bailey and Raheel Hussain and the impressive 69 points was reached with Tom McNamee adding 5 conversions and Raheel contributing 2 conversions.

Lichfield Colts 29pts v Sutton Colts 20pts.

In a friendly sporting contest between two neighbouring clubs with a long association, Sutton travelled the short distance to Lichfield short on numbers but in keeping with the spirit of the occasion Lichfield allowed Jack Bates, who had recently moved from Sutton to Lichfield to make up the numbers by wearing the green of Sutton in the friendly practise game played over three 20 minute periods.

The gesture made the game a more enjoyable run out for both teams and both benefited from the keen evenly matched contest, which finished in a sporting 29-29 draw and honours even.

The Sutton points game from James Taylor, who scored two tries, with a try apiece for Jack Bates, Sam Newey and Henry Nevitt, who also kicked two conversions in an excellent performance, which bodes well for the future of Sutton & Lichfield rugby.