Match report - 25th Sept 2021

David Daniels
SCRFC 1st XV Team Manager

Match report - 25th Sept 2021

Sutton Coldfield RFC 27pts v Newbold on Avon 17pts

Happily the winning sparkle returned to the Sutton game last weekend, when after a frustrating start to their league campaign with below par results in their opening three games, a rejuvenated Sutton 1st XV returned to winning ways in style with a well deserved and well managed 27-17 victory over old rivals and fierce competitors Newbold on Avon, lifting Sutton to 9th in the table with their opponents now in 8th place after the first 4 games of a 26 game season.

Having shown their competitive spirit in each of the previous opening games but losing out due to periods of incautious play, which handed the initiative and victory to their opponents especially in the two most recent defeats, Sutton have improved their performance in each game, recovering in the second half of the Malvern game to gain 2 bonus points, which lifted them off the bottom of the table and last weekends comprehensive victory was just reward for the players and for their hard working coaches led by Joe Gavin.

The victory vindicated the coaches belief in their players and their coaching methods to produce a compelling performance where every man played his part over the full 80+ minutes against worthy opponents, who were outplayed in all sections of the game, on a day that returned the smiles to the faces of all the loyal Sutton supporters after an afternoon which celebrated Sutton's return to form as they controlled the game from start to finish with a disciplined display of power, pace and game management, including intelligent passages of play to keep their ambitious opposition at bay.

Once again the Sutton starting XV had a number of enforced changes to their line-up but the new look home team settled quickly and hit the ground running with a dynamic start to the game as they received the ball from the Newbold kick off and immediately took play back into the Newbold half with a long relieving kick and an excellent chase to put the visitors defence under immediate pressure, which Sutton sustained through their mobile back row and strong scrum pinning Newbold back in their own 22.

Then 4 minutes into the game Sutton won the ball from a line out on their left wing inside the Newbold 22 and moving the ball into mid field centre Will Mitchell made a powerful charge breaking through the visitors defence but as he was held-up just short of the try line the ball was smuggled to prop Sean Harrison, who completed the play to ground the ball for the opening try to the left of the posts.

Fly half Ben Morgan stepped up to add the conversion to give Sutton a welcome 7-0 lead 4 minutes into the game. From that point on the game ebbed and flowed with neither side breaking the deadlock until 25 minutes into the game under pressure Newbold were penalised for not releasing in front of their posts and Ben Morgan extended the Sutton lead to 10-0 with a 'simple' penalty but then just 3 minutes later Sutton were penalised for going over the top at a ruck and the Newbold fly half Ethan Wookey landed a 35 metre penalty in midfield to close to 10-3, with 12 minutes to play to the break.

Encouraged by the score, in the run-up to halftime Newbold stepped up the pressure and tested the Sutton resolve and defence with wave after wave of long and short range attacks but the Sutton defensive wall stood strong as the visitors camped on their try line. Although the constant pressure brought penalties against the home side, Newbold opted for scrums or lineouts to intensify the pressure instead of taking the 3 points but undaunted the Sutton defence was excellent and stood strong throughout the barrage so much so that as the onslaught wilted Sutton gained possession in their 22 and engineered a breakout up their left wing. Reaching the Sutton 10 metre line the ball was fed to Sutton scrum half Zak Tyler, who was running in support of the breakout and the speedy half back had the courage and confidence to keep ahead of the pursuing defenders in a dramatic race up the left wing to the try line for a dramatic try that was well executed but earned by the 10 minutes of stoic defence by the Sutton team.

Ben Morgan slotted the conversion to extend the Sutton lead to 17-3 with the last play of a satisfactory first half for home side, who were playing the best rugby of their season so far, with the second half to come.

Fired up by their first half performance, in form Sutton charged into the second half following up their restart kick and reclaiming the ball before charging into the Newbold 22 then recycling the ball into the hands of powerful centre Will Mitchell, who burst through the visitors defence to score to the left of the posts. Unfortunately the conversion grazed the outside of the near post but Sutton had extended their lead to 22-3 with only 80 seconds of the second half played and then 8 minutes later the Sutton pack started probing the Newbold try line on the Sutton left wing with successive drives, recycling the ball with drive after drive as they patiently probed for an opening drawing in the defenders as the maul crabbed infield exposing the blind side of the field, which scrum half Zak Tyler cleverly exploited as he sent left wing Charlie Steventon powering through the gap to celebrate his first league try for the Sutton 1st XV.

Unfortunately once again the difficult touchline conversion attempt narrowly missed but Sutton held a 27-3 lead with 4 tries in the bank for a bonus point going into the final 30 minutes of the game with everything to play for.

Not surprisingly, showing their true pedigree Newbold rose to the challenge seeking to salvage something from the game in the closing period and with 56 minutes played the visitors won a scrum in front of the Sutton posts. Although the Sutton pack held firm against the Newbold drive the visitors scrum half Jamie Mapletoft picked up at the base of the scrum and squeezed over for a try, which was converted by fly half Ethan Wookey to close the score to 27-10.

Then midway through the second half the Newbold loose head prop suffered a leg injury and was unable to continue, which meant that Newbold had to request uncontested scrums for the remainder of the game, as they had lost their tight head prop with a knee injury before the halftime break and they had no more front row replacements available, so they had to drop a player and play out the game with 14 men.

To their credit the depleted visitors again stepped up their game but on 30 minutes Sutton suffered a yellow card and lost their man advantage when they were penalised for handling in the ruck.

The final 10 minutes of the game saw Newbold desperately chasing something from the game and although Sutton held out well in the closing minutes despite their best efforts the visitors gained a consolation try when open side flanker Kyle Furlong raced in to score and Ethan Wookey converted to close the score to 27-17 but in spite of the energetic efforts of both teams in the closing seconds, at the close the scoreboard remained on 27-17 in favour of Sutton Coldfield to record a famous win.

Although the opening four games of the new season have seen highs and lows; on the plus side Sutton have seen fleeting appearances by key past players like Luke Stewart, Rhos Price and Lewis Belton but in their absence new players have established themselves in the winning set-up namely Taboka Hadvane, Harry Bamber, Reece Milner, Mike Ashford and Tom Monahan plus Mike Iwanwowicz and Curtis Wellington along with Charlie Steventon, Will Mitchell, T J Allwood and special mention for Zak Tyler who has excelled at scrum half, centre, wing and full back plus Mike Burns who has featured at flanker or centre depending on the needs of the team - all played a big part alongside skipper Dean Ginn and the established players in the outstanding victory over Newbold last weekend - well done all.

This weekend Sutton 1st XV travel to Old Halesonians RFC looking to continue their new found believe in their ability to create and take their chances in a controlled and disciplined way - the sky's the limit. All travelling support welcome. KO 3 pm.

Other team results:

Sutton Casuals 21pts v Telford 3rd XV 22pts.

Sat. 25th Sept 2021.

The Sutton Casuals, who play rugby for fun and enjoyment enjoyed a close fought contest against a useful outfit from Telford, who also call themselves Telford Old Boys and after an exciting game on the illustrious International pitch at the RSG, Walmley Road, sports complex, the Telford Old Boys departed with a honourable 22-21 victory but with the honours shared in the clubhouse afterwards. - Well done all.

Sutton Colts 26pts v Vesey Colts 24pts

Sunday 26th Sept 2021.

After a challenging local contest the Sutton Colts edged a narrow 26-24 victory away from a competitive Vesey Colts side, with victory to Sutton but the honours shared evenly between the two sides after an entertaining match.

Sutton Ladies 7pts v Worcester Women 39pts.

Full match report available courtesy of Gerald Shanahan.