Match report - 18th Sept 2021

David Daniels
SCRFC 1st XV Team Manager

Malvern RFC 36pts v Sutton Coldfield 31pts

Last weekend away to Malvern RFC, for 70 of the 80 minutes of the game Sutton played some of their best rugby of the season so far, outscoring their opponents by 4 tries to 1 (31pts to 10) but having taken a deserved 0-7 lead midway through the first half it all unravelled during 10 minutes of madness before halftime when wayward Sutton gifted the ball to their opponents in every way possible and Malvern took full advantage by running in 4 tries plus 3 conversions to lead 26-7 at the break.

To their credit Sutton rallied during the break and set about repairing the damage by taking back control of the game at the start of the second half as they faced up to the daunting task they had set themselves and but for one lapse when the home side claimed a fifth try and a penalty Sutton controlled the scoreboard. Buoyed by the fact that their scrum was holding strong and although the lineout faltered from time to time the much changed Sutton side held together and chased down the target just falling short in the end in a 36-31 defeat but claiming 2 bonus points to lift them off the bottom of the table and pointing them in the right direction... but the result also left them thinking what might have been if only they had retained their composure and discipline during that fateful 10 mins before halftime, when Sutton had been well in control leading 7-0.

On a good dry pitch in pleasant surroundings Sutton received the kick off from Malvern and having weathered the early pressure from the home side a strong run by Sutton right wing Chris Duckworth took play deep into the Malvern half and there followed a period of sustained pressure by Sutton in the Malvern 22 leading to an opening try for centre Will Mitchell, who burst through to the left of the posts following a 5m scrum on the right won by Sutton with the ball fed left for the powerful centre to claim the try and with fly half Ben Morgan adding the conversion Sutton took a deserved 7-0 lead 24 minutes into the game.

From the restart Sutton took play back into Malvern territory and stepped up the pressure again coming close to scoring a second try in the left corner and at this point it was all Sutton but a lost ball by the visitors when attacking deep in the Malvern half was gathered by the home defenders, who manufactured a breakout taking play up their right wing and a chip ahead deep into the Sutton half behind the Sutton defenders, was juggled then brought under control and grounded in the right corner by Malvern fly half Joe Budd. The difficult touchline conversion was missed but the score brought the home side onto the scoreboard at 5-7 with 32 minutes played and appeared to change the course of the game over the next 10 minutes as the error by Sutton which led to the long range try boosted Malvern it also demoralised Sutton, who went on to commit others errors and lose their composure leading into the halftime break.

First a loose pass by Sutton on the halfway line was picked up by flanker Franco Bent, who raced in to score under the posts on 36 minutes, then following the restart there was a scramble on the ground midfield outside the Sutton 22 and centre Ben Cooke suddenly appeared with the ball and he raced in to score under the posts on 38 minutes and on the stroke of halftime to cap a disastrous period for Sutton a break by Malvern up their left wing was ushered into touch but Malvern regained possession from the lineout and open side flanker Will Brown found a big gap in the Sutton defence to race through for their bonus point 4th try, again under the posts and with full back Jasper Windsor-Clive adding all three conversions Malvern carried a daunting 26-7 lead into the break.

Smarting from the 10 minutes of mayhem before the break, Sutton stepped up a gear at the start of the second half and immediately applied the early pressure in the Malvern half with Sutton's excellent 2nd row ball carrier Harry Moxon running a great angle to break through the Malvern midfield defence and score to the left of the posts. Fly half Ben Morgan added the conversion to close the scores to 14-26 with 6 minutes of the second half played. Again from the restart Sutton returned play back into the Malvern half with great interplay between backs and forwards and then Sutton centre Zac Tyler took play deep into the Malvern 22 with a weaving run before off-loading to scrum half Ollie Green, who crossed the line for the try to the right of the posts and again Ben Morgan slotted the conversion to bring Sutton back to 26-21 with 30 minutes left to play.

With 15 minutes remaining Sutton were caught out again when fullback Jasper Windsor-Clive exploited a gap on the Sutton right wing and he raced in to score a fifth try for the home club, which he converted himself to stretch the score to 33-21, which he extended to 36-21 midway through the second half, with a penalty when Sutton were caught off side in their 22.

Frustrated but undeterred Sutton set to their task again and came close to scoring in the left corner but the referee judged the ball to have gone forward in the tackle over the line and again another try was disallowed because the referee was unsighted on the right side of the field but Sutton kept pressing and finally young Harry Moxon found his way to the line for his brace with another charging run in the Malvern 22 to score Sutton's 4th try for a bonus point and Ben Morgan slotted the conversion for 4 out of 4 and a score line of 36-28 with 5 minutes to play.

In the closing minutes having come so close Sutton tried their hearts out for a final converted try to seal the game but having camped in the Malvern half following the restart, in the 77 minute they settled for a penalty from Ben Morgan to secure a losing bonus point with time running out for the wining score which was not to be and the win went to Malvern at 36-31, with Malvern taking 5 league points and Sutton 2, leaving Sutton wondering once again what might have been if only!!

This weekend Sutton welcome old friends and Warwickshire rivals Newbold RFC to the RSG, Walmley Road to resume their league battles in the post pandemic world. KO 3pm - all support welcome in Sutton's Centenary Year 1921-2021.

Other team results & summary:

Sutton 2nd XV 42pts v Malvern 2nd XV 24pts

played Sat 18th Sept 2021.

The Sutton 2nd XV manager Simon Davies managed to scramble together a very decent looking second string squad to face the Malvern 2nd XV and in a very entertaining contest the Sutton side took the honours with a very respectable 42-24 palindromic victory.

Leading the Sutton try scorers was Luke Stewart at centre with a brace, then a try apiece for Matt Campbell, Charles Snow, Josh Bailey and Chris Hendley, who also converted all 6 tries - well done the lads.

Sutton Colts 27pts v Birmingham Moseley Colts 5pts

played Sunday 19th Sept 2021.

The Colts competition was played in very sporting manner and was a credit to both clubs as the teams emerged from the uncertainties caused by the pandemic and performed in a manner that showed how pleased they were to be back in the competitive sporting arena, with Sutton playing with confidence and courage to edge the contest 27-5 on this occasion.

Sutton Women.

Sutton Ladies had no game last weekend but this weekend they make their debut in the National Women's Championship League 2 with a home game against Worcester Women - good luck the girls. All support welcome for what should be a highly entertaining contest at the RSG, Walmley Road, on Sunday 26th Sept 2021. KO 2pm.