Sutton's new skipper Fraser Tait led his new look side to a 53-18 opening day victory over old rivals Bournville at the Roger Smoldon ground last weekend, taking Sutton to second place in the league after the first round of games for an excellent start to the new league season.

The victory included 9 tries and 4 conversions for the strong running Sutton side against just 2 tries, 1 conversion and 2 penalties for the talented but hard pressed visitors, with skipper Tait leading by example at no8 claiming 4 of the tries, ably supported by centre Jonny Raistrict, who contributed 2 tries and provided a number of assists supplying winger Andy Tovey, who also bagged a brace before limping off with a hamstring twinge. The additional try came from fullback Nathan Burchell, who made a superb trademark 60 metre scorching run to the line having been put into space deep in his own half midway through the second period.

Centre Alex White kicked 3 conversions and Ben Morgan added an inch perfect conversion from the left touchline on his debut to provide the extra points for Sutton and Alex Warner with 2 penalties and a conversion plus Robin Eatough and Paul Sumner with a try each were the Bournville scorers.

The win and the margin of victory was particularly pleasing for the club coaches and the Sutton side, which included players promoted from the Sutton Colts and Development side making their league debut in a rearranged line up. They all rose to the occasion and the newcomers played a significant part in the victory alongside the seasoned players who were outstanding but with a new pairing at 9 and 10 plus a makeshift front row featuring three props due to an absence of hookers through injury or availability and a new partnership in the second row due to the retirement of long serving stalwarts Steve McCormack and Tony Worthington, Sutton would have been excused for struggling in the opening exchanges but they quickly got into their stride taking a 10-6 lead midway through the first half and they never looked back.

With both sides eager to get the season underway, Bournville kicked off in perfect conditions with hardly any wind in front of an expectant crowd and they put Sutton under immediate pressure winning a penalty for a deliberate knock-on wide out on their right wing on the Sutton 22. Fly half Alex Warner lined up the difficult kick but the ball drifted safely to the left of the posts, however the visitors kept up the intense pressure and won a second penalty when Sutton were penalised for not releasing in their 22 and this time the prolific Warner made no mistake from the left of the posts giving the visitors a 0-3 lead 10 minutes into the contest.

Sutton responded well and started to get their shape together as the new second row partnership of Lewis Snowden, making his league debut after converting from centre in the Sutton lower teams to become a powerful lock in the first team, settled in alongside the highly rated utility forward Simon Millard, who came into the second row at short notice, when the outstanding Adam Bennett had to withdraw from the game after suffering kidney stone pains on Friday night and we wish Adam a speedy recovery from his painful condition. Both the second row players performed well at the heart of the Sutton pack with powerful play in the set pieces and storming runs up field to put pressure on the Bournville defence as the game developed. The unlikely front row of Chris Hanley, Liam Hills and Stuart Collard with prop Liam Hills in the unfamiliar role of hooker and Chris Hanley throwing in at the line out was unusual but worked well against a formidable and experienced pack with Sutton holding their own in the scrum and performing well at the line out. But it was in the open play that Sutton excelled with the pace and tenacity of the Sutton's youthful back row of Marcus Harewood (6), Luke Stewart (7) and their outstanding skipper Fraser Tait (8), overwhelming the visitors both in defence and attack.

15 minutes into the match Sutton stepped up their game driving play deep into the Bournville 22 and as Sutton advanced towards the try line through a series of rucks and mauls Sutton's skipper Fraser Tait spun out of the fray and broke clear to score the first of his 4 tries giving Sutton a slender 5-3 lead but 3 minutes later this was reversed when the visitors retook the lead 5-6 on 18 minutes with a second penalty by fly half Alex Warner after Sutton were penalised at a defensive scrum close to their try line.

But again the lead was short lived as midway through the first half left wing Andy Tovey showed his fine attacking skills when he fielded a high kick ahead on the halfway line and raced down the left touchline before passing in field to fly half Josh Groom, who was running in support. Continuing his run in field the winger took a perfect return pass to race to the line for a well executed try, which gave Sutton a 10-6 lead after 20 minutes of play.

Sutton continued to build the pressure on their hard pressed visitors and they were rewarded when Fraser Tait again peeled off a driving maul to race to the line for his second try, which was converted by centre Alex White to stretch Sutton's lead to 17-6 but with half time approaching such was Sutton's dominance and fluency during this phase of the game that they scored two more tries in the remaining 10 minutes, the first coming on 34 minutes when Tovey crossed for his second try in the left corner following a Sutton line out on their right wing. The ball was safely gathered in by the forwards and quickly distributed at pace by scrum half Tom Harris across the backline with outside centre Jon Raistrick delivering the final pass for the winger to race in on the overlap. Alex White added the difficult conversion before his fellow centre Jonny Raistrick claimed the final try of the half when he stepped inside the defenders for a smart score as Sutton moved the ball swiftly across the field from left to right in front of the Bournville posts giving Sutton a deserved 29-6 lead at the break.

True to their fine pedigree Bournville responded strongly at the start of the second half and a powerful run down the left wing by centre Robin Eatough led to a long range try in the corner for the strong centre. Alex Warner added the difficult conversion to reduce the arrears to 29-13 with just 8 minutes of the second half played, showing how dangerous the Bournville can be if they are allowed to run.

Stung by the score Sutton stepped up their play and their resolute defence was tested fully by a revitalised Bournville side but after the one lapse the Sutton defence held firm during the next phase of the opening period of the second half. Then having weathered the storm Sutton turned the tables and midway through the second half Fraser Tait scored a captains try in the left corner as he weaved his way to the line to claim his hat-trick and reclaim the initiative for Sutton. With Alex White off the field, left footed Ben Morgan, who was on as replacement for the injured Andy Tovey and making his league debut, kicked an inch perfect conversion with the ball passing just inside the left hand post to extend Sutton's lead to 36-13 with 20 minutes left to play.

Encouraged by the score Sutton again stepped up their play, imposing themselves on their opponents in all areas of the game, creating openings and just 2 minutes after completing his hat-trick skipper Tait raced in for his 4th try for a 41-13 lead before Nathan Burchell set the ground alight with a scintillating 60 metre dash to the line having been sent on his way from deep in the Sutton half and the Sutton flyer out paced the defenders down the right wing to score to the right of the posts having been prevented from going under the posts by the covering players but Alex White made no mistake with the conversion and Sutton moved closer to the magic 50 mark at 48-13 with 15 minutes to play.

With time running out Bournville again proved their character and determination in a lost cause as they worked to create an overlap for right wing Paul Sumner, who raced into the far corner for a consolation try with 5 minutes to play but Sutton had the last word when centre Jon Raistrick scored on the overlap, as Sutton again swept the ball efficiently from left to right across the face of the Bournville posts to score an excellent final try passing the 50 point mark at 53-18 and completing a great day for the Sutton team, the coaches and management plus the loyal Sutton supporters under the banner of the 'Green Army'.

This weekend Sutton travel to Nuneaton, who sit just one place below Sutton at this early stage in the season, so Sutton will be looking to travel well and banish the away day blues from last season to maintain their excellent start to the season. KO 3 pm.