Nuns With Ferocity

Match Report - 13th Sept 2014

Nuneaton RFC 53 pts v Sutton Coldfield 17 pts

National League 3 Midlands

After an excellent 53-18 win in the opening game of the new season, an out of sorts Sutton experienced the reverse side of the sporting spectrum, when they suffered a disappointing 53-17 defeat against a strong Nuneaton side last weekend, slipping from second to mid table, whilst Nuneaton claimed top spot after their convincing victory.

The Sutton pack were bullied and bruised from the start and such was the ferocity in the front row that Sutton lost new hooker Luke Hennessy after just 10 minutes of play with a neck injury, which ended a short lived debut and although the redoubtable Liam Hills moved from prop into the vacant hookers berth with Sean Harrison coming on at prop, Sutton never recovered from the torrid start but they learned a harsh lesson leaving them better prepared for future conflicts.

The powerful scrummaging of the Nuneaton pack had Sutton on the back foot from the opening exchanges and although Sutton manned up and gained possession their strong counter attacking and attempts to break the stranglehold were foiled by basic errors or refereeing decisions, which all too often went against them and as the game developed so did the frustration as 2 penalty tries and 2 interceptions counted heavily against the troubled visitors for whom nothing would go right!

Nuneaton opened their account after just 2 minutes with a well struck 45m penalty by fly half Joe Wilson and although he missed two further opportunities from similar distance he added the simple conversion when the Nuneaton pack were awarded a penalty try against Sutton for collapsing an attacking scrum on the right flank midway through the first half extending the deficit to 10-0 and just 4 minutes later the home side stretched their lead to 17-0 when inside centre Elliot Brown raced over from close range following another strong scrum in the Sutton 22 and Joe Wilson added the conversion.

Nuneaton were awarded a second penalty try when a 5m scrum broke up on the Sutton try line and Sutton trailed 24-0 with just 4 minutes to play to the break but there was time enough for scrum half Tom Smitham to weave his way over the line for a 29-0 lead at the break.

Sutton made a good positive start to the second half but a fine attacking move by the backs, which opened up the Nuns defence and put Nathan Burchell on a clear run to the line, ended when the flying winger was called back for a forward pass... and then as Sutton launched another promising attack they were penalised for not releasing the ball following a tackle in the Nuns 22 and the danger was cleared. Having to live with such setbacks the Sutton revival fizzled out and 8 minutes into the second half Nuns extended their lead to 39-0 with tries by right wing Brandon Boshi following an interception, kick and chase and then flanker Mark Lingard raced in to finish off a mid field break from the Nuns 22 by centre Gavin Laycock but Sutton responded with a sharp try by winger Nathan Burchell following a tap penalty in the Nuns 22, converted by Alex White to close to 39-7 midway through the second period. However the home side snuffed out any hope of a late Sutton revival with two more tries, a second for Lingard and then a long range interception by left wing Nyle Beckett respectively, both converted by Joe Wilson to pass the 50 mark at 53-7. Although Sutton scored two consolation tries in the closing 10 minutes, the first by flanker Luke Stewart supporting a break by the lively Mark Rayner back in the no9 slot for the closing period and then another quick thinking and sharply taken try by Nathan Burchell to close the game at 53-17, the day belonged to the home support.

This weekend Sutton have to regroup and rally to protect their longstanding unbeaten home record at the RSG, Walmley Rd against the visit of Bromsgrove, who are old rivals from seasons long past. KO 3pm.