Match report - 11th April 2015

The penultimate match of the league programme saw the very best and the very worst of Sutton's mixed form during this troubled season, with excellent attacking play punctured by basic errors and costly turnovers, which all too often handed the initiative to their opponents, Longton, who by contrast took their chances in a 33-22 victory outscoring Sutton by 5 tries to 3.

On a bright spring day with a stiff breeze blowing across the pitch into the bottom corner, Sutton made a strong but unconvincing start, with the wind and the slope in their favour they took play back into the Longton half from the kick off with positive and progressive play but although they had Longton on the back foot in the opening exchanges they failed to take advantage and Longton responded well recovering the initiative with strong counter attacks taking play up to the halfway line. 10 minutes into the game Longton won a penalty and they kicked accurately into the left corner from where they won the ensuing lineout and drove for the try line. Although Sutton held the initial drive Longton pressed on and from close range 2nd row Kieran Healey wrestled his way over the line for the opening try. Fly half Grant Hallan kicked the conversion to give Longton a 7-0 lead.

Sutton responded well following the restart taking play deep into Longton 22 but again with Longton under sustained pressure Sutton made the error which lost the ball forward under the Longton posts and then to compound their problems Sutton were penalised at the resulting scrum and Longton cleared the ball to the halfway line relieving the pressure and putting the home side on the front foot once again. From the lineout on the left wing Longton won the ball and a strong break in midfield by centre Dave Maclean was supported by fullback Luke Fowles, who crossed for a well taken try and Grant Hallam added the conversion to extend their lead to 14-0 with 15 minutes played.

Sutton continued to play with purpose and in the second quarter the pack had a period of dominance over their opponents, which lifted the team and midway through the first half their dominance paid dividends when centre Alex White kicked a penalty deep into the Longton 22 on the right wing and 2nd row Lewis Snowden gathered the ball cleanly at the lineout allowing Sutton to drive for the try line. Although the forceful drive was held up short of the line scrum half Tom Harris swept the ball out into midfield and winger Nathan Burchell raced in off his wing to make a half break before feeding fullback Josh Rolls who raced in for a fine try, which was converted by Alex White to close to 14-7 twenty minutes before the break.

Unfortunately Sutton's revival was short lived as Longton mounted another attack in Sutton territory and a penalty kick to the right corner led to a 5m attacking scrum after the ball was held up over the try line. Longton won the ball and attacked down the blindside with right wing Liam Price crossing for a try in the corner and an excellent touchline conversion by Grant Hallam restored the Stoke sides lead to 14 points at 21-7.

In the 15 minutes left to play to halftime there was plenty of action but neither side troubled the scoreboard, although Sutton were starting to show something of their quality with the pack performing well in the forward exchanges and winger Nathan Burchell showing his potency with his fine running and counter attacks troubling the Longton defence but no break through for Sutton.

The second half started with Sutton on the attack forcing Longton into conceding a penalty, which Alex White converted to close to 21-10 just 5 minutes after the restart but again Longton struck back within 5 minutes with a try by left wing Ethan Clowes for 26-10.

After a further period of cut and thrust with the visitors in the ascendency Sutton scored twice midway through the second half to close to within 4 points with well worked tries for no8 Sam Harris and prop Chris Hanley respectively and with Alex White converting the Harris try, the score line stood at 26-22 with 15 minutes to play. The first of the successive tries started on the Sutton left wing and then play swung to the right before Nathan Burchell cut back on a weaving run to send no8 Sam Harris racing in on the perfect angle to cut through the Longton defence and score to the left of the posts. White added the conversion before Sutton launched another attack, which was driven in field towards the Longton posts before swinging left where no8 Sam Harris palmed the ball to prop Chris Hanley, who forced his way over from short range wide on the left wing to put Sutton back in with a chance of stealing the game.

But unfortunately the winning score would not come for Sutton and it was Longton who closed the game out with a final close range try by no8 Joe Booth in the right corner and a remarkable touchline conversion by Grant Hallam, with the ball turning on the wind to complete the closing score line of 33-22.

Although Sutton are safe from relegation, the result puts them down to 11th in the league with Longton taking their place at 10th but the positions could reverse again with the final game of the season this weekend, when Longton face 4th place Nuneaton and Sutton travel to 12th place Bournville, who sit one place below Sutton in the relegation zone, 19 points adrift and already down... but with both teams playing for pride and reputation it should be a keen contest on which to end the season. KO 3pm at the Birmingham University ground.

As the season draws to a close the Sutton team members and coaches are looking forward to a break from the constant and fiercely competitive pressure of weekly league rugby fixtures at National level and the chance to tackle the frustrations and problems which have beset them throughout the past season, when the squad re-gather for summer training after a short break. Fitness, skills and teamwork will be the key areas to tackle plus restoring confidence and self belief in readiness for a return to winning ways at the start of next season, which kicks off on Sat 5th Sept.

To make the most of the last two league games i.e. last weekend and next weekend, Sutton have included 25 players in the match day group for both games with 18 players and 7 travelling reserves all taking part in the pre-match warm up ro
utines and soaking up the match day environment to give the younger players a sense of the atmosphere on such occasions as part of the physical and mental preparation in the on going development of next seasons squad of 'elite' players, which will continue through the summer training and selection process.