SUTTON BLOWN AWAY BY STOURBRIDGE

Sutton played with the wind at their backs in the first half but it was the visitors playing at great pace in the backs who drew first blood with barely 90 seconds on the clock as they recycled the ball kicked ahead, collected and scored under the sticks.7-0 to Stourbridge. Sutton gathered themselves and began to make ground through strong surges upfield from Steve Marshall, Ed Moore and Mark Lettman and quick thinking from stand off Chris King led to a rapid Sutton riposte, as he took a quick penalty tap fed an onrushing Lettman who crashed over from 20 metres out.Conversion from in front by King 7 each.Sutton continued to make inroads into the visitors' defence and minutes later after another strong surge and a somewhat strange decision to kick into touch from scrum half Stu MacGarrigle Sutton had the lead as they pinched the lineout and MacGarrigle plunged over from a metre to touch down! 12-7 to the men in green.
However such was the pace of the game that led to more than one player gasping like a fish out of water, Sutton had a hard time containing the free flowing and energetic Stourbridge backs.Strong tackling from Rhys Jones, Tom Foulsham,Dave Sandford,Jamie Clarke and Matt Manion stopped numerous incursions into the home team's 22.Indeed if Stourbridge had caught a bit more ball they would have gone into half time with a greater lead than 19-12 as they only converted 2 of their many chances.
The second half proved to be a torrid affair for the home team as the increasing wind kept them pinned in their own half for the opening 15 minutes including one kick off that actually went backwards. Stourbridge continued to run the ball from everywhere and combined with Sutton's mistakes the score board ticked over regularly until it finally stopped at 52-12 to the visitors.But Sutton never gave up and the front row of Marshall,and veterans Dave Smith and Andy Duckworth were dominant in the scrum.As the pace relented a little the home team camped in the opposition's 22 recycling ball after ball and although they failed to trouble the scorers, Amir Naseri who was just denied.This passage of play also featured the sight of lumbering second row Rab Cooper's back of the hand pass to Marshall who was so surprised he almost dropped it!!!!
So 52-12 and well played Stourbridge and well stuck at by Sutton in what was an enjoyable game despite the result.A special mention to Ollie and fellow youngster Jacob who put in sterling performances in a losing cause and man of the match Rhys Jones for his strong running and defence.
Finally an overdue thank you to the overworked Hayley, Sutton's physio who seems to use more tape than the Invisible Man patching up Suttons's glass warriors!!!!!