Sutton Triumph in Droitwich Thriller.

Sutton Threes made the 80 mile round trip to Droitwich to play their second team in a league game still searching for their first win of the season. The search is over as victory was recorded in a high scoring game by 39 points to 29. Victory was not finally confirmed until the final 10 minutes when 2 fine tries from Danny Price opened up the 10 point gap that was not going to be relinquished. So Sutton returned home with 4 points and something to build on in their never say die attitude. But I digress!
The men in green made their by now traditionally slow start and found themselves 12 points down through nothing brilliant from the opposition but more a lack of cohesion and a raft of missed tackles. It took a fine catch and drive forward from tight head prop Scott Toy and some interplay between the forwards before back rower Vaughan Brown was pushed over the line and Sutton were on the board. 12-5 down and back in it but in an instant Droitwich hit back with a converted try to open up a 12 point gap again, the frustrations of the game of rugby. The game oscillated back and forth with neither team keeping possession for long but Sutton thundered back into the game as a routine Droitwich knock on gave them an attacking scrum just outside the 22. A solid green scrum and good work from props Toy, Dave Smith and stand in hooker, veteran Andy Duckworth meant a solid base from which Vaughan exploited the space to go over for his second try. 17-10 down and could the away team avoid conceding straight from the kick off? Oh yes they could and not only that, they scored again moments later when Pete Dale scored a deserved try to the side of the sticks. Unfortunately he was wide with the conversion but 17-15 down at half time was eminently retrievable.
Changes were made at half time but surely the forward momentum was with Sutton! And oh yes it was as Brown again showed his predatory instincts to complete his hat trick converted by Dale.Would either team grab the game by its collar and secure the points? Evidently not Sutton as Droitwich took advantage of a bouncing ball to take a 24-22 lead as the try was converted from in front of the posts. Back came Sutton thrpugh veteran lock forward James Heggarty 27-24 with a conversion to come and what a splendid conversion from the touchline it was as Mark McEvoy capped a fine hard running hard tackling game with the extras. Surely that would clinch it but with 15 minutes to play probably not and so it proved when Droitwich again took advantage of Sutton’s confusion to tie up the game at 29 each.
Cometh the hour cometh the man and other such clichés! That man was Danny Price who finished off a flowing move involving Dale, Tom Foulsham, McEvoy and Mark Letman to score the try that would surely break Droitwich hearts as forecast by this writer!! 34-29 to Sutton and only 5 minutes left, 5 minutes to survive for a first league win of the season. The win was confirmed in some style as Danny Price twisting this way and that weaved his way from his own half beating player after player in yellow and black to touch down in the corner! A fitting way to end the game to make the score 39-29 to Sutton threes.
A welcome victory in what was an entertaining game with some good tries and some good performances from Stu McGarragle, Dave Sandford, Ed Moore, Dean Humphreys ,Tom Foulsham and skipper Steve Marshall. It must be said that Droitwich contributed hugely to the game with several of their forwards and scrum half having fine matches.
As for Sutton, this can now be something to build on after early season setbacks.