1st XV Match report - 26th Feb 2022

David Daniels
SCRFC 1st XV Team Manager.

Match report - 26th Feb 2022

Newbold-on-Avon RFC 34pts v Sutton Coldfield RFC 28pts

Midlands 1 West

Once again at times Sutton's new found form and belief shone brightly in a close fought contest against 6th placed Newbold RFC, as the visitors ran in 4 tries all converted over the course of a close contest but although Sutton played well, overall they failed to control the game at key moments leading to a disappointing 34-28 defeat as they conceded a crucial try in the closing 5 minutes, denying them the double over their opponents in a game they know they should have won.

The game, which had been postponed from 15th Jan 2022 due to an outbreak of Covid at the Rugby based club, saw both teams score 4 converted tries in an entertaining contest but the host club landed a first half penalty followed by a drop goal to keep them in touch with Sutton during the early exchanges and those scores proved to be the difference in the final count-back.

Sutton kicked off against a light breeze on a dry day, with soft ground underfoot and they hit the ground running making the perfect start, stunning their illustrious opponents with a converted try in under 2 minutes of play for a 7-0 lead. Receiving the ball from the kick-off Newbold had advanced before launching a high kick ahead into the Sutton half from inside their own half on the Sutton left wing but their pursuing player was penalised for being in front of the kicker and play was called back for a penalty to Sutton. The ball was kicked to the left touchline inside the Newbold 22 and Sutton won the lineout claiming the ball, which was played into field going right but fed back to left wing Tom McNamee, who came off his wing cutting through the opposition on a powerful run to score to the left of the posts. Fly half Ben Morgan added the conversion to complete the perfect start for the visitors with their well executed opening play.

The game ebbed and flowed for the next 10 minutes with both teams taking it in terms to hold sway but 13 minutes in Sutton were caught offside in front of their posts and Newbold fly half Dan O'Brien landed the penalty to close the score line to 3-7, then 7 minutes later after a period of sustained pressure by Newbold in the Sutton 22 the home side won possession in front of the Sutton posts and fly half Dan O'Brien took the chance to land a drop goal, closing the score to 6-7 midway through the first half.

At this point Sutton were holding their own in the set play scrums and lineouts in particular, where Sutton were very effective taking Newbold ball giving them good possession and thwarting promising Newbold attacking positions plus the Sutton backline were proving to be very threatening with ball in hand but 24 minutes into the game with Sutton under pressure from a ruck close to their try line in their right corner, a poor clearance kick by Sutton from the base of the ruck swung in field and was gathered by Newbold just outside the 22 to set up a counter attack going cross field and full back Carter Murphy raced in to stun Sutton with a score close to the posts.

Fly half Dan O'Brien added the conversion to take Newbold into the lead for the first time at 13-7 but Sutton responded well to the setback with some great attacking runs, however all to often they petered out with a knock-on or forward pass gifting possession to their opponents...then 8 minutes before the break Sutton had a period of good possession on the Newbold try line resulting in a penalty, which Sutton kicked to the right corner for a 5 metre lineout. Sutton won the lineout and drove for the try line but as the drive collapsed the ball spilled out and Sutton scrumhalf Ollie Green skilfully re-gathered to squeeze over the try line for a deserved try, which was converted by fly half Ben Morgan to retake the lead 14-13 with 32 minutes played.

The game played on to the break with plenty of action but no further score, so Sutton started the second half with a slender 1 point lead at 14-13 but the visitors made a dynamic start to the second period and 5 minutes in they extended their lead to 21-13, when late call-up Chris Hendley, coming on in the centre scored an excellent try in the left corner and fly half Ben Morgan matched the excellence of the try with a superb touchline conversion judging the wind perfectly to carry the ball between the posts. The try was created by 2nd row George Ord, who took a quick tap penalty on the edge of the Newbold 22 before feeding no8 Will Mitchell, who raced towards the try line swinging left to feed super-sub Chris Hendley, who dived into the corner to claim the try.

The try and 21-13 put Sutton into a comfortable winning position 5 minutes into the second half but Newbold were not finished and 4 minutes later the home side set up a driving maul on their left in the Sutton 22 and as the drive crabbed towards the posts no8 Rudi Reid, broke free to drive over the try line to score and with Dan O'Brien adding the conversion Newbold closed to within 1 point again at 21-20...but from the restart disaster struck for Sutton, who gathered the restart kick then as they tried to set up a counter attack the ball went to ground on the Sutton right wing and the Newbold left wing Manny Sihu picked up and raced 50 metres down his left touchline to score and Dan O'Brien added the conversion to put Newbold back in the lead at 27-21 with 30 minutes of the game left to play.

Once again in this game of nip & tuck Sutton reacted well to falling behind and stepped up the pressure to create a scoring opportunity for left wing George Creed, who found himself in space on the left with two defenders to beat and he feigned to go right before sweeping past them to the left on a wide arc, scoring to the left of the posts and Ben Morgan landed the conversion to reclaim the lead 28-27 with 15 minutes left to play.

Unfortunately, during the tense closing period with Newbold piling on the pressure in the Sutton 22 to the right of the posts, Sutton lost a defender to a yellow card with 6 minutes left to play and Newbold took full advantage on the restart, as they drove for the try line centre Oisin McKenna spotted a gap close to the scrum and the ball was fed to the speeding centre who crossed for the winning try, which was converted by Dan O'Brien to retake the lead at 34-28 with 5 minutes left to play.

With time running out Sutton stepped up their game on the Newbold try line and they came close to claiming the final try and a chance to win the game with the conversion... but the ball was knocked on in the tackle as they crossed the line and it was not to be. So once again Sutton had to console themselves with bonus points; they earned two, a losing bonus point for being within 7 points and a try bonus point for scoring four tries, which lifted them above Droitwich in the bottom third of the table.

The new look Sutton team is still a work in progress under the new coaching set-up and although they have made great strides there are still a few wrinkles to be sorted out but all the signs are good and a winning run to the end of the season is within reach.

This weekend Sutton welcome 7th place Whitchurch to the RSG, Walmley Road to continue their rejuvenation programme.

All support welcome. KO 2.15pm