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Fri 15 Apr 2022  ·  Midlands 1 West
Sutton Coldfield RFC
Sutton Coldfield RFC 1st XV
55
15
Worcester
1st XV Match report - 14th April 2022

1st XV Match report - 14th April 2022

Ken Sims19 Apr 2022 - 18:11
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Sutton Coldfield 55pts v Worcester RFC 15pts

Match report by Gerard Shanahan.

David Daniels
SCRFC 1st XV Team Manager

Match report - 14th April 2022

Sutton Coldfield 55pts v Worcester RFC 15pts

Midlands 1 West

On a a floodlit Maundy Thursday evening that saw Chris Duckworth make his 50th 1st XV appearance, Sutton stormed to their biggest win of the season under the Walmley Road floodlights with an impressive 55-15 victory scoring 8 tries, 6 conversions and a penalty goal in the process with visitors Worcester responding with just 3 unconverted tries.

An early penalty goal by fullback Matt Smith set the hosts on their way before centre Clark Wells crossed in the 15th minute for his 7th try in as many games following an attacking scrum in the Worcester 22.

On 22 minutes the visitors were held up over their own line and from the resultant 5 metre scrum #8 Will Mitchell picked up at the base and drove over with fullback Matt Smith adding the extras to push the lead out to 15-0.

With Sutton totally dominant it was no surprise when after 33 minutes the impressive Mitchell went under the posts for his 2nd of the night and his 9th of the campaign following an initial line break by winger Miles Gregory and a sumptuous offload by Matt Smith, who knocked over the conversion pushing the lead out to 22-0; Mitchell now joins Zak Tyler at the head of the try scoring charts with one game to go.

With half-time approaching the visitors had their first foray into the Sutton 22 and following a number of well-defended 5 metre lineout catch and drives Worcester fly half Alex Crawshaw managed to ground the ball over the line to reduce the deficit to 22-5 at the break.

Eight minutes into the 2nd period Sutton scored a magnificent bonus point try with Mitchell making the initial break before linking up with Matt Smith, who in turn brilliantly helped the ball on to left wing Miles Gregory who breezed in for his 4th try in five starts since recently returning to the fold after a long injury absence, the conversion hit the post but the lead had been extended to 27-5.

A succession of penalties for offside against Sutton allowed Worcester a sustained period of possession and territory and after 63 minutes lock forward Rob Smith crossed for an unconverted try and moments later Josh Jones flew down the wing for a spectacular score in the corner to give the visitors hope having reduced the deficit to 27-15.

However, that was as good as it was going to get for the visitors as the hosts really turned on the style in the final quarter running in four superb tries, the first coming from wing George Creed with his 6th try of the season following great interplay by him and Matt Smith with it all stemming from a scrum against the head by the Sutton front row, who had been in the ascendancy all evening; a big shout out then for Sean Harrison, skipper Dean Ginn, Pete Pilling and the ageless replacement Dave Smith, who took great delight in joining his 18 year old son Matt on the field; Smith junior converted the latest try and the lead was extended again to 34-15.

With the game all-but won another youngster, Sam Grimshaw home for Easter from Hartpury College, was introduced from the bench by head coach Nathan Burchell allowing heroic scrum half Tom Harris a much deserved breather after he had starred for England Police just 24 hours earlier in their win over their Welsh counterparts. To allow the introduction of the young centre the Sutton backs each moved in a place with no10 Ben Morgan moving to scrum half, inside centre Laurie Harries moved to fly half and Sam Grimshaw took the inside centre slot... and it didn’t take the elder of the Grimshaw boys long to get on the scoresheet when after 74 minutes he was put away by Laurie Harries following more scintillating play by Sutton’s exciting homegrown young backline; Matt Smith had really found his kicking boots by now and his accurate conversion pushed the score out to 41-15; before moments later the bumper home crowd were roaring their approval once more when the talented Sutton fullback was back in action on the end of a flowing move by the Sutton backs from a lineout, involving Ben Morgan, Laurie Harries and Sam Grimshaw before the final telling pass by outside centre Clark Wells allowed Smith to burst onto the perfect pass to claim his 6th try in his first senior rugby campaign with just nine appearances; for good measure he then calmly converted his own try.

The curtain came down on a great night for the boys in green when Matt Smith’s audacious cross field kick in stoppage time was collected and dotted down by Sam Grimshaw for his 2nd try of the night in an impressive cameo picking up his 4th try in as many appearances; Matt Smith’s superb near touchline conversion took him to 20 points for the night and closed the game out on a 55-15 win that moves Sutton up to 10th in the table with 47 points, which is a remarkable achievement considering their struggles earlier in the season.

Sutton complete their season this Saturday 23rd April when they entertain champions elect Lichfield at the RSG, Walmley Road with a big crowd expected for the 3pm kick off.

Match details

Match date

Fri 15 Apr 2022

Kickoff

TBC

Competition

Midlands 1 West

League position

12
Sutton Coldfield
14
Worcester
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Sponsorship & Advertising Opportunities - Sponsorship at SCRFC
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Key Sponsor  - EHSmith Buillders Merchants
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Sponsor  - Sewell & Wood Network
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1st XV Top Sponsor  - Maptalent
Player Sponsor - Henry Nevitt - Renderclad
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