Match report - 25th Nov 2017

David Daniels
SCRFC 1st XV Team Manager

Photo:
top; left to right try scorers, fullback Tom Burrows and flanker Jack Wells respectively.
below; Captain Ben Morgan kicks the winning penalty willed on by 2nd row Jamie Willetts and the players celebrate the win!

Match report:
Last weekend another battling performance by Sutton 1st XV was heading for a disappointing defeat as they trailed 17-18 with 16 minutes to play but once again in the closing period of a close game, Sutton rallied to their cause and this time their efforts were rewarded with a last ditch penalty in the Wolverhampton 22 ...and Sutton's skipper Ben Morgan stepped forward to land the pressure kick to secure a welcome 20-18 win with the last kick of a compelling contest.

After the last ditch score, which denied Sutton in the Warwickshire Cup final the previous weekend and other late events and injuries, which have frustrated Sutton throughout a troubled season, the turnaround in fortune last weekend was very welcome and hopefully will prove to be the turning point in Sutton's challenging season...so watch this space!

The game kicked off in dry but cold and damp conditions on a good quality pitch with a light gusting breeze. Wolverhampton received the kick-off with the Sutton team, inspired by their Warwickshire Cup performance, in hot pursuit putting the visitors under immediate pressure in their own half. Sutton maintained the early pressure during the opening 3 minutes and their efforts were rewarded when the Wolves defenders were penalised for being offside just outside their 22 and Sutton's fly half Ben Morgan landed the opening kick to give Sutton a 3-0 lead after just 3 minutes of play.

However, after the promising start by the fired up Sutton team the visitors responded immediately collecting the restart kick at pace and charging into the Sutton 22 to set up a solid attacking position. Sutton held the initial surge but Wolves drove forward winning a 5 metre scrum close to the Sutton posts. Once again Sutton held back the initial surge for the try line by the pack but turning to option B the Wolverhampton scrum half Sam Pryor picked up at the base of the scrum and darted for the line on a wide arc to score out towards the right corner flag. The difficult conversion was missed but the try gave the visitors a 5-3 lead 5 minutes into the match.

With both teams struggling for favourable results at the bottom of the table and very much in need of a win to boost their league campaign, there was pressure on both teams to perform and although the game developed into a keen contest, only occasionally did the true quality of the two sides surface. In the main the game was a scrappy affair with unforced errors, interspaced with moments of real note and quality play.

Sutton produced one such moment 15 minutes into the game when they set up an attack following a scrum on their left wing on the visitors 10m line. The ball was transferred at pace across the field from left to right with slick passing before reaching the right wing and fullback Tom Burrows, who took the ball on the burst 22 metres out and raced past the would be defenders to score an outstanding try.

Ben Morgan added the conversion to give Sutton a deserved 10-5 lead and the to and fro game continued apace for the next 10 minutes before the resilient Wolverhampton team struck back with an unconverted try for centre Stuart Andrews, who crashed over the try line when Sutton held up a drive for the line 5 metre out and the ball was smuggled out of the scrum to feed the centre on a crash ball close to the scrum. The conversion was missed but Wolves had levelled the game at 10-10 with 15 minutes to go to the break.

7 minutes before the break a clumsy and cluttered passage of play with errors by both sides ended when Wolves winger Arron Norman broke clear to race down the left wing and score a surprise try in the left corner. Once again the difficult conversion was missed but the score gave the visitors a 15-10 lead coming up to halftime.

With halftime approaching Sutton continued to press forward and they won a free kick in front of the posts but rather than opt for the kick Sutton took a quick tap and moved the ball to the left with quick interplay. As the defenders closed in flanker Jack Wells, on for the injured Anton Taylor, broke free and scrambled over for an important try to the left of the posts.

Ben Morgan kicked the conversion with the last kick of the first half to give Sutton a narrow 17-15 lead at the break.

Reflecting on the first half, the Sutton scrums worked well, bolstered by the successful combination of props Danny Griffin and Dave Smith they held up well against strong opposition and the lineout play, overseen by hooker Dean Ginn was generally good, with the set plays providing a good platform from which to launch the Sutton backline, all proved to be very effective but even so Sutton were unable to dominate play in a close fought contest and Wolverhampton were proving to be formidable opponents in a must win match for both sides.

With so much at stake for both clubs, the second half proved to be a scrappy low scoring affair with Wolverhampton regaining the lead 24 minutes into the second period when centre Ben Barnes landed a penalty to give the visitors an 18-17 advantage going into the final period. The deficit focused the Sutton minds and once again the home side showed their true character and sense of belief as the fought to save the game. Increasing the pressure on their opponents Sutton forced a long range penalty some 40 metres from goal but the well struck kick agonisingly dipped under bar. However, Sutton were still deep into Wolves territory with a 22 metre drop out to come and again in the closing minutes they stepped up the pressure forcing another penalty this time on the edge of the Wolverhampton 22 and much more kickable but under such pressure no kick is easy!!

With everything resting on this final kick Sutton's captain and fly half Ben Morgan held his nerve to stroke home the penalty giving Sutton a precious 20-18 victory and 4 league points to add to their total for the season. With just a 2 point deficit valiant Wolves gained a 1 point losing bonus point to keep them 1 point ahead of Sutton at the bottom of the league table but with everything still to play for and Sutton look forward to the reverse fixture at the Castlecroft Ground, Wolverhampton in March.

In the meantime we thank Wolverhampton for a great game of rugby and commiserate with them on the narrow loss. We wish them well for rest of the season and hope we have both improved our league positions when we next meet in March 2018.

The final reflections on a narrow but well deserved victory shines a spotlight on the Sutton pack, who performed well against a strong opposition and the front row of Danny Griffin (1), Dean Ginn (2) and Dave Smith (3) kept the Sutton shape in the scrums ably assisted by the second row pairing of Jamie Willetts and Tom Foulsham plus an outstanding back row, featuring man of the match at no8 Luke Stewart, Rhoss Price at 7, who made an impressive and welcome return to action after a long injury absence and the reliable Anton Taylor at 6, who made a significant contribution until forced off by injury to be replaced by 19 year old Jack Wells, who made an immediate impact by scoring a crucial try just before the break, not long after entering the fray. Sutton hope they can now remain injury free and continue with this new look Sutton side through the coming games to establish a settled side, set in winning ways.

This weekend Sutton travel to Bromsgrove RFC, who sit third in the league, to put the new found Sutton form to the ultimate test.

All support welcome. KO 2.15