1st XV Match Report - 21st Sept 2019

Picture - Replacement centre Chris Hendley crossing the line for the bonus point try

David Daniels
SCRFC 1st XV Team Manager

Kidderminster Carolians 22pts v Sutton Coldfield 44pts

Last weekend Sutton 1st XV did their new kit and their main sponsors Ansons proud, when they sparkled in the bright sunshine recording their first league win of the season with a 6 tries to 4, 44-22 victory over a battling Kidderminster side, who competed well and with spirit against another new look Sutton side. Due to injuries and late withdrawals Sutton fielded a side which contained 4 new season signings, with two making their debut for the 1st XV and 5 established players returning to 1st XV action after absence due to injury, availability or choice at the start of the new season.

With Zac Tyler moving to scrum half as cover for the absent Ollie Green, Sutton kicked off in perfect late summer playing conditions and they made the perfect start when in the first minute of play prop Sean Harrison loitering on the visitors right wing sent the ball in field setting up a cross field attack that carried play close to the try line in the left corner. Progress was halted short of the line but quick thinking centre Jack Duthie picked up the ball in the 22 and raced over for the opening try, which was converted with ease by Sutton's fly half Ben Morgan, who had a great day with the boot converting 4 of the 6 tries, adding two penalties and kicking from hand with great accuracy to keep Sutton on the front foot especially in the second half. when the home side threatened a fight back.

Leading 7-0 after just one minute Sutton needed to steady themselves and allow their new players to settle in but whilst encouraging Sutton the score also stimulated their opponents and a chip ahead by Sutton, as they fought to clear their lines was gathered by the home fullback, who set-up a counter attack taking play from midfield in his own half out towards the Kidderminster right wing where their main attacking threat operated. The ball went to right wing Ryan Tiene, who had room to run and he raced down the right touchline to score a fine try wide out on the right. The difficult conversion was missed but the young winger had shown his pace and ability with the first of his three tries, to close the score to 5-7 after 7 minutes play.

Sutton responded well to the opposition score and the team started to gel holding their own at the set plays, scrums and lineouts with the back row of the impressive Mike Iwanowicz (6), debut boy Kyle Doherty (7) and the returning Jacob Jones at (8) all performing well in the open play giving the Sutton a strong platform from which to operate. It was good to see George Ord back to his most powerful best after a long absence due to an injury sustained last season and he was working alongside the youthful Harry Moxon in the engine room of the pack driving the front row of battle weary, Sean Harrisson (1), captain Dean Ginn (2) and the powerful Luke Hennessey (3) at tight head, all performing well against a sizeable and experienced opposing pack.

...and it is the Sutton pack who can take the credit for Sutton's second score, when after an excellent break by Sutton's fullback T J Allwood took play down the Sutton left wing in towards the left corner setting up a strong position, the Sutton pack were quick to gather and secure the ball for Club Captain, hooker Dean Ginn to squeeze over for the ultimate captain's try, which also happens to be his first for the club. An historic moment!! He has had a hand in many other tries but as the provider not the scorer - so well done Dean.

In the excitement the difficult conversion from wideout on the left was missed and the score sat at 12-5 with 10 minutes of an exciting match played but just 4 minutes later Sutton extended their lead when debut flanker Kyle Doherty made a decisive break in midfield, the ball was fed right then taken in field and fed inside to centre Nathan Burchell, who showed he still has the magic touch as he raced in to score under the posts. Unfortunately as he grounded the ball he tweaked his hamstring and had to leave the field for treatment after Ben Morgan added the conversion to stretch the Sutton lead to 19-5 with 14 minutes played.

At this point in the play Chris Hendley, stepped off the bench for his first taste of 1st XV rugby this season as replacement for the mercurial Nathan Burchell, who had come out of semi-retirement to help out the team with its increasing injury problems in the backs. Chris made an excellent contribution as the game developed including a try at the start of the second half.

In the meantime with Sutton leading 19-5 and 16 minutes to play to the break, Kidderminster stuck back with another excellent long range try by right wing Ryan Tiene, who raced 45 metre down the right touchline from just inside the Sutton half. again the wide conversion was missed and the score moved onto 19-10, which remained the margin between the teams at the break.

As at the start of the game Sutton came out strongly at the re-start, pushing their opponents back deep in their own half and the visitors came close to scoring within 2 mins but the actual score came on 4 minutes when replacement centre Chris Hendley crossed for the all important 4th try earning Sutton a bonus point. The try came following a clean lineout take on the Sutton left wing deep into Kidderminster territory. The ball was smartly transferred across field going left to right before no 8 Jacob Jones, back in Sutton colours for this game drove for the line to the right of the posts. The talented player was held up just short but managed to off-load to his supporting centre Chris Hendley, who scampered in for the bonus point try, which for good measure was converted by fly half Ben Morgan extending Sutton's lead to 26-10 with just 4 minutes of the second half played. Then long serving prop and the rock on which the Sutton team is built Sean Harrison, was on hand to drive over the line when a weaving run by centre/fullback Joel James was stopped short, to keep the lively prop's try scoring record alive.

Ben Morgan added the conversion to take the score to 33-10 with 9 minutes played before on 25 minutes the Sutton fly half landed a 40 metre penalty to extend the lead to 36-10 but in the remaining 15 minutes Kidderminster showed their true fighting spirit as they broke through a miss tackle in midfield to set up a try for flanker Scott Lovell converted by Rhys Prichard closing the score to 36-17 with 11 minutes left to play.

In a fiercely fought final period, first Ben Morgan landed a second long range penalty when an over keen Kidderminster were caught off side in mid-field, to take the score to 39-17, then another Sutton new boy this season wing Arwyn Jones, rounded off a great game on the wing, scoring his first try for the 1st XV on the stroke of full time. Although the difficult conversion was missed the try took the score to 42-17 but play continued long into injury time until the Kidderminster scoring machine Ryan Tiene again raced in from long range for his hat-trick try and a final score line of 44-22.

Sutton can count many positives in this game and as well as the new and established players mentioned in the above report, credit also goes to the new signings in the pack Jamie James and Brad McGarvie, who made their 1st XV debut off the bench to contribute to this hugely important win and with Zac Tyler making an excellent first appearance at scrum half this season, alongside magical centres Nathan Burchell and the returning Joel James plus new signing Arwyn Jones, who scored his first try for the 1st XV, things are going in the right direction and with this win under their belt anything is possible

The much changed Sutton side played well to secure a respectable win over a decent Kidderminster side, who are struggling to find their true form after losing good players to local clubs in the summer months and we wish them well for the remainder of the season... but so far injury hit Sutton have also not had to look too far to find their own problems. However, based on a performance like this with the amount of new blood and talent on show and with the established players soon returning to strengthen the Sutton side the future looks bright and Sutton have something to build on with local rivals and close neighbours, Lichfield RFC next up at the Roger Smoldon Ground to provide any necessary further incentive.

The game will be played under floodlights on Friday evening 27th Sept KO 7.30 pm and with both sides making a slow start to the new season with both losing their opening two games and winning their third, it should be another entertaining sporting contest between the two old rival clubs over many years, with the Lichfield players, officials and supporters receiving a very warm welcome as they make a welcome return to the Walmley Road Ground.