Match report - 27th Sept 2019

Sutton 1st XV - Team photo + Sponsors from Ansons, taken before kick off on Friday evening 27th Sept 2019.

David Daniels
SCRFC 1st XV Team Manager

Sutton Coldfield 17pts v Lichfield RFC 45pts

The old sparkle that Sutton 1st XV found in the bright sunshine at Kidderminster the previous weekend leading to a bonus point league victory, deserted them under the bright floodlights at the RSG last Friday evening, when they faced old rivals and close neighbours Lichfield RFC in a local derby, which was the first league encounter between the two clubs since Sutton dropped out of the National Leagues and the Midlands Premier Division at end of the 2015/16 season.

Although last season, Lichfield suffered the same fate as Sutton had before them, the Staffordshire Club still had enough Premier talent and flair to inflict a bruising 45-17 defeat on a Sutton side who failed to live up to the promise shown the previous week.

Sutton kicked off in front of a large expectant Friday night crowd in dry conditions with a firm pitch perfect for the running game adding to the anticipation in the banks of supporters from both sides, and although Sutton followed the ball deep into the Lichfield half applying early pressure with enthusiastic play, they lost the ball in a turnover at a breakdown in the Lichfield 22 and the visitors cleared the ball deep into the Sutton half setting up a strong attacking position, which was exploited by fullback Greg Massey as he weaved his way through the Sutton defence to score the opening try wide out by the right corner flag.

The difficult conversion was missed but Lichfield took a 5-0 lead with just 3 minutes played and for the next 21 minutes the visitors took control of the game and dominated the scoreboard scoring 4 more tries and 3 conversions to secure a bonus point and a 31-0 lead after 24 minutes. The try fest was led by flanker Callum Turner, who 2 minutes after the restart raced down the right wing to score to the right of the posts and with fly half Luke Massey adding the conversion Lichfield extended their lead to 12-0 after 5 minutes of play before the fly half showed his running skills when he raced in for a try which he converted himself after Sutton lost the ball at a lineout on the halfway line and Lichfield ran the ball down their left wing before creating a gap for the fly half to exploit taking the lead to 19-0 after 16 minutes, then midway through the first half centre Tom Adams finished a break in midfield with an unconverted try in the left corner before fellow centre Dan Rowlands completed this destructive phase of play with a try to the right of the posts, which was set up following a break by fly half Luke Massey, who also contributed with the conversion to stretch the lead to 31-0 with 16 minutes to play to the break.

Although facing a daunting score line Sutton responded well and a period of possession in the Lichfield 22 produced a scoring opportunity set up by Jack Ward, who came off the bench to replace injured flanker Kyle Doherty and the powerhouse made his presence felt as he created an opening for second row George Ord to score Sutton's opening try with 30 minutes played and with fly half Ben Morgan adding the conversion Sutton reduced the deficit to 31-7 but the recovery was short lived. As Sutton appeared to be on the point of claiming their second try with a strong attacking line deep in the Lichfield 22, with the try line in sight the ball was lost and snatched up by winger Greg Massey, who raced 90 metres to score under the posts and his brother Luke closed out the half by converting their 6th try of the game to take a 38-7 lead into the break.

Lichfield started the second half as they finished the first half with the Massey brothers combining again as fullback Greg Massey scored his hat-trick try and brother Luke converted, after Sutton had miss fielded the ball at the restart knocking the ball into touch in their 22 giving Lichfield an attacking lineout, which the visitors won to set up an overlap for the pacey fullback to claim his third try of the day giving the visitors a 45-7 lead after just 2 minutes of play in the second half.

Again to their credit Sutton stepped up their game and with 56 minutes played no8 Jack Woodcock claimed a deserved try as just reward for his sterling play throughout a difficult game. With the Sutton pack applying sustained pressure on the Lichfield try line the no8 picked up and drove over from close range to score wideout on the Sutton right. Unfortunately the conversion was missed but Sutton had closed to 45-12 before with time running out going into the final 5 minutes the sustained Sutton pressure was rewarded with a final consolation try for right wing Zac Tyler after the Sutton forwards drove the ball into the right corner. Again the conversion was missed but the final score told its own story with Sutton slipping to a honourable but disappointing 45-17 defeat.

Once again Sutton were not able to complete the game free of injuries, with flanker Kyle Doherty, fly half Ben Morgan and 2nd row George Ord all forced off the field with injuries sustained during the course of the contest.

This weekend Sutton 1st XV travel to Ludlow to face another team they have not played for many seasons and Sutton will be preparing well in mid-week seeking to recapture the form and ability they have already shown this season, to start the climb up the league table assisted by a convincing win in Shropshire. KO 3pm. All support welcome.

Lichfield 2nd XV 38pts v Sutton 2nd XV 14pts

Friendly Fixture

Having enjoyed two high scoring victories in their opening league games to put them top of the table in the Midlands Reserve Team - Division 3, Sutton 2nd XV endured a difficult game against a strong Lichfield 2nd XV outfit, in which the Sutton side lost 38-14, having taken a 14-12 lead at the break but they finished a troubled contest with just 13 players.

Sutton started the game strongly, scoring the first try through new boy Brad McGarvie, converted by Chris Hendley for a 7-0 lead after just 3 minutes of play but Lichfield responded with tries for Pen Try and Richard Fielding after 15 minutes and 22 minutes respectively. Then before the break another Sutton new boy Jermaine Toques made his mark with a try, again converted by Chris Hendley, giving Sutton a 12-14 lead at half time.

Unfortunately things unravelled for Sutton in the second half with Lichfield scoring 4 tries and 3 conversions in the second period and Sutton were unable to add to their halftime score. The Lichfield second half tries came from Cal Hagyard (48mins), Chris Jenkins (65mins) and two for Tom Taylor (52mins & 56mins) with Cal Shields adding 3 conversions.

Sutton's other teams - match details:

Unfortunately, the Sutton Colts match in the North Midlands Colts League against Bromsgrove Colts scheduled for Sunday 29th Sept 2019 had to be postponed and the Sutton Ladies teams had a rest weekend with no fixtures scheduled.