1st XV Match report - 26th March 2022

David Daniels
SCRFC 1st XV Team Manager

Match report 1 - 26th March 2022

Droitwich RFC 12pts v Sutton Coldfield 27pts

Midlands 1 West

Happily the sparkle returned to the Sutton 1st XV game last weekend as they rose to the occasion, in the bright Spring sunshine, to record a fine 27-12 victory in a must win game away to a lively Droitwich side. The victory for the 1st XV was important to underline the continuing improvement in their performances and results in 2022 following a disappointing first half to the season and it raised them to 11th in the league table, lifting them out of what would be the relegation zone (12,13,14), in a normal season.

After suffering the frustration of their coach breaking down on the M5 on their way to the game and arriving at the ground late for a delayed kick-off with limited time for their pre-match preparations, the Sutton side hit the ground running and made a blistering start scoring 3 tries in the opening period of play to lead 17-0 after just 10 minutes but the Droitwich side fought back catching Sutton out with sniping runs to score 2 tries to close to 12-17 midway through the first half.

Sutton responded with another fine try to lead 22-12 with halftime approaching but during this critical period of play, although Sutton's first up tackling was found wanting their last ditch defence was solid as twice on the brink of halftime Droitwich crossed the Sutton try line but each time they were held up over the line to prevent another damaging score, so the explosive half ended with Sutton holding a decisive 22-12 lead.

Sutton stepped up their defence in the second half to contain the Droitwich threat but were themselves restricted to a single try, which went unconverted in an active but low scoring second half, which gained Sutton a moral boosting 27-12 bonus point victory.

Droitwich had kicked off against a gusting breeze, on a dry day bathed in bright Spring sunshine and Sutton gathered the ball setting up an attack down their left wing, which was kept alive by skipper Dean Ginn and the ball was fed right via outside centre Tom McNamee taking play towards the Droitwich 22 before the ball was chipped into the right corner and Sutton's right wing Zak Tyler raced in to skilfully gather the ball and touchdown in the corner to score the opening try after just 2 minutes of play.

The difficult conversion was taken wide by the wind but Sutton were up and running and looking lively, so much so that the next score came just minutes later when Sutton no8 Will Mitchell charged down an attempted clearance kick on the Droitwich 10 metre line, then showing his pace and awareness followed up to boot the ball down the Sutton left wing before outpacing the defenders to gather the ball and cross the try line for a superb solo try wide out on the left. Again the conversion was missed but Sutton had taken a 10-0 lead after just 5 minutes of play and they were not finished there for just 5 minutes later the Sutton pack launched an assault on their hosts try line led by Sutton prop Peter Pilling, who steadied the ruck in front of the Droitwich posts allowing flanker Chris Duckworth to pick up and launch himself over the try line for Sutton's third try of the day. Fly half and vice captain Ben Morgan added the conversion to extend the Sutton lead to 17-0 after 10 minutes of play.

Although clearly stunned by the Sutton early onslaught the home side rallied and launched a series of solo breaks, which found the Sutton first line defence wanting and led to two well worked tries; the first came on 15 minutes, when flanker Nico Mason executed a set move in midfield to race through a gap in the Sutton defence to score under the posts giving fly half Tomas Davies a simple conversion closing the score to 7-17 before the lively flanker found another gap in the Sutton defence to score his second try after tight forward play on the Sutton try line closing the score to 12-17 midway through the first half.

Droitwich continued to press but 4 minutes before the break Sutton won a penalty in midfield, which was kicked to the left touchline for a lineout in the hosts 22. Sutton won the lineout and quickly moved the ball across the posts then a well judged punt sent the ball soaring towards the right corner with fullback Matt Smith in hot pursuit. Judging his pursuit perfectly the Sutton fullback leapt to challenge for the ball in the air and the Sutton man won the battle as he snatched the ball from the defenders grasp before twisting on landing to score an outstanding try wide out in the right corner.

Again on a difficult day for the kickers the try drifted wide and after some heroic last ditch defence Sutton went into the break with a well deserved 22-12 lead.

Whilst the second half was a low scoring affair Sutton stepped up their defence to contain the threat the home side showed before the break and they neutralised the Droitwich pack in the scrums and lineouts, so the game ebbed and flowed in equal measure with neither side able to make the break through until with just 4 minutes left on the clock Sutton's young left wing Archie Grimshaw capped another great game with a fine try in the left corner, as Sutton won the ball from a scrum in the Droitwich 22 on the right then fed the ball to the left into a congested area but the pacey young winger twisted and stretched to find the space to score in the corner for Sutton's 5th try of the day bringing the final score to 27-12.

In an outstanding team performance all 18 players performed magnificently, however the players of particular note, not mentioned previously, were flanker Jermaine Toques, for his outstanding work rate and his ball winning skills in open play, Ollie Gregory, for his bulk in the scrums and his fine lineout play, Matt Smith, for his fine fullback play in defence and attack, plus flanker Ollie Pegler, for his tackling and pace about the park at no7 and no12 Laurie Harries, for his distribution skills in the centre, which have sharpened up Sutton's attacking options.

This weekend Sutton welcome Hereford RFC to the RSG, Walmley Road and with their opponents sitting 8th in the league, the game will provide another stern test of Sutton's new found form plus resolve and resolution to improve their standing in the league before the end of the season.

All support welcome for what should be a highly entertaining contest on a day dedicated to the Sutton Sponsor's & highly Valued Club Volunteers. KO 3pm.

Match report 2 - 26th March 2022

Droitwich 2nd XV 16pts v Sutton 2nd XV 17pts

The Sutton 1st & 2nd XV teams shared a coach for the journey to Droitwich and both shared the same frustration when the coach broke down and then had to wait for the relief coach to get them to the ground but whilst the 1st XV hit the ground running taking an early the lead the 2nd XV had a subdued first half trailing 16-0 at the break after tries by Louis Ellsmore and Henry Povey respectively and two conversions by Louis Ellsmore gave their hosts a convincing lead...but the second half saw a rejuvenated Sutton performance seemingly started by the introduction of Miles Gregory at fly half, which seemed to galvanize the team and tries by Curtis Wellington, who scored a brace and Sam Harris, who score one plus a conversion by Miles Gregory was enough to swing the game dramatically in Sutton's favour, with a narrow 17-16 victory.