1st XV Match report - 5th March 2022

Match report - 5th March 2022

Sutton Coldfield 28pts v Whitchurch RFC 19pts

Midlands 1 West

Once again, due to injuries and availability, last weekend Sutton 1st XV struggled with pre-match team selection having to construct a team of 8 forwards, 7 backs and 3 replacements from 7 forwards and 11 backs but after creative placement of the talent available, the new look Sutton side featuring three backs in the back row, produced a superb victory defeating a strong Whitchurch side sitting 7th in the league, 28-19 in a well managed and mature performance, which defied the pre match selection issues to record an uplifting victory in challenging circumstances.

Sutton kicked off with the wind to their back, unusually blowing roughly North to South on a dry day with low sun and Sutton applied early pressure in the visitors 22 when a promising break by fly half Ben Morgan was stopped just short of the line but Sutton maintained their sustained pressure, which led to a penalty for offside in front of posts after 6 minutes then minutes latter under continued pressure Whitchurch conceded a second penalty and a yellow card for a high tackle in their 22. Both penalties were guided home by Sutton's fly half Ben Morgan to give Sutton a deserved 6-0 lead after 10 minutes of play.

Then with the restructured Sutton pack just about holding their own at scrum time the Sutton team continued to make progress when the backs were brought into play and 15 minutes into the game from open play the ball was quickly spun across the Whitchurch 22 and Sutton left wing Miles Gregory came off his wing to join the attacking line wide out and he swept round the defenders to score an excellent try in the right corner. Unfortunately the difficult conversion was taken by the wind and drifted wide of the near post but Sutton had extended their lead to 11-0 with 25 minutes to play to the break.

The Sutton backs continued to build good attacking positions and midway through the first half a Sutton attack was taken on by blindside flanker Chris Duckworth (normally on the wing) taking play to the edge of the Whitchurch 22 and maintaining possession at the breakdown Sutton continued the attack through outside centre Tom McNamee, who made a break down the right wing to feed fullback Matt Smith, who cut infield majestically to score close to the right post giving fly half Morgan an easier conversion, extending Sutton's lead to a deserved 18-0, on the balance of play... but to their credit with half time approaching Whitchurch started the fight back and led by their strong pack they tried to dominate the forward play in the scrums and lineouts with forward drives but the reconstituted Sutton pack generally held firm and Sutton no 8 for the day Tom Harris (normally 9, 12 or 15) performed wonders at the base of the pressurised Sutton scrum but with the emphasis on holding back the driving maul, just before the break the ball was spun wide from a breakdown on the Sutton try line and outside centre James Marvell burst through a gap in the Sutton defence to score by the posts, giving Whitchurch fly half and captain Danny Nicholas an easier conversion bringing the score to 18-7 at the break.

With Whitchurch on the scoreboard and looking threatening Sutton needed a positive start to the second half to thwart the challenge offered by their illustrious opponents and they made the perfect start when with just 4 minutes gone, open-side flanker T J Allwood (normally playing 11 or 15 but proving to be a very effective 7) scored when he peeled away from an advancing maul to score to the left of the posts following a penalty kick to the left touchline, which was won by Sutton to set up the driving maul giving Sutton their third try of the day and although the conversion was narrowly missed Sutton had stretched their lead to 23-7, before straight from the restart Sutton reclaimed the ball and outside centre Tom McNamee made a strong break up the Sutton right reaching the Whitchurch 22 before passing to right wing Zak Tyler wearing the no11 shirt (noting that the wingers had switched the 11 & 14 shirts), who raced into the right corner to score an outstanding try giving Sutton an impressive 28-7 lead with 6 minutes of the second half played.

But the visitors were not finished and they stepped up their game to good effect however, the Sutton defence held firm until midway through the second half when Whitchurch set up a forward drive following a lineout on the Sutton right and the Whitchurch open-side flanker James Hockenhull detached himself to score a try in the corner, which went unconverted but with the try the visitors had closed the gap to 28-12 with 20 minutes left to play and then 5 minutes later substitute Elliot Horton charged over close to the posts for the visitors third try, which was converted by the captain Danny Nicholas to close to 28-19 with 15 minutes left to play... but in spite the best efforts of Whitchurch to snatch a win or a losing bonus point/four try bonus point in the closing minutes, the Sutton defence and discipline held firm and in front of their loyal home support the team displayed a mature self belief to deny their opponents any further score, showing great resolve to contain the final onslaught and come away with a well earned bonus point win.

This important win lifts Sutton out of the would be relegation zone for the first time this season as they move from 12th to 11th place, ahead of Malvern, Droitwich and Worcester with Sutton still to play Droitwich and Worcester in the remaining 6 games of the season.

This weekend Sutton welcome old rivals Wolverhampton RFC to the Roger Smoldon Ground, Walmley Road and with Wolves sitting one place above Sutton in the league table the game promises to be an entertaining contest. All support welcome KO 3 pm.