1st XV Match report - 12th Feb 2022

Photo: Clark Wells scores Sutton's opening try 15 mins into the game for 5-5. Photo courtesy of David Taylor.

David Daniels 1st XV Manager

Match report - 12th Feb 2022

Sutton Coldfield RFC 12pts v Stratford-upon-Avon 37pts

Midlands 1 West

After starting the calendar year 2022 so well with 2 wins, 2 loses and 3 bonus points in their first 4 games, last weekend Sutton 1st XV stumbled on their road to redemption losing 37-12 at home to a strong Stratford side, who sit 5th in the league table and the visitors showed their class as they took their chances well to punish the new look Sutton side, who in spite of losing still showed enough promise in their performance to give hope for the future.

Sutton played well in parts and were able to welcome players back to the 1st XV squad, as first prop Lamar McIntosh made a successful return to 1st XV action by stabilising the scrum when introduced off the bench and then Sutton were happy to see the return of talented flanker Peter Meachin, who scored just minutes after his call to action off the bench to show Sutton what they had missed during his absence over recent months.

Sutton kicked off against a strong & gusting wind with soft conditions underfoot but quite playable and the home side chased hard and recovered the ball to send left wing Miles Gregory racing for the try line but he was stopped short and Sutton were penalised at the breakdown allowing Stratford to clear the ball deep into Sutton's half with a wind assisted kick. Stratford then put Sutton under sustained pressure in the Sutton 22 and although Sutton resisted strongly they relented and gave away a penalty in front of their posts but instead of taking the 'easy' 3 points Stratford declined the kick and opted for an attacking scrum in front of the posts. Sutton held up the first scrum but the play crabbed to the visitors right, reset and then tight head prop Tom Stanley scrambled free to score in the right corner for the opening try to Stratford.

The conversion was missed giving the visitors a 5-0 lead after 10 minutes of play and from the restart Sutton stepped up their play in the Stratford half and a penalty awarded to Sutton was kicked to the left wing inside the Stratford 22. Sutton won the ball and the pack started to drive for the line but when stopped the ball was swung right across the 22 and after good movement in the centre by Laurie Harries the ball reached outside centre Clark Wells, who swept past the wide defenders to score an excellent try in the right corner. Again the wide conversion was deflected by the wind but Sutton were level at 5 all after 15 minutes of play.

The game was evenly contested over the next period of play but generally Sutton were guilty of simple handling errors and conceding penalties at key moments and midway through the first half Stratford extended their lead, when open side flanker Tom Von broke from a scrum close to the Sutton try line on the Stratford left to score the visitors second try to the left of the posts. Fly half Nathan Geekie added the conversion to extend the lead to 12-5 on 20 minutes and then on the 32 minutes the fly half landed a penalty to take the score to 15-5 when Sutton were caught off side in front of their posts.

With half time approaching Stratford kept up their pressure in the Sutton half and from a scrum in the Sutton 22 the play broke down the blindside into space on the right flank and an inside pass found open side flanker Tom Von in support and the flanker crossed the line to score his second try of the day. Fly half Nathan Geekie added the points again to take the score to 22-5 with 5 minutes to play to the break, which passed with no change to the score.

Sutton started the second half strongly seeking to reduce the deficit but whilst concentrating on an attack up their right wing they lost possession in the Stratford 22 and the visitors broke clear with a sharp counterattack down the Sutton right wing. The home side had left wing Miles Gregory to thank for not going further behind as his high speed pursuit across the field from left to right saw him over haul the Stratford winger, who had raced down his left wing only be dramatically brought down on the Sutton try line by the Sutton flyer, who dislodged the ball for a knock-on on the Sutton try line saving a certain try 5 minutes into the second period. Following the scrum restart Sutton cleared the ball back into the Stratford half and with Lamar McIntosh steadying the Sutton scrum Sutton started to again make inroads into the Stratford 22 setting up a strong attacking position on the Sutton right and as the ball became free moving back infield flanker Peter Meachin took the ball on to score to the right of the posts having just come off the bench to add his combative skills to aid the Sutton cause.

Fly half Ben Morgan added the conversion to close the score to 12-22 with 25 minutes left to play but unfortunately Sutton were unable to capitalise on their position and it was the visiting team who exploited the gaps in the Sutton defence to run in three more tries in the closing 20 minutes of the game. The first of the trio of tries was scored by substitute Jack Kenderline, who scrambled over from close range for a try in the right corner following a series of forward drives. The try went unconverted but stretched the score to 27-12, then 10 minutes later right wing Dan Whitby raced over for a good opportunist try after the ball was dropped and picked up to feed the speedy winger, who raced into the corner and then with spaces opening up left wing Charlie Powell raced in to score the final try from long range to take the score to 37-12. With minutes left to play Sutton tried to repair some of the damage but were unable to chip away at the deficit and the game ended on the 37-12 score line.

This weekend Sutton will be looking to get their recovery plan back on track when they welcome Worcester RFC to the Roger Smoldon Ground, Walmley Road on Friday evening for what should be a highly entertaining floodlit match, KO 7.30.

All visitors and supporters will receive a warm welcome on the pitch side and in the bar afterwards. So come along and enjoy the best that local rugby can offer.

Match 2 - Sutton 2nd XV Saturday 12th Feb 2022.

Harbourne RFC 37pts v Sutton 2nd XV 12pts

Midlands Reserve League - Div 3

Last Saturday Sutton 2nd XV travelled across town to Harbourne Rugby Club but found their opponents to be stronger than previously experienced and in the end they fared no better than the senior side losing by the same margin of 37-12; obviously it was not to be Sutton's weekend.

Sutton scored two tries, by Warren Spiers and Sam Scadeng, respectively with Chris Hendley kicking one conversion to complete the Sutton score sheet.

News of the other Sutton teams:

Last Sunday six of the Sutton Ladies junior girls joined forces with teams from Belper Ladies and Silhillians Ladies in a friendly training game at the Roger Smoldon Ground to give all the girls game time and experience on a non-league weekend.

... and the Sutton Casuals and the Sutton Colts respectively had a rest weekend with no fixtures scheduled.