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Sat 08 Jan 2022  ·  Midlands 1 West
Sutton Coldfield RFC
Sutton Coldfield RFC 1st XV
17
20
Malvern
Match report - 1st XV 8th Jan 2022

Match report - 1st XV 8th Jan 2022

Ken Sims13 Jan 2022 - 11:29
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Sutton Coldfield 17pts v Malvern RFC 20pts

David Daniels
SCRFC 1st XV Team Manager

Changes to coaching set-up:

Last weekends game at the RSG, Walmley Road not only marked Sutton's first league game of 2022 but also heralded the start of a new coaching era at the club, with Nathan Burchell taking on the 1st Team coaching role, whilst his predecessor of recent seasons Joe Gavin takes on the role of Head Coach, giving him a wider coaching role within the club taking on the responsibility of coordinating all coaching activities across the club with Nathan taking responsibility for the 1st XV and senior men's teams, having guided the very successful Sutton Ladies teams from their inception in 2014 to successive unbeaten league seasons, which took them into the National League, Championship 2 Midlands, where they are continuing to flourish.

George Ord worked alongside Nathan in developing the Ladies teams and George now takes on the responsibility for the continued success of the Ladies teams, whilst Nathan takes on the task of reversing the fortunes of the men's 1st XV.

Nathan had a stellar playing career with the club first playing for the junior sides and Colts before signing registration forms for the senior club on 31st May 2005 and coming into the 1st XV at the age of 19 years, where he had a huge impact as a fleet footed, illusive runner praised by his team mates and feared by their opponents. He contributed greatly to the success of the Sutton teams and was a key member of the all conquering side that swept all before them in the 2011/12 and 2012/13 league seasons winning 35 games in succession including winning outright promotion from Midlands 1 West into National League 3 Midlands finishing runners up and qualifying for the play-off to gain promotion to National 2 in only their first season at National Level in 2012/13.

Sutton lost the play-off at home to Harrogate to stay in National 3 but again in the season 2013/14 they finished runners up again in their second season, this time losing away to Stockport in the play-off. After this disappointment the team started to break-up but Nathan stayed on placing his considerable gifts at the disposal of SCRFC as a player and then Ladies coach and now all at the club hope he can build on the solid foundation created by Joe Gavin and bring his coaching magic to change the fortunes of the current Sutton 1st XV playing squad by releasing their full potential in the remaining 12 games of this season, setting them on course for a successful 2022/23 season.

Report on the inaugural game under the new coaching structure:

It was an enthusiastic and expectant Sutton team that took to the field last Saturday afternoon, after digesting the changes that had come into effect after the Christmas break but although their enthusiasm for the game was strong, once again the sporting gods conspired against them or was it just self inflicted, after a strong performance saw Sutton leading 17-13 going into the final phases of injury time at the end of the game, when Sutton were called back to their own try line for an off side decision, after a long clearance bounced safely into touch deep into the Malvern half to surely eat up the seconds and win the game for Sutton. But it was not to be and Malvern understandably spurned the 3 points on offer and chose to go for the try. They kicked for the corner then keeping the ball in hand scrambled over for a scrappy try to retake the lead at 18-17 before extending the final score to 20-17 with the last kick of the game.

Sutton kicked off on a damp but drying day and made a strong start weathering early pressure from the visitors before taking play back into the Malvern half to apply pressure of their own. The Sutton scrums and lineout were working well with prop Sean Harrison making his 200th appearance for the Sutton 1st XV, whilst by contrast the Sutton back line was boosted by the addition of 19 year old Clark Wells making his debut at outside centre after coming up through the junior ranks and Sutton Colts, a real talent, who slotted right into the Sutton mid-field both in defence and attack.

15 minutes into the game after a period of sustained Sutton pressure the ball was spun across the 22 from left to right in front of the posts from a scrum in the Malvern 22 on the Sutton left and left wing Will Mitchell tracked the ball before joining the line to take the scoring pass in mid-field, bursting through a gap to score an excellent try to the right of the posts.

Unfortunately the conversion was missed but Sutton held an early 5-0 advantage but midway through the first half Malvern cut the advantage to 5-3 when Sutton were penalised and yellow carded for an infringement in front of their posts. Malvern centre Ben King kicked the resulting penalty then 5 minutes later with Sutton still down to 14 men Malvern pressure led to a scrum in front of the Sutton posts and the ball was spun to the visitors left for left wing Conor Giggle to burst through the Sutton ranks to score to the left of the posts giving Malvern an 8-5 lead with 15 minutes to play to the break. Once again the conversion went astray with the damp ground not giving the goal kickers a firm footing.

The entertaining game ebbed and flowed through to the break with no further score but Sutton made a strong start to the second half with the backs taking control as left wing Will Mitchell made a powerful break to take play into the Malvern 22 before the ball was played into midfield where outside centre Clark Wells took over and with a powerful weaving run the young centre made it to the try line for a confident debut try to the right of the posts. Again the kickable conversion was missed due to the soft ground under the kickers standing foot but Sutton had retaken the lead at 10-8 with 10 minutes of the second half played and the home side were in the ascendency.

Unfortunately midway through the second half Sutton suffered a set back when they received a second yellow card for what the referee judged to be a late tackle but 4 minutes later 14 man Sutton received an unexpected reward for their efforts when Malvern dropped the ball on their 10 metre line as they mounted a counter attack and Sutton's new addition Clark Wells was first to react as he scooped up the ball, broke the tackle of the first up defender and then raced 40 metres to score under the posts and fly half Ben Morgan kept his feet to add the conversion to stretch the Sutton lead to 17-8 with 16 minutes left to play.

Sutton's 'misfortunes' continued when with 10 minutes to play one yellow card was timed out to allow the player back on the field but within a minute Sutton were penalised again in their 22 when a Sutton player was judged to have made a tackle from an off side position and was given a yellow which excluded him for what remained of the game.

Play restarted with a scrum to Malvern in the Sutton 22 and with the home side once again down to 14 men with only 7 forwards. Malvern took full advantage as they scrambled a try for second row Dave Smith, who stretched over the try line to close the score to 17-13 with 7 minutes to play. From the restart the visitors stepped up the pressure in the Sutton 22 but the home defence stood strong and as the time crept past the 80 minute mark, deep into injury time with Malvern camped on the Sutton try line they spilled the ball and Sutton gathered it to send a towering clearance into touch deep in the Malvern half far enough to eat up the seconds and win the game... but it was not to be as the referee judged that Sutton were off side and awarded Malvern a penalty in the Sutton 22. Four points adrift Malvern declined the 3 points and kicked for the right corner going for the try with a catch and drive but whilst Sutton held up the initial drive the extra man made the difference as Malvern's blind side prop Joe Murcott burrowed over for a scrappy try close to the posts to take the lead 18-17, before stretching the winning margin to 20-17 with the last kick of the game as Ben King landed the conversion having denied Sutton the win their play deserved but hey-hoe that's how harsh rugby can be and well done Malvern for taking their chances in a frustrating game for Sutton.

Although the final score line was disappointing, in all the Sutton performance was encouraging plus the consolation of a losing bonus point lifted Sutton off the bottom of the league table and the signs are good, if Sutton can maintain this level of performance to the end of the season, the start of a winning run is well within reach.

Last weekend with prop Sean Harrison and fly half Ben Morgan completing 200 games and 150 games respectively for Sutton 1st XV and in contrast 19 year old centre Clark Wells scored two excellent tries in his debut match plus many other young players having strong performances in recent matches, Sutton have much to look forward to during this new era and the future looks bright.

This weekend Sutton travel to old rivals Newbold, the only team they have beaten this season (25/9/21; won 27-17), so if Sutton can put together a winning performance over the full 80+ minutes, anything is possible over the remaining 12 games to the end of the season. All travelling support welcome for what should be a great contest. KO 2.15.

Sutton 2nd XV match summary report:

The Sutton second team travelled to Malvern and in a close fought game the honours were shared evenly in a 24-24 draw and Sutton returned up the M5 with their undefeated run in the league still intact.

The Sutton points were scored by Steve Marshall and T J Allwood, who scored a try each plus Chris Hendley, who scored a brace with fly half Laurie Harries marking his return to Sutton from Syston RFC with two conversions.

Match details

Match date

Sat 08 Jan 2022

Kickoff

TBC

Competition

Midlands 1 West

League position

11
Malvern
13
Sutton Coldfield
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Sponsorship & Advertising Opportunities - Sponsorship at SCRFC
Main Partner & Club Sponsor - Ansons Solicitors
Key Sponsor  - EHSmith Buillders Merchants
Sponsor - Thermaset Ltd
Sponsor  - Sewell & Wood Network
Sponsor - Hat Box Ltd
1st XV Top Sponsor  - Maptalent
Player Sponsor - Henry Nevitt - Renderclad
Player Sponsor - Jack Wells  - Social Scalers
Official  Kit Supplier  - Vulcan Sports