Match report - 18th Dec 2021

David Daniels
SCRFC 1st XV Team Manager

Match report - 18th Dec 2021

Ludlow RFC 38pts v Sutton Coldfield 12pts

Midlands 1 West

Last weekend Sutton 1st XV travelled to Ludlow RFC to compete in their 13th game of a 26 game league season but once again although they travelled with a strong team and in hope if not expectation, the 13th game followed the pattern established in their many previous games this season, with Sutton starting strongly but failing to contain the lively opposition backs, who scored 6 tries in the disappointing 38-12 end of the year defeat.

Ludlow kicked off on a dry but overcast day and Sutton gathered the ball cleanly driving forward up their right touchline to dominate the early exchanges between the respective packs, so much so that at the first scrum, led by newly returned powerhouse prop Liam Hills, Sutton drove the Ludlow pack off the ball and a good few yards up the pitch, establishing a strong moral victory but unfortunately with play still towards the Sutton right touchline around the halfway line, the ball was lost by Sutton and Ludlow quickly fed the ball to their left wing Mark Williams, who found a gap on the blind side and raced 40 metres down the left touchline to score a shock opening try in the corner.

Fly half Kieran Pinches added the touchline conversion to give the home side the perfect start and a 7-0 lead against the run of play after just 4 minutes of play.

The game restarted and for the next 20 minutes the play was keenly contested, ebbing & flowing evenly between the respective 22 metre lines but Sutton were often guilty of losing possession in contact and handing the advantage to the lively Ludlow backs, who made the most of their opportunities and 24 minutes into the game the home backs broke down their right wing taking play into the Sutton 22 before passing inside to send scrum half Rhys Perkins sprinting home to score under the posts for an impressive try.

Again fly half Kieran Pinches had no problem with the simple conversion to stretch the lead to 14-0 with 16 minutes to play to the break but 3 minutes later as Sutton fought to get back into the game and mounted a promising attack from their own half, with the ball travelling across the field from right to left a heavy pass rebounded forward off the Sutton player into the hands of the Ludlow right wing Tom Amphlett, who accepted the gift and raced 50 metres to score in the right corner.

The difficult conversion was missed but the score had moved onto 19-0 before Sutton made some amends when a Ludlow chip ahead bounced on the Sutton 10 metre line and was cleverly gathered by Sutton scrum half Ollie Green, who spun round beating the onrushing Ludlow players and sprinting clear to set up a break taking play into the Ludlow half before passing to Sutton centre Tom McNamee, who made progress before giving the scoring pass to fellow centre Sam Grimshaw, who raced 30 metre to score a fine try in the left corner. Unfortunately, the difficult conversion was missed but Sutton were on the score sheet at 19-5 with 11 minutes to play to the break.

However, the 11 minutes was time enough for Ludlow to score their 4th try for a bonus point when they took a quick tap penalty in the Sutton 22 and centre Will Hodnett strode in for a try to the left of the posts, which was converted by Pinches for a halftime score line of 24-5.

From the restart Sutton set about reducing the deficit but their efforts went unrewarded for much of the third quarter of the game but sustained forward pressure on the Ludlow try line resulted in penalties against the home side and following successive scrums Sutton finely made the break through as prop Liam Hills capped a celebrated return to the Sutton front row with a try, which fly half Ben Morgan converted to close the score to 24-12 with 22 minutes left to play.

Unfortunately the final period of play saw Ludlow score two more tries, both fine solo efforts by hard running outside centre Jack Lines, who weaved his way to the try line on 22 minutes and 26 minutes respectively and with both tries converted by fly half Kieran Pinches the 38-12 final score line was written.

Sutton now take a break over Christmas & New Year, before returning to league action on 8th Jan 2022, with the visit of Malvern RFC to the RSG, Walmley Road. KO 2.15.

The break gives Sutton 1st XV a chance to make a new start in the New Year and reverse their fortunes in the second half of the season. Time and again during what has been a troubling first half of the season Sutton have shown that they have enough talent in their ranks to bounce back in 2022 - watch this space!!

In the meantime the Sutton players, coaches, management and support staff wish all our supporters and club members & officials;

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS & a HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL 2022.