Match report - 11th Dec 2021

Dave Daniels 1st XV Manager

Match report - 11th Dec 2021

Sutton Coldfield 21pts v Kenilworth RFC 76pts

In spite of the prospect of facing a formidable Kenilworth team, who sit second in the league table having lost only once in the 11 games played ahead of last Saturday's game and with Sutton once again suffering selection problems due to availability, it was another much changed Sutton side that took up the challenge last weekend...but against all the odds the Sutton lads put up a brave fight and even after gifting their visitors a soft try after just 10 minutes of play, when Sutton flicked the ball back in field between the legs from the touchline straight into the hands of the advancing Kenilworth left wing, who raced 50 metres to the try line for a converted try. However, Sutton still had the spirit and grit to fight back and they closed to 21-24 at the break with three converted tries, playing some of their best rugby of the season so far. Unfortunately the second half was a somewhat one sided affair as Kenilworth showed their class and piled on the pressure but the spirited Sutton side fought hard and chased them to the end in a 76-21 defeat.

The Sutton selection problems ahead of the game were illustrated by the fact that the team that played so well in the first half included three players who normally play in the backs, a centre, a winger and a fullback, who were redeployed to the back row in a new look Sutton pack and although playing out of position they each performed magnificently, especially during the first half of a challenging contest but unfortunately the quality of the opposition came through in a torrid second half and although Sutton tackled their hearts out it was one way traffic to the 76-21 defeat but the hastily assembled Sutton side can hold their heads up high gaining praise and respect from all those present at the game.

Sutton kicked off with rain in the air and they gave chase to apply early pressure in the Kenilworth half, however a penalty to Kenilworth took play back into the Sutton 22 and Sutton had to defend strongly to prevent an early score for the visitors before driving play back into Kenilworth territory. Then 10 minutes into the game with honours even a clearance kick by Kenilworth was heading into touch on the halfway line but the Sutton wing stretched forward and scooped the ball back into play between his legs straight into the hands of the rangy Kenilworth left wing Jayde Cruickshank, who raced 50 metres to score the opening try to the left of the posts and fly half Tyler Price added the conversion to give the visitors a 7-0 lead against the run of the early play.

Undeterred Sutton again stepped up their game producing some good runs notably midway through the first half a run up the left wing saw the ball spin from left the right creating a good scoring opportunity for Sutton but unfortunately the final pass was not taken and the chance was missed. Kenilworth were able to clear with a long kick into the Sutton half. The ball was gathered by Sutton fly half Ben Morgan, who launched a long kick up the right touch line which bounced into touch in the Kenilworth 22. Realising that the new 50/20 law gave Sutton the throw, quick thinking, Sutton's right wing Ollie Green raced to the ball and threw in to second row Harry Moxon, who raced the 20 metres to the try line to score under the posts and Ben Morgan added the conversion to level the score at 7-7 after 21 minutes of play.

On 24 minutes Kenilworth drove for the posts and when the ball popped out, outside centre Nathan Tilsley swept over the try line to score and Tyler Price added the conversion to claim a 14-7 lead, before 2 minutes later the lead was stretched to 19-7 when scrum half Sam Peppitt raced in for an unconverted try following the restart but again just minutes later as Kenilworth attempted to run the ball out of defence Sutton's newly returned outside centre smartly latched on to an interception and out paced the would be defenders over 30 metres to reach the try line.

Again Ben Morgan struck a clean conversion to bring Sutton to within 5 points at 19-14 with 29 minutes played but straight from the restart Kenilworth right wing Sam Miles raced down the right wing to score a fine solo try in the right corner. The try went unconverted but the visitors had extended their lead to 24-14 with 9 minutes to play to the break. Time for Sutton to press forward with another attack on the Kenilworth 22 and they exploited a gap in the visitors midfield defence to score a fine try under the posts giving fly half Ben Morgan a relatively easy conversion to close the deficit to 21-24 with just minutes to play to the break.

Although Sutton played some excellent rugby against quality opposition during the first half, the second half started to slip away from the home side 4 minutes into the second period, when Kenilworth kicked a penalty into the left corner and from the resulting catch and drive no8 Bobby Thompson drove over to score the bonus point try, which was converted by Tyler Price to take the score to 31-21 and the visitors were on their way to a procession of tries. The next try came on 15 minutes scored by left wing Jayde Cruickshank for 36-21, then a drive to the line added a try for the forwards, converted by Tyler Price and a score line of 43-21, before direct from the restart a charge down the left touchline led to an unconverted try in the corner to extend the score to 48-21 with 22 minutes of the second half played.

Kenilworth scored 4 more tries in the final 18 minutes all converted by Tyler Price in very wet playing conditions for the final score line of 76-21 and effectively the mid point of the season but many teams including Sutton have a game in hand due to postponements, in Sutton's case overnight snow was to blame.

Although the final score was disappointing, at times the Sutton performance was outstanding but the lapses and inconsistences are proving costly, however, the enforced constantly changing team line up does not lead to consistent form and players having to play out of position does not help. In a band of brothers, all hero's fighting against the odds, especially notable was the performance of the three backs in the back row; winger Charlie Steventon at no6, fullback T J Allwood at 7 and centre Will Mitchell, who covered a lot of ground at 8 and filling in very effectively at fullback using his long boot and pace to cover the ground was centre Tom McNamee... and special thanks go to veterans, centre Paul Spiby and prop Dave Smith, who has reprised his earlier role as hooker from his younger days to fill in for club captain Dean Ginn, who has a broken hand. Both veterans have delayed their well earned retirement from the 1st XV to help out the Sutton team in its hour of need. Well done all!!

In the last league game before Christmas, this weekend Sutton are taking a coach trip to Ludlow to start their return leg of league fixtures seeking revenge for the 50-0 defeat at the RSG on the 11th Sept 2021. KO 2.15pm