1st XV Match report - 4th Dec 2021

David Daniels
SCRFC 1st XV Team Manger

Match report - 4th Dec 2021

Hereford RFC 56pts v Sutton Coldfield 0pts

Midlands 1 West

Unfortunately Sutton's troubled season continued last weekend with another loss, this time at the hands of a revitalised Hereford side but faced with persistent injuries and cry-offs head coach Joe Gavin worked wonders to put a competitive team on the field in the first place to honour the league fixture and avoid penalty points...but constant changes with little time to prepare the 'match day team' is not good when competing at this level of league rugby and Hereford produced a well drilled and confident performance taking their chances to inflict a 56-0 defeat on a new look but spirited Sutton side.

Once again Sutton's problems started in the days leading up to the game when selection proved to be a serious challenge with injuries and availability of key players forcing changes to the team selection from previous games, so much so that 3 home grown players were hastily signed up and registered with the RFU and all three made their unexpected 1st XV debut in a much changed team that lined up to face a formidable Hereford side, who took full advantage of the new look Sutton side, who played well individually but not surprisingly struggled to find any cohesion.

Having entered a full team of 18 players on the RFU Game Management System on the Friday as required by the regulation system the selection problems were compounded when one of the named players ended up in A&E on Friday night and was unable to play on the Saturday leaving Sutton with 15 players and just 2 substitutes to travel to Hereford.

On the bright side the 3 players making their 1st XV debut, who ranged from 18 years old to 39 years, with George Bonell at 18, Aidan Finch 19 and long serving Dave Sandford at 39, having served the club valiantly for many years but had never graced the 1st XV with his undoubted talents until last weekend. All the new players performed exceptionally well all.be.it in a losing cause and the youngest player in the team George Bonell was awarded the man-of-the-match award for his tenacity and commitment throughout a very testing game.

Credit also goes to veteran prop Dave Smith at 49, who raced to Hereford following the end of a school match in Sutton arriving at Hereford just ahead of kick off to take his place at hooker, filling in for club skipper and regular hooker Dean Ginn, in a completely new front row.

As for the game itself it followed an all too familiar pattern with Sutton making a good solid start and competing well at the scrums and lineouts but all too often when moving forward in the opposition half a wayward pass or error would hand over possession followed by missed tackles, which gave their opponents an opening and once behind the Sutton defence it was a race to the line and although there was some heroic last ditch defence from Sutton, all too often it was a despairing chase as Hereford made it to the try line scoring 8 tries, all converted; 3 in the first half and 5 in a daunting second period.

However much the odds were against them the Sutton players, who had been brought together at short notice, showed great spirit and were unable to show their true potential in what became a one sided game

The Hereford try scoring credits go to flanker Jack Goodwin, who scored the first and second tries on 20 minutes and 22 minutes respectively followed by winger Dan Stacey, who scored on 31 minutes, all converted by centre Callum Brayshaw for a halftime lead of 21-0. Then just 4 minutes into the second half 2nd row Gareth Jones raced clear to score under the posts from 30 metres and on 9 minutes winger Dan Stacey raced down the wing on a solo run to score under the posts and with both tries converted by left wing Jordan Sheehy the score was extended to 35-0 with just over 30 minutes to play.

In the remaining 30 minutes Sutton stepped up their game but although they pressed the Hereford defence hard on their try line, they were unable to make the break through and 25 minutes into the second half it was the home side who started the score board turning again with 3 more tries. The first on 25 minutes by no8 Ollie Hutchenson, who broke through in his own half and won the race to score under the posts, then on 30 minutes left wing Jordan Sheehy raced in to score in the left corner leaving a touchline conversion for centre Callum Brayshaw, who converted both tries and then the centre completed a clean sheet by converting the final try scored by prop Nathan Boden, who bulldozed his way over under the posts on 31 minutes for a final score line of 56-0 .

This weekend as the teams reach the mid-point of the league season, Sutton reflect on a troubled season plagued by injuries and the availability of key players and with a constantly changing line-up week after week even the best players find if difficult to perform at their best. Rugby is a team game and relies on team play, which is difficult with a constantly changing team structure but every player in Sutton Green can be proud of the character and spirit they have shown on the field and despite losing all but the Newbold game, they can hold their heads high as in difficult circumstances they have done the club proud.

This Saturday Sutton face the daunting task of hosting title contenders Kenilworth at the RSG, Walmley Road but rest assured based on their previous performances Sutton will make a game of it. KO 2.15pm.