Match Report - 20th November 2021

David Daniels
SCRFC 1st XV Team Manager.

Match Report - 20th November 2021

Wolverhampton RFC 30pts v Sutton Coldfield 17pts

Midlands 1 West

Unfortunately the troubled season that Sutton 1st XV are suffering continued on its downward spiral last weekend, when they handed a lively Wolverhampton side their first win of the season meaning that Sutton have now replaced them at the botton of the table after a disappointing 30-17 score line...but there is light at the end of the tunnel as key players are now returning to the playing squad and there is hope that Sutton can once again reverse their fortunes and start to climb the table. With 10 games played, 16 games remain for Sutton to start to change things around to achieve a respectable finish by the end of the season and from now the only way is up!

Bright sunlight lit up the ground just before kick off and in good conditions with a firm pitch underfoot, the Wolves KO was taken well by Sutton, who gathered the ball in their half and set to advance but the home side were penalised for an infringement in the ensuing maul and Sutton had an early chance to clear their lines with a lineout deep in the Wolverhampton half but unfortunately the kick down the Sutton right stayed infield and Wolves gathered cleanly setting up a high speed counter attack, switching play from their left to right and advancing at pace into the Sutton half turning defence into attack. Sutton scrambled to defend and were penalised in mid-field giving Wolves fly half Matt Needham a straight forward penalty chance from 22 metre, which he converted for a 3-0 lead after 4 minutes of play. However, Sutton responded well and following the restart they took play back into the Wolves 22 winning a penalty, which fly half Ben Morgan landed to level the score at 3-3 after 7 minutes of play...but once again Sutton were vulnerable at the restart and Wolves raced in to steal the ball and break down their right wing, getting behind the Sutton defence before spinning the ball from right to left creating an overlap for fly half Matt Needham to score to the left of the posts. The fly half converted his own try to take the score to 10-3 after 9 minutes of play.

The Wolverhampton side were showing good pace and handling in the their backline and this was demonstrated again 24 minutes into the game when a high clearance kick by Sutton was gathered by Wolves in their own half with space to set up another high speed counter attack taking play up their left wing before switching crossfield for right wing Luke Brough to squeeze in for a try in the right corner. The tricky conversion was missed but Wolves had increased the deficit to 15-3. With the frustration mounting, the penalties and strategic errors by Sutton at key moments started to build up handing possession and territory to their opponents, who 4 minutes before the break exploited a gap in the Sutton defence with a long range break by outside centre Alex Bird, who sped down the right wing to score in the right corner and this time left footed Matt Needham landed an excellent touchline conversion to stretch the lead to 22-3.

However, with halftime rapidly approaching, once again although things were going against them Sutton showed their true strength of character as they used the superiority of their pack to set up a series of forward drives on the Wolves try line. Sutton won a penalty at one such Wolverhampton scrum, opting to reset the scrum with Sutton to put-in and as Sutton drove forward young second row Ollie Gregory broke wide and stretched over the try line to score a much needed try, giving the promising new boy a try in consecutive games. Ben Morgan added the conversion with the last kick of the half to reduce the deficit to 22-10 at the break.

Encouraged by the score at the end of the first half it took just 2 minutes of the second half before Sutton reduced the arrears still further, when direct from the restart a good follow up by Sutton re-gathered the ball and a charging run by Ollie Gregory took play deep into the Wolves 22 moving play right to left before the ball was fed inside to no8 Luke Stewart, who completed an excellent phase of play with a try to the left of the posts. Ben Morgan added the conversion to bring Sutton right back into the game at 22-17, with everything to play for.

But first Sutton were caught off-side in front of their posts for Matt Needham to land the penalty for 25-17 with 10 minutes of the second half played, then 2nd row Adam Ellis caught the rebound off a Sutton chest as Sutton sort to run the ball out of defence and the fleet footed no4 raced 30 metres to score to the left of the posts. The conversion was missed but the home side had secured a bonus point for their 4th try and extended the score to 30-17 with 25 minutes left to play.

Job done for the home side but try as they may even with a dominant scrum Sutton were unable to add to the scoreboard in the final minutes and they had to settle for another disappointing loss, reflecting on miss directed kicks which invited a lively backline to run the ball back at them time after time and again failing to have the composure to take their chances when they opened up.

On the plus side the two Sutton tries were scored respectively by Ollie Gregory playing only his second game for the 1st XV and Luke Stewart, a great asset newly returned to the team at no8 and the plus+, was the long awaited return of Rhoss Price, all-be-it at hooker as replacement for Suttons skipper Dean Ginn, who has a broken hand, instead of his normal marauding role in the back row where blindside flanker Mike Burns put in another all action Man of the Match performance sadly in a losing cause. Also Sutton welcomed talented young centre Eligah Johnson for his first outing off the bench for the 1st XV, then the plus + plus saw the return to the front row of props Liam Hills, returning to the club after a period away and Sean Harrison, making his 199th appearance for the 1st XV - will it be 200 appearances next week - if picked!

This week Sutton prepare to welcome Droitwich RFC, who were the last team due to play at the RSG on 28th March 2020, before all league fixtures were cancelled due to the Pandemic, which brought a premature end to the league season in 2020. KO 2.15pm

Sutton other team results:

Sutton 2nd XV 79pts v Harborne 2nd XV 29pts.

Saturday 20th Nov. 2021

The strong Sutton 2nd XV squad continued their recent impressive high scoring record as they overcame visitors Harborne 2nd XV by 79-29 in a fast paced contest and all credit to Harborne, who needed the loan of some Sutton players but still went ahead with the fixture. Well Harborne.

Sutton scored a total of 13 tries led by Tom McNamee, Jack Woodcock, Adam Finch and Archie Grimshaw each scoring a brace followed by a try each for Charles Snow, Joe Venencia, Paul Spiby, Sam Harris and Raheel Hussain with Tom McNamee kicking 4 conversions and Adam McNall adding 2 more.

Three Sutton players loaned to Harborne for the game each scored a try to contribute 15 points towards Harbornes total of 29 points.

These sporting Sutton players were; Paul O'Toole, Lamar McIntosh and Harry Slaymaker - well done lads.

This weekend the redoubtable Sutton 2nd XV put their recent playing record to the test when they meet Kenilworth 2nd XV in the Final of the Warwickshire 2nd XV Cup Competition at the impressive Broadstreet Ground, on Sunday 28th Nov 2021, KO 2.15.

All support welcome for what should be a great game of rugby.

Camp Hill Colts 42pts v Sutton Coldfield Colts 22pts.

Sunday 21st Nov 2021

Sutton found the going tough against a well drilled Camp Hill side, who took the honours after a competitive game.

This weekend the Sutton Colts travel to local rivals Veseyans for another testing contest on Sunday 28th Nov KO 2pm.

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