Sutton 2nd XV welcomed Newport 2nd’s on a grey, dank Saturday afternoon.

The game was played throughout with defence being the key in difficult conditions, a slippery ball and the ground breaking up at each scrum.

The first quarter of an hour saw the game being played in the Sutton half; ruck followed ruck and only solid tackling kept Newport at bay. Matt Lawson was injured in one such tackle which saw him carried off and replaced by Toby Danks. Newport continued to press forward and a clever kick over the advancing Sutton defence became a foot race between Danks and the Newport right wing...........Danks was first to touch the ball down and prevented the visitors from scoring.

The Sutton back row and centres were everywhere on the pitch, preventing Newport from crossing the gain line and from a loose ball from a ruck was pounced on by Mike Burns, passed to fly half Alex Morgan who ran towards the Newport line, committed the defender and cleverly off loaded to lock Tom Davies to dive like a leaping salmon to score in the corner.

The remainder of the first half was all Sutton, Alex Morgan was bundled into touch only 7 metres out and from the resulting Newport lineout Sutton spoilt the visitors ball and Mike Burns stormed 20 metres forward only to see the pass knocked on inches from the line. Burns was injured in the tackle and the 2nds reshuffled positions, with Price moving from flanker to the wing. The first half ended with Sutton leading 5-0.

The second half was no less physical, a battle of attrition with no quarter given by either side, but with 15 minutes of the half played a clever pass to inside centre Luke Stewart saw a 40 metre drive into the opposing 22, brilliantly supported by the pack. The resulting ruck saw the home side play a couple of phases before Liam Hills charged over under the posts, shrugging two tacklers off and touching down to score, Alex Morgan added the extra points.

Sutton continued to attack and the indefatigable Worthington and Bottomley created problems for Newport, continually gaining ground and needing three or four men to bring them down. 5 minutes before the end saw Worthington break through the defence again and off load to Stewart who charged at the Newport defence from 30 metres out, he was superbly tackled but right wing Rhoss Price, who’d supported the run, cleverly retained the ball and from the resulting ruck the ball was spun out through the backs for Alex Shaw to score the final try of the game.

The 2nds mix of experience and maturity together with some of the Colts playing their debuts for the side showed encouraging signs for the future at the Walmley Road club.