Sutton Down Harborne in Helter Skelter Encounter!!

Sutton Threes welcomed Harborne Twos to Walmley Road on an afternoon where spring had decided to put on its coat and go away for a while!!! At the end of an entertaining if a little frantic match the home team came out just on top by 45 points to 27.
Sutton were nearly blown away in the first 10 minutes as they ran through non-existent tackling to race into a 12 point lead. In truth it could have been far worse for the home side as Harborne made ground at will and bombed 2 or 3 perfectly presentable chances to stretch out to a probably unassailable lead. But Sutton gradually eased their way back into the game and got on the score sheet through a fine interception try by Matt Laws who ran 60 metres to score under the sticks. A successful conversion and the men in green were back in the game. Gradually Sutton took a semblance of control through fine work by Lewis Snowden and Tom Foulsham in the forwards and the probing of Tom Harris, Duckling and James King. With captain fantastic Steve Marshall and Quentin Doireau running hard at the opposition as well, Sutton ran the hard working Harborne forwards ragged for the rest of the half. The gaps appeared and Josh Pugh got on the end of a fine backs move with King and Alex Shaw prominent to score in the corner to equalise the score at 12 each. Better was to come for Sutton as scrum half Duckling went over for a try under the posts, successfully converted to make the score 19-12 to Sutton. It would and should have been 26-12 when Tom Harris strode for the line with veteran tight head Andy Duckworth (who hasn’t scored a try for about 500 years!!) in close support and a certainty to score if the pass had come!!! However Harris went for the line himself and………..knocked on!!!
Sutton made an awful start to the second half as Harborne caught them sleeping, scoring 2 quick tries, both unconverted, for a 22-19 lead. With the Sutton team changing quicker than the British weather it took a while until they regained some cohesion. Sutton regained the lead as Snowden went 80 metres to score under the Hs. Conversion by Miles Gregory and the score was 26-22 to Sutton as the wildly fluctuating game went on!! With the home team in the ascendancy the points continued to flow and tries by King and Pugh meant a 38-22 for Sutton. Harborne wouldn’t lie down though and they scored an unconverted push over try which they celebrated somewhat exuberantly!!
The scoring did not stop there as Gregory tapped a penalty saw no one was at home and sailed 50 odd metres to the line to score an equally exuberantly celebrated try under the posts to leave the score Sutton 45 Harborne 27.
A hard fought game was enjoyed by both teams and Sutton’s new year revival continues. With returnees Harry Edwards, Ed Moore and Stu McGarragle and Steve Clarke there could be selection headaches ahead but then again probably not!!! With new players such as Hakeen Douglas and Pugh settling into their roles in the team and old timers such as Ricky Beales and Rab Cooper!! Competition for places is hotting up!!!
A final note for the referee who let the game flow but was quick to admonish foul play and to take players to one side to have a quiet word!