University Stroll

Sutton Threes made the short journey across to Edgbaston to play Bournville in a friendly. The short journey ended up anything but as a ragged convoy of cars meandered in and out of the university campus before finally alighting at a 2G or 3G or 2H pitch, whatever it was it was artificial and very tough on the knees and ankles.
Eventually enough players were gathered to be decked out in green and placed in approximate playing decisions minus Ricky Beales, who after a bout or two of car sickness was green all over but unfit to partake in the game.
Amazingly enough Sutton made a strong start and took an early lead as Danny Price stumbled over the line for a five point lead. Unfortunately the conversion from in front also stumbled over the line as the ball did its best mole impersonation and so the score remained 5-0 for ages and ages.Indeed at one stage there were more injuries than points scored! Sutton really should have put the game out of Bournville’s grasp by half time but a lack of cohesion let Sutton down time and time again.The main gripe was the Men in Green’s tendency to gallop off unsupported by a colleague into a phalanx of Bournville shirts with the inevitable outcome being a turnover or Bournville scrum. Having said that the Sutton scrum was very solid as was the tackling of the smattering of youngsters wearing a green shirt.
Bournville had the better of the second half but scarcely deserved to score the winning try to make the final score 7-5. Sutton did score a match winning try as the referee whistled at the sound of a Sutton player who shall remain nameless, playing possum so it was chalked off at the assumption of a serious head injury but it wasn’t!!!
Considering the disruption of the pre match rituals and the strange pitch a commendable effort by Sutton but also a lot to work on.