Colts Cup Match report - 17th April 2018

Match report by Gerry Shanahan.

Fred Rowley Colts Cup Final at Walsall RFC

Sutton Coldfield Colts made it a season to remember as they backed up their recent league triumph with a hard fought win in the final of the Fred Rowley Cup against Walsall in the Delves Road boys own backyard.

After both clubs had big wins in their respective semi finals this was always going to be a close contest and so it proved as two well-matched teams went at from the first whistle in front of a big expectant crowd.

It was the hosts who struck first when fly half Will Hennessy kicked a 5th minute penalty goal but this was soon cancelled out when his opposite number Eddie Chitnis replied in kind after 12 minutes to level the scores at 3-3.

Sutton scrum half Jack Wells was proving to be a constant threat to the home defence, attacking the fringes, and injecting pace into the game particularly from tap and go’s and it was fitting it should be Wells that crossed for the try that gave Sutton the 8-3 lead after 18 minutes with his 14th try of the campaign, the conversion narrowly missing.

Walsall had some big lads and some excellent players but the Sutton boys were standing up well to the challenge and playing some good rugby which they were rewarded for when after 25 minutes flanker Matt Price found some space in the opposition 22 and scampered home for his 7th try of the season; Chitnis added the extras and the lead was extended to 15-3.

However, the lead was soon trimmed when the host’s Tom Aston crashed over for an unconverted try to leave the score at the interval 15-8 to the boys from Walmley Road.

Within 5 minutes of the restart the game was back in the melting pot when Walsall’s huge 2nd row Louis Vale broke through the Sutton rearguard for a try that was converted by Hennessy to level the scores once more at 15-15.

Undeterred by this setback Sutton went straight back down the other end and the home defence was eventually found wanting allowing the outstanding James Bishop to crash over for the 8th try of the number 8’s season; Chitnis’s left boot converted and Sutton had restored a 7 point margin at 22-15 but with still 30 minutes to go.

What followed was attritional stuff with two good Colts teams slugging it out with clearcut openings at a premium. Sutton’s front row of Liam Goodall, birthday boy Dominic Devine and Dan Baldock deserve special mention for their heroics at the set piece under severe pressure at times, never giving an inch and all stood up to be counted.

As it transpired there was no further addition to the scoreline and this was in the main down to outstanding Sutton resilient defence which at the end of the day was the difference between the sides in a game of such small margins. Besides the eye-catching performances in the pack of captain Harry Moxon, Kieran Henderson and try scorers Price and Bishop unsung heroes Oliver Pegler, outstanding on the night, and Ed Court are deserving of special praise.

Not a night when the backs were able to shine although Sutton’s centre pairing of Will Poland and Will Smewin threatened throughout to take the game away from the hosts with probing breaks only to be denied by desperate home defending. Sutton’s back 3 of Ryan Potter, Sam Brown and Charles Snow defended well and looked dangerous with limited attacking ball.

A 22-15 win then and great scenes of jubilation at the final whistle as Sutton, having been denied by Stourbridge in last year’s final, finally put their name on the trophy for a 3rd time since the cup was first played for in 2003.

Congratulations to coaches Dan Lockley, Sandy O'Hare and Gregg Henderson for producing such a brilliant Colts team and to captain Harry Moxon who has led the team so well and, alongside Jack Wells, has played every game.

Last but by no means least a special thank you for the amazing support that travelled over for the game; families, club members and players from both the Men’s and Ladies teams created a great atmosphere for our lads to flourish in and also nullified the home support, who seemed surprised by the size of the ‘Green Army' invasion.

Team: Liam Goodall, Dominic Devine, Dan Baldock, Harry Moxon(Capt), Oliver Pegler, Kieran Henderson, Matt Price, James Bishop, Jack Wells, Eddie Chitnis, Sam Brown, Will Poland, Will Smewin, Ryan Potter, Charles Snow. Subs(used) Ed Court, Ben Garratty, Jake Olney, Billy Dunn, Harry Wheelwright, Mitch Barker, Rosharn Robinson.