Sutts ease passed brave Newport

Sutton's solitary team travelled to Shropshire on a cold breezy Sunday morning to resume battle with a Newport side who had travelled across the divide for the final game of last season.

From the start the home side set their stall out with some monster hits on Suttons big lads as they ran toward the line - the hosts coming off worst for wear time and time again.

Playing smart rugby, the Sutton pack kept the ball close for several phases before releasing the back line. It wasn't long before the pressure told and Louis Hanlan crossed for the first score of the day, finishing off a well worked move involving both backs and forwards; Harry Mitcham adding the extras. Four more well worked scores followed, Luke Reynolds, Sam Grimshaw (2) and Jenson Sharlott the recipients of some exellent inter play. The home side, for all their hard work and endeavour, had no answer to Suttons pace and power.

The score at the end of the first third 0-31 to the visitors.

The second third started with the same intensity with which the first finished, the home sides physicality and bravery undaunted. Several changes by Sutton handed the initiative to the hosts as the replacements settled into the flow of the game. Some good close play by Newport resulted in their opening score with five minutes gone. This stung Sutton back to life with wave after wave of attack being thwarted by some resolute defending, several of the smaller lads heroically throwing their bodies on the line, to stop the big Sutton pack as they rumbled along the touch line.

For all their possession, Sutton were kept at bay by a tremendous effort from the Newport lads for the rest of the second third with the score 5-31 at the whistle.

Suttons hard work during pre-season started to show as they picked holes in ther Newport defence almost scoring at will. Louis Hanlan's tirless work at the break down and Sam Grimshaw's 3rd, 4th and 5th tries put the icing on the Sutton performance. A well worked try finished off by George Creed darting through the defence, Luke Reynolds claiming his second muscling through, taking half of the Newport back line with him and a very alert Jenson Sharlott who pounced on a loose ball to claim his second completed the scoring. The final Score 5-61, virtually a carbon copy of the result in April.

All in all a well deserved victory was gained today with every player adding value to the squad performance, some exellent forward play by Tyler Bryant and a solid performance by Cormac Neville who returned after a broken thumb had prevented him playing in the first game of the season epitomised the effort put in by everyone.

A special mention must go to the Newport team who, after leaving everything on the pitch, should wake up tomorrow and feel proud of their performance, albeit battered and bruised.