Well worth the travel!

The U13's first encounter with Luctonians resulted in another great rugby experience for the visitors. The coaches agreed to split the game into three thirds x 20 minutes to accommodate all the players from both squads ensuring game time for everyone.
Excellent personal performances from Cormac Neville and Callum Aherne epitemised Sutton’s determination to continue their three season unbeaten run.
Before the game had even kicked off perennial nose bleeder Jenson Sharlott took another smash to the hooter during the warm up, receiving treatment to stem the flow moments before the kick-off.
Sutton kicked off and the home side set about their task with vigour, strong Sutton defence resulted in a stale mate, scrum Luctonians good work from the backs set up a strong position for Suttons forwards to reap havoc, No. 8 Luke Reynolds as usual picking and driving from the back of a ruck 30 metre out. Storming through tackles he opened the scoring, with defenders sprayed over the field wondering what had hit them, unfortunately the distance was out of Harry Mitcham’s range the score staying at 0-5 with only 4 minutes on the clock.
A very competitive home side made for a very good game, their strong pack standing toe to toe with Suttons giants. Good work from the team saw the ball being pinged out top the wings with Jenson and Callum having good ball to run with breaking the gain line every time. Some nifty handling saw the ball reaching Luke again who strolled over the line for his and the teams second of the day to make it 0-10 after 10 minutes.
Excellent interplay between Sutton’s forward and back divisions saw strong runs from the likes Lewis Belton, Sam Grimshaw, Tyler Bryant and Cormac Neville. Front row unit of Ben McElhannan, Hugh McMenamin and Syakir Saiful helped to set the platform for half back pair Harry and Alasdair Bell to set free the back five George Creed joining in the line to break the gain line with every phase of play.
Back row trio Louis Hanlan, Luke and new boy Robert Hollinghurst combined well to nullify the home teams back row and half back pairing. Louis unleashed for the morning to ravage unsuspecting opposition players.
On the quarter hour Sutton had made their way into the host’s 22 Syakir picked up from the back of the resultant ruck saw a back and went for him, bouncing him several feet across the ground. At full steam he charged toward the line leaving carnage behind him scoring a fine individual try, Harry added the extras making it 0-17.
At this time of the game Luctonians seemed to be out of ideas, Sutton’s power houses making ground at will. Another ruck 10 metres out saw harry pass out to the onrushing Syakir who smashed his way to the corner to make the score 0-22 at the first whistle.

The second third started with Lucts kicking off, a refreshed home side making more of a fist of it with some strong counter rucking and strong running of their own, causing a little discomfort for Sutton. Determined not to allow their hosts to get on top, Sutton fought back with some clever play releasing Alasdair Bell to dart over the line near the posts with five minutes gone. Harry made it a seven pointer extending the lead to 0-29.
Here is where Sutton switched off, allowing Luctonians to gain the upper hand at the breakdown for the middle ten minutes. Their confidence up they charged through the centre of the Sutton defence to score under the posts, the score 7-29.
This was enough to spark Sutton back into action, with Sam taking the ball in his own half and burning his way down the wing to make the score 7-34 with 7 minutes left. Luctonians buoyed by their counter-rucking success continued to put pressure on the Sutton pack, who, in return held up manfully soaking up the pressure tiring the home side in the process.
With only a minute left, the ball made its way to Luke on the wing on the 22, with only one thing on his mind he set about the defensive line handing off all comers. A high tackle from his opposite number caused a knock on, advantage was played but the ball didn’t make its way back to Sutton.
The resultant five metre penalty for the high tackle was given to the big No. 8 with Lewis Hugh and Tyler in support, the whistle blew, Luke tapped and made his way directly for the offender who clothes-lined him, smashing the player in the midriff driving him backward. Five Luctonian forwards tried to halt the snarling Sutton player but to no avail as he bull-dozed his way over and dropping to claim his hat-trick five metres in from the touch line.

His support players were taken by surprise as much as everyone else, expecting the ball to be recycled in a rehearsed penalty move.

A feat of extraordinary strength to score from such a position finished off a mixed 2nd 20 minutes with Sutton leading 7-39.

Wholesale changes for the third 20 minutes saw Sutton’s good performance continue.

Matthew Morris on for Hugh, Bradley Sprague and Finn Carroll on for back rowers Louis and Robert, Elliott Spalding and Michael Salway on for 2nd row pair Lewis and Tyler made the pack a little light on weight but not on determination and endeavour.

Full back pairing George Pegg and George Creed swapped; Charlie Barker replaced Callum with Harry making way for George Creed at scrum half.

Sutton kicked off and Luctonians returned the ball with interest some strong tackles at the breakdown ensuring their advancement to the Sutton 22. Good pressure from the visitors forced a knock on handing the ball over for Suttons backs to run the ball from deep, slick hands from Cormac resulted in Sam charging forward to score with George Creed & Co. in support; the score 7-44 after 43 minutes.

The home side replied in kind with a try of their own making it 12-34 with 10 minutes left, Jenson took another knock on the bridge of his nose in the preceding tackle forcing him to retire after a tremendous effort, Harry replacing him.

Sutton, angry at allowing the home side to score and with massive tackles and strong running worked their way toward the Luctonians try line, players from both sides now feeling the strain of a hard fought game. A chink in the hosts back line allowed George Creed to dart through and run in the final score of the day. Luke made his way off the pitch dazed and aching from a knock (right testicle raked) earlier in the game, as the conversion was missed. Lewis rejoined the fray at No.8 for the final five minutes.

Luctonians continued to search for another score with no avail as the final whistle sound.

The final score 12-49 to Sutton, a well fought game with good play from both sides, and some fine examples of both individual and team play excellence.