Semi-final disappointment....again!!!

The pool stages of the competition saw the lads pitted against the hosts, Droitwich and Bridgnorth.
The whistle for the first game blew and Sutton were straight into their stride forcing the play against their opponents. Both teams showed real intent in attack but Sutton's desire to take the win fired them on, relentless attacks and almost perfect rush defence saw the pressure finally tell near the end of the first half. Sam Grimshaw breaking through a resilient Bromsgrove defence to make it 0-5 to Sutton.
Has expected Bromsgrove charged out of the blocks as the second half started, Sutton repelling every attack they could throw at them straining every sinew to keep the home team out. Dubious refereeing decisions, against both teams, tended to spoil the flow of the game as both teams sort their prize, Bromsgrove an equaliser and Sutton the clinching score. As the sixth and final minute of the game passed signalling the end of the contest Bromsgrove gave it one last effort, Sutton were encamped on their try line. The play ebbed and flowed, each team briefly gaining the upper hand, until a penalty given five metres out saw Bromsgrove tap and go....an outstretched hand touching the ball down for the equalising score. Ecstatic cheers from the home team and their supporters and equally agonising groans from the Sutton contingent greeted the final whistle.

A bitter sweet taste was left in the mouth, the acknowledgement that we were the best team on the day even though the win was clawed away from us in the last seconds.

After completely dominating game one, game two saw a very indifferent Sutton performance against Droitwich, a team they had beaten with unerring ease earlier in the season. Droitwich played out their skins denying Sutton the space and time to develop any rhythm in their play. A very determined Droitwich forced the tempo of the game controlling both the ball and Sutton with a confidence that was lacking in their first game against Bridgnorth. The outcome of the game was a 5-0 win for Droitwich, setting up a nail biting final game against Bridgnorth.

A better performance from the lads saw Sutton win out 10-0, a try in each half by Sam and Lewis Belton respectively, in a predictably tetchy encounter against Shropshire’s finest, going through to face Newcastle under Lyme in the quarter-finals.

On a pitch resembling the Somme, against a big Staffordshire side, Suttons pack took charge working hard to secure & supply good ball for the backs, a try from Lewis made it 5-0 at the break, the mud beginning to take its toll on the legs. An equally good second half performance saw Sam score and interception try, and Luke Reynolds driving over from a five metre penalty, taking at least four of the opposition with him over the line to finish off a terrific team performance, the final score 15-0, a shining testimony to the lads endeavour.

The semi-final against Worcester came too quick after the quarter final, with only a five minute break between the two games. Before the game began, Worcester's front row stood sneering and posturing in an attempt to unsettle Sutton's battle weary warriors.

As the game started their pre-match efforts seemed to have worked as time and again Suttons pack was too easily pushed backward after setting, what seemed to be, sound platforms to feed the backs. Twelve minutes of hard slog saw Sutton come away with nothing but aching limbs and a collective bloody nose. Their usual flare and fire was missing, their grit and determination, which had gotten them to this point in the proceedings, had withered and regulatory tackles, normally made with ferocity, failed to materialise has Worcester crossed the line five times without reply, the final score a painful 25-0.

A beleaguered group of players, coach's and parents trudged away wondering what had happened in that short space of time that was the Semi-Final. Only time will tell if an answer might be found, but that is for the future - now lets away to our den and lick our wounds for we have the rest of the season to fight on.

Worcester ran out easy winners against host team Bromsgrove in the final 20-0, stamping their mark on the competition for the second year in a row.

FOOT NOTE:
As good as Worcester were, and they are a good rugby playing side, Sutton's inability, for what ever reason, to play their own dynamic style of rugby handed their opponent a somewhat easier win than they would or should have had.

Next week sees Bromsgrove visit the RSG for the eagerly awaited rearranged match from 10th March.