Another fantastic performance from the consistent SCRFC Women's team

Despite being without a number of regular starters due to injury and availability Sutton were still able to field a formidable looking side with an equally impressive looking bench to call on.

The first ten minutes of the match set the tone with Sutton showing their dominance at the break down with both Tara Wheeldon and Abbie Buttery making large clear outs to retain possession of the ball. Sutton’s pressure forced the home side to concede a penalty which saw returning fly half Alison Livermore kick to the corner for a Sutton Line-out. The lineout won by Genna Pilling provided the best for a Sutton attack. Livermore was the player to capitalise, skilfully stepping through a rushed defence to score for Sutton. Con Livermore.

Sutton continued to dominate the battle of the breakdown with locks Genna Pilling and Mollie Campbell working in tandem with the back row of Emma Clueit, Liz Fletcher and Jessica Nally to the fore and it was only desperate defence by the hosts that stopped Sutton increasing their lead.

It was therefore completely against the run of play when, after 29 minutes, Towcester open side Sarah Davey showed her former Premiership quality to score, stepping through a sporadic Sutton defence to score under the posts and with Kelly Harry adding the extras the scores were level at 7-7 going into half time.

The second half introduction of replacement loose forwards Athena Jai and Natalie Kennett would come to prove decisive as Sutton took an early stranglehold on proceedings, one they wouldn’t relinquish for the remainder of the game. Sutton were looking dangerous with ball in hand and the inevitable score finally came after 41 minutes when Alison Livermore put the deserving Vicky Sullivan in for the prop’s first ever try.

The hosts just couldn’t get any ball as Sutton were now dominating the set piece, particularly the scrum, and the penalty count was stacking up against the under pressure Roses. The Sutton half back pairing of Christine McEvoy and Alison Livermore were in sync with the latter managing the game well at 10 and utilising the threat of powerful 18 year old centre Katie Gregory and her midfield partner, the gifted Charlie Byrne, to full effect and were it not for one or two dropped passes out wide the rampant visitors would surely have been out of sight.

The visiting sides persistence paid off, Sutton’s third break came as Livermore teamed up with Gregory. The young centre powered her way through several tackles to score under the post for Sutton. Con Livermore.

With Sutton on the front foot a third try soon followed. A superb break by flanker Natalie Kennett created a gap in the Towcester’s defence which Gregory duly took advantage of, skipping past the last defenders to score her second and secure the win. Con Livermore.

That victory sends Sutton Coldfield Women into the Semi Final of the National Junior Cup due to take place on the 25th March at home against Broughton Park.