Sutton Women's match report - 18th November

Photo - Sutton team shot after victory

Sutton Coldfield Women 91 - Peterborough Ladies 0

In this much anticipated top of the table clash between the two remaining unbeaten sides it was league leaders Sutton who came out on top this afternoon with an emphatic 91-0 win over their shellshocked visitors from Cambridgeshire. In a brilliant team performance that included 15 superb tries and 8 conversions Sutton recorded their highest ever score beating the 71 points amassed the last day against Shelford. Of equal delight to coaches and players alike would have been the fact that we ‘nilled’ a team who had previously been prolific in the opening 5 rounds of matches.

In front of yet another bumper RSG crowd a fired-up home side came roaring out of the blocks and took the lead after just 4 minutes when Elise Graham squeezed in at the corner for the first of her 3 first half tries. Christine McEvoy soon added a second, after several phases of play which saw Sutton’s pack lead by Nafeesah Nabi and Vicky Sullivan make considerable ground forcing an error by the visiting side, McEvoy was able to capitalise gathering the loose ball and diving over the line. Con Livermore

Sutton’s third came almost immediately after the restart, Kerrie-Anne Melsom collected the high ball before shipping out wide to Charlie Byrne who made a break down the wing before finding fly half Maria Crowfoot in support and finished off the try in the corner. Sutton’s set piece proved too strong for second place Peterborough a second row of Athena Jai and Genna Pilling providing the horsepower for a strong Sutton drive turning over possession several times in the first half. It was off a strong Sutton set piece that Tara Wheeldon and Roisin McBrien were able to combine to add their own tries to the tally. McBrien managed to spectacularly turnover a lineout winning the ball in the air before Wheeldon was able to gather and crash over the line. McBrien added her own after Liz Fletcher turnover the ball the young flanker skipped through the oppositions defence to score on her return to the side. Con Livermore. Not too be out done by the forwards dominating display, Sutton’s backs soon got back in on the action. Elise Graham showed her strength and pace on the wing adding two further tries in the first half to complete her hat-trick, her second try saw the in form winger finish off a Sutton set play where as the second saw Graham display her competitive grit overpowering the last defender to score in the corner. Con Livermore.

If the visitors thought Sutton might take their foot off the gas in the 2nd half they were in for a rude awakening as the home side continued to run riot playing some scintillating rugby that had their delighted supporters in raptures and added a further eight unanswered tries. The pace of Róisín McBrien proved too much for second place Peterborough, the young flanker added a second half hat-trick running some great lines through a tiring defence. Alison Livermore playing her first league game at fullback benefited from Sutton’s wide play scoring off fast distribution from Crowfoot. Forward of the match, Tara Wheeldon, added a further try with a superb individual effort which saw the front row player outpace the defensive back line to score under the posts.

The handling skills of Sutton’s back line proved too much for the visiting side in the second half, Gregory added her name to the score sheet after a pop ball by Byrne put the centre in a try scoring position. Gregory then became the assister pulling off a slick inside ball to find Vicky Sullivan who showed her power crashing over the line for her second of the season. Chanelle Stankard returned to league action in the second half, the 17-year-old winger showing Sutton had effective attacks on either side of the pitch, the young speedster beating several defenders to score in the corner. Livermore added the conversions.

Sunday’s win sees Sutton Women move six points clear at the top of the table after 6 rounds of matches with points difference of an incredible +305; next Sunday we reach the halfway point of the season as we welcome Rugby Lionesses to Walmley Road for a 2pm kick off.