***SUTTON COLDFIELD RFC LADIES MATCH REPORT - 3RD NOVEMBER 2019***

In Sunday’s big top of the table clash at the RSG Sutton Coldfield Ladies extended their lead at the top of the table with a hard fought 22-5 win over previously unbeaten Cannock Lionesses scoring four tries and a conversion to a solitary try by the visitors.
After a scrappy opening Sutton took the lead after 10 minutes when fly half Maria Crowfoot’s astute cross-field kick was capitalised on by speedy wing Jada Bailey who brushed off her opposite number before crossing for her 7th try of the season in just her third start. With the club’s leading points scorer Alison Livermore ruled out with an ankle injury it fell to stand-in full back Kerrie-Anne Melsom to add the extras with an excellent conversion for an early 7-0 lead.
Despite that early setback the visitors stayed in the game and looked threatening thanks to excellent defence, a big pack of capable forwards and errors by the home side highlighted by a turnover on the Sutton 10 metre line when it took a brilliant recovery tackle by #8 Roisín McBrien to prevent a breakaway try by the fleet-footed Cannock wing.
After 33 minutes the visitors got the score their performance deserved when a number of missed tackles by the home side allowed Danish flanker Line Brondum to cross for a fine individual score, only the 2nd try Sutton have conceded all season. The missed conversion meant Sutton’s lead was cut to 7-5 at the break with it all to play for in the 2nd half.
Following a few words of wisdom from coaches Nathan Burchelll and George Ord at the interval the Sutton girls, with their credentials being questioned, came out for the 2nd half with a fresh enthusiasm and intensity that the visitors simply couldn’t live with despite their best efforts. The home side began to win the collisions and become increasingly dominant at the breakdown resulting in Cannock being continually on the back foot and starved of possession and territory to such an extent that only once, late-on, did they get into the Sutton 22.
The outstanding Candice Grayson, later named ‘forward of the match’ and fresh from her 10k ‘Wolf Run’ earlier in the day, got the ball rolling after 50 minutes, going over in the corner for her first try since joining the club in the summer to increase the lead to 12-5 before the equally outstanding Kerrie-Anne Melsom marked her 25th cap with a decisive line-break after 61 minutes before stretching out to dot down her 2nd try of the season extending the lead to 17-5.
The scoring was completed after 78 minutes when following a sustained spell of pressure hardworking Roisin McBrien ceased the moment to register her 10th try of the season and in doing so deny Cannock a losing bonus point (15 points or less losing margin in this league) leaving Sutton worthy 22-5 winners at the final whistle, a result that sees the lead over visitors Cannock at the top of the table extended to 5 points after 5 rounds of matches.
On refection, huge credit must go to the visitors who in the first half really put it up to Sutton and challenged them in a way no-one has done in the league programme since the clubs last met in ‘NC2’ in season 2017/18. In saying that, equal credit must go to the Sutton girls, much depleted with key players unavailable, for producing a superb 2nd half showing when it really mattered with only the character and resilience of Cannock keeping the scoreline respectable.
Special mention must go to 18 year old schoolgirl Bella Timmins who made her 1st XV debut as well as her mentor and captain Charlie Byrne named ‘back of the match’ who led by example and was brilliant throughout despite having to switch to a number of different positions for the sake of the team.
The 1st XV’s next game is on Sunday week when Gloucestershire side Hucclecote are the visitors to the RSG whilst next week the 2nd XV face a trip to Mellish Ladies in Nottingham.
Team: 1.Vicky Sullivan, 2.Tara Wheeldon, 3.Neve Tydeman, 4.Charlie George, 5.Mollie Campbelll, 6.Liz Fletcher, 7.Natalie Kennett, 8.Roisin McBrien (v/c), 9.Christine McEvoy, 10.Maria Crowfoot, 11.Jada Bailey, 12.Charlie Byrne(Capt), 13.Connie Bradshaw, 14.Chanelle Stankard, 15.Kerrie-Anne Melsom. Reps(used): Genna Pilling, Candice Grayson, Bella Timmins, Carla Malek, Elise Graham, Natalie Hall.

Gerry Shanahan
Team Manager
Sutton Coldfield RFC Women