In yet another superb game of rugby between two totally committed sides Sutton came away narrow losers in this London Division 1 clash at Rugby Lane Cheam on Saturday. Sutton can only rue the fact that they were unable to put together this sort of performance earlier in the season. With hooker James Bennett back in the side to add much needed go forward and yet another storming performance from young No8 Matt Whitaker Sutton matched the 3rd placed side in the league in all departments and came within a metre of snatching a well deserved draw at the end of the game. This was a great game of rugby for the supporters of both sides with total commitment and great skills on display. Chichester are a big powerful side with a lot of skills in the backs, especially fly half Richard Adams who orchestrated everything Chichester did well and kicked superbly. Sutton’s full back Colin Richens also had an excellent game peppered with high up and under kicks, time and again he fielded them securely despite huge pressure.
All the early pressure came from Sutton and after 13 minutes they took the lead when scrum half Steve Munford kicked a penalty. This though only served to wake the visitors up and a pin point accurate kick from fly half Adams saw Sutton throw in at a lineout 5 metres from their own line. The tap back from the line went to ground and like all good flankers, Chichester’s Chris Johnson shot through the line to score in the corner. Adams converted.
The Sussex side went further ahead a couple of minutes later when following a penalty they won a lineout 5 metres from Sutton’s line and prop Phil Veltom was driven over wide on the right. Adams again converted to give Chichester the lead 3-14.
Sutton though are now made of tougher stuff and from the kick off the home pack drove into the heart of Chichester’s territory, flanker Chris Pointing broke away and made 25 metres before being stopped 3 metres short but popped the ball to flying prop Gary Nash who smashed his way over midway to the posts. Munford converted to narrow Chichester’s lead.
Within 3 minutes Sutton went back ahead when full back Richens fielded a high up and under from Adams, he quickly spread the ball wide and left wing Charlie Purvis skinned his opposite number made 40 metres and chipped inside for centre Andy Nicholls travelling at a huge rate of knots to gather the ball on the bounce and dive in next to the posts. Munford converted. 17-14.
Chichester then showed how dangerous they are on the break, Sutton lost possession in attack, Adams very quickly got the ball to wing Eddie Armah on the overlap and he showed Sutton a clean pair of heels to score in the left corner. Adams narrowly missed the conversion. Then with a minute to go in the half Chichester broke down their right and were awarded a penalty which saw Sutton’s wing Charlie Purvis somewhat dubiously receive a yellow card. From the resulting lineout, Chichester’s Chris Johnson was driven in for his second try. Adams missed the conversion.
Sutton started the second half well hammering at the Chichester line but had to settle for a penalty from Munford. Both sides then went at it hammer and tongs but two penalties from Adams and one more from Munford was the total scoring in what was, despite that, a gripping second half. Sutton did come close to a try at the end of the game but were stopped just a metre short and had to settle for yet another losing bonus point.
On Saturday Sutton are away to Thanet Wanderers in the far reaches of Kent at Broadstairs KO 2.15pm.
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Saturday 11th December 2010
Sutton Turn It On To Retain Home Record Against Portsmouth.
Sutton & Epsom RFC 23 Portsmouth RFC 17
In yet another superb game of rugby between two totally committed sides Sutton came away narrow losers in this London Division 1 clash at Rugby Lane Cheam on Saturday. Sutton can only rue the fact that they were unable to put together this sort of performance earlier in the season. With hooker James Bennett back in the side to add much needed go forward and yet another storming performance from young No8 Matt Whitaker Sutton matched the 3rd placed side in the league in all departments and came within a metre of snatching a well deserved draw at the end of the game. This was a great game of rugby for the supporters of both sides with total commitment and great skills on display. Chichester are a big powerful side with a lot of skills in the backs, especially fly half Richard Adams who orchestrated everything Chichester did well and kicked superbly. Sutton’s full back Colin Richens also had an excellent game peppered with high up and under kicks, time and again he fielded them securely despite huge pressure.
All the early pressure came from Sutton and after 13 minutes they took the lead when scrum half Steve Munford kicked a penalty. This though only served to wake the visitors up and a pin point accurate kick from fly half Adams saw Sutton throw in at a lineout 5 metres from their own line. The tap back from the line went to ground and like all good flankers, Chichester’s Chris Johnson shot through the line to score in the corner. Adams converted.
The Sussex side went further ahead a couple of minutes later when following a penalty they won a lineout 5 metres from Sutton’s line and prop Phil Veltom was driven over wide on the right. Adams again converted to give Chichester the lead 3-14.
Sutton though are now made of tougher stuff and from the kick off the home pack drove into the heart of Chichester’s territory, flanker Chris Pointing broke away and made 25 metres before being stopped 3 metres short but popped the ball to flying prop Gary Nash who smashed his way over midway to the posts. Munford converted to narrow Chichester’s lead.
Within 3 minutes Sutton went back ahead when full back Richens fielded a high up and under from Adams, he quickly spread the ball wide and left wing Charlie Purvis skinned his opposite number made 40 metres and chipped inside for centre Andy Nicholls travelling at a huge rate of knots to gather the ball on the bounce and dive in next to the posts. Munford converted. 17-14.
Chichester then showed how dangerous they are on the break, Sutton lost possession in attack, Adams very quickly got the ball to wing Eddie Armah on the overlap and he showed Sutton a clean pair of heels to score in the left corner. Adams narrowly missed the conversion. Then with a minute to go in the half Chichester broke down their right and were awarded a penalty which saw Sutton’s wing Charlie Purvis somewhat dubiously receive a yellow card. From the resulting lineout, Chichester’s Chris Johnson was driven in for his second try. Adams missed the conversion.
Sutton started the second half well hammering at the Chichester line but had to settle for a penalty from Munford. Both sides then went at it hammer and tongs but two penalties from Adams and one more from Munford was the total scoring in what was, despite that, a gripping second half. Sutton did come close to a try at the end of the game but were stopped just a metre short and had to settle for yet another losing bonus point.
On Saturday Sutton are away to Thanet Wanderers in the far reaches of Kent at Broadstairs KO 2.15pm.
Saturday 27th November 2010
Wimbledon Passion Too Much For Lacklustre Sutton
Wimbledon RFC 20 S&E RFC 13
Never underestimate your opposition and that is just what Sutton appear to have done in this London Division 1 South match at Barham Road on Saturday. Wimbledon hammered the previous Saturday 50-5 by 2nd placed London Irish, the side Sutton drew 6-6 with, on paper seemed easy meat and Sutton gave the appearance of a side which felt they only had to turn up to win. Wimbledon however proved to be a much better side than their position and previous results would have indicated. They gave Sutton a lesson in determination and heart and had Sutton won the game, which they very nearly did, it would have been a travesty. Wimbledon dominated Sutton up front gave the visitors lessons in ball retention and how to take your chances. Sutton won very little possession throughout the game and what little they did win they either dropped or kicked away. Only two Sutton players regularly made it over the gain line, captain lock forward Austin Sheppard and flanker Felix Symonds and they all too often found themselves isolated. Sutton also had a tendency to give away far too many penalties and to get turned over in contact.
All the early pressure came from a fired up Wimbledon and they were eventually rewarded when having stretched the Sutton defence their scrum half Alex Pyres went over in the corner. Wing Mike Willoughby converted. The one way traffic continued after the kick off and very shortly they went further ahead when from a maul 5 metres from Sutton’s line prop Ben Davies was driven in for an unconverted try.
After this Sutton managed to put together a concentrated attack and following a lineout 15 metres out the ball went to Sheppard who smashed his way through two tackles and twisted his way over next to the posts. Scrum half Steve Munford converted and at half time Wimbledon led 12-7.
Sutton picked their game up a little early in the second half but never really looked capable of crossing the Wimbledon line. A penalty from Munford after 15 minutes brought the visitors to within 2 points and hopes began to rise. The game fluctuated after this with Sutton at least showing determined defence against concentrated Wimbledon attacks, then against the run of play Munford kicked a penalty to give Sutton an undeserved 1 point lead.
That was the signal for Wimbledon to step up a gear and they came at Sutton in waves. With 5 minutes to go Willoughby kicked a penalty to restore their lead and when a high kick out of defence was knocked on by Sutton Wimbledon mounted a lightening quick attack which saw their captain centre Chris Lewis touch down in the corner for an unconverted try. Sutton desperately tried to get back but handling errors let them down and they were forced to settle for the losing bonus point.
On Saturday Sutton are at home to old rivals Haywards Heath who have been going through a resurgence in recent week. Kick off 3pm at Rugby Lane, Cheam.
Saturday 20th November 2010
Sutton Unable To Cope With League Leaders Power and Pace.
Sutton & Epsom RFC 7 Tonbridge Juddian RFC 43
For 40 minutes of this London Division 1 South match at Rugby Lane on Saturday Sutton looked as if they would be able to contain this very professional and powerful Tonbridge Juddian side but eventually the attrition of having to make so many tackles on their powerful and fast running opponents took it’s toll and gaps began to appear in the up until then solid Sutton defence. Sutton’s performance at 2nd placed London Irish last Saturday came off the back of forward domination which always had Irish attacking from the back foot, unfortunately for Sutton Juddians pack had the edge in this match allowing them to always attack on the front foot with Sutton’s defence retreating, a very difficult situation for the home side to control.
From the kick off Tonbridge took the game to Sutton seemingly able to cross the gain line at will and eventually after just 4 minutes the league leaders took the lead when from a 5 metres lineout powerful centre Pat Sykes burst through on a reverse angle to score close to the posts. His fly half Charlie Harding converted to give Tonbridge a 7 point lead. They went further ahead on 15 minutes when following a 5 metres scrum flanker Liam Rankin was driven over from 2 metres for an unconverted try.
Sutton then stiffened their defence and frustrated their opponents, even beginning to make some dangerous looking attacks of their own, the back row Matt Whitaker, Chris Pointing and Felix Symonds being at the fore and they were eventually rewarded when wing Andy Nichols took a pass wide on the left he juggled seemingly endlessly with the ball eventually getting it under control and making ground to inside the Tonbridge 5 metres line where he off loaded in the tackle to lock Austin Sheppard who crashed over to raise Sutton’s hopes. Scrum half Frankie Murray converted from out near the touch line. Sutton continued to control their lively opponents turning round at the break just 5 points down.
Things went wrong for the home team early in the second half when after just 2 minutes of the restart a basketball style overhead pass from flanker Toby Martin found his wing Charlie Gregory who cut inside to score next to the posts. Harding converted.
Within 3 minutes Tonbridge went further ahead with a piece of individual magic from Fijjian centre Richard Nauer who taking the ball on halfway cut through a flat footed Sutton defence to score midway to the posts. The conversion attempt went just wide.
The deluge of tries continued when a sweeping move by the visitors showing superb handling skills and the ability to always get over the gain line carved a way through the tiring Sutton defence for Harding to score under the posts. He converted his own try. They went further ahead 2 minutes later when from a 5 metres lineout the Tonbridge pack drove replacement flanker Nathan Peters over in the corner for an unconverted try.
After this Sutton showed huge character and came back pounding at the Tonbridge line the forwards inching their way towards the visitors line but sadly they ran out of patience and spread the ball wide only to have Tonbridge’s centre Pat Sykes intercept, what would have been almost certainly a scoring pass, on the goal line and run the length of the field to score a heart breaking try under Sutton’s posts. Harding converted to complete the rout.
On Saturday Sutton must pick themselves up for their visit to fellow strugglers Wimbledon who are just one place below Sutton in the league having lost 5-50 to London Irish Amateur this weekend. Kick off will be 2.30pm at Wimbledon’s Ground at Barham Road, Wimbledon.
Saturday 13th November 2010
Forward Power and Defensive Concentration Earn Sutton Well Deserved Draw.
London Irish Amateur RFC 6 Sutton & Epsom RFC 6
Sutton can be proud of this performance at London Irish in this London Division 1 match on Saturday. Despite being 8 places below 2nd placed Irish Sutton matched the exiles in all aspects of the match and dominated up front. Sutton’s front row props Ashley Williams and Harry Paul with Hooker Neville Harrington are not the usual front row monsters but superior technique and the power coming through from locks Austin Sheppard and Adam Blissett saw them disrupt the Irish pack time and again forcing the home side to give away penalties. Blissett, Sheppard and flanker Felix Symonds also dominated at the lineout. The loss of Symonds injured late in the second half will be a concern for coach Jeff Parsons, Symonds has been a tower of strength all season. What was also great to see from this side which has not had the greatest start to the season was the concentration and intensity of their defence with all the backs making their tackles and covering every move of the very tricky Irish back line. The Sutton back row Symonds, Chris Pointing and the ubiquitous Matt Whitaker snuffed out any moves around the base of the scrum, wings Andy Nichols and Sam Hurley smashed anything wide and centres James Matthews and Steve Warnham were rock solid in the centre with full back Louis Parker sweeping up the clever chip kicks Irish persistently put through and there was no change when Jamie Pearson took over from Harry Paul, David Crowest took over from Symonds in the scrum and Colin Richens replaced an injured James Matthews in the centre. Scrum half Frankie Murray and fly half Jamie Green operated like a well oiled machine with powerful and accurate touch kicks from Green time and again putting Irish back down field.
Sutton heavily regarded as underdogs actually dominated the opening phases of play and after 15 minutes took the lead with a penalty kicked by Murray.
The game then wavered up and down the pitch but a period of Irish pressure just on half an hour saw centre Liam Prescott level the score with a penalty and the sides turned round 3-3 at the break.
Sutton despite being down to 14 men after half time, Sheppard having been shown the yellow card in the last minute of the first half, took the game to Irish and a second penalty kicked by Murray after 4 minutes restored their lead. It was short lived however as Prescott kicked a penalty for Irish 3 minutes later.
From then on defences ruled, Whitaker came close for Sutton taking the ball at pace he broke 3 tackles but was stopped 3 metres short, the Irish started to rumble forward with a pretty effective rolling maul but Sutton always had the answer and with some solid defence, especially one huge tackle from wing Andy Nichols which flattened his much bigger opposite number who appeared clear for the line, Sutton held on for the draw.
On Saturday they take on the runaway league leaders Tonbridge Juddian at Rugby Lane, Cheam kick off 3pm this will be a tough match and the side will need all the support they can get, why not come and support your local Rugby team.
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Saturday 30th October 2010
Live Wire Whitaker Sparks Bonus Point Win
Sutton & Epsom RFC 43 Chobham RFC 12
In the absence of Scott Wallbank and Alex Mockford for this London Division 1 match at Rugby Lane, Cheam on Saturday, young back row player Matt Whitaker made his first start for Sutton at No8 and took full advantage of the opportunity with an outstanding performance and a hat-trick of tries. Looking a little light weight he more than made up for his lack of bulk with a performance of pace and aggression both in attack and defence, his acceleration over 5 metres saw him over the gain line before the Chobham defence had time to react. Another young player in the side prop Ashley Williams also had an impressive performance supporting well he time and again offered himself as ball carrier usually making ground but more importantly showing a growing confidence in his own ability.
When Chobham’s kick off at the start, failed to make the required 10m Sutton were awarded a scrum on halfway, Whitaker picked up and broke passed outside to his scrum half Steve Munford who drew the defence before passing to his full back Louis Parker, he outpaced the defence to score wide on the right. Munford converted and after 2 minutes Sutton led 7-0.
Chobham although stunned by this early disaster showed fight and for a while they also showed good ball retention starving Sutton of possession but not making much headway against well organised Sutton defence. Sutton eventually won back the ball and worked a position 5 metres from the visitors line, they rumbled the ball forward then Whitaker broke off and smashed his way through three Chobham defenders to score midway to the left of the posts. Munford converted.
Sutton were now rampant and within 5 minutes went further ahead. In a move begun wide on Sutton’s left they switched play across the Chobham posts and produced a three man overlap for wing Sam Hurley to snatch the ball from the finger tips of his flanker Felix Symonds and dive in at the corner for an unconverted try. Hurley also had a hand in Sutton’s next try when he put a long kick ahead down the touch line into the in goal area, two Chobham defenders collided and Sutton’s full back Parker was there to touch down the loose ball for the bonus point try. The conversion attempt went wide.
It was that man Whitaker again who had the last word in the first half, a Chobham attack broke down on halfway when a pass did not go to hand, Whitaker fly-hacked the ball forward and won the race to touch down. Munford converted for Sutton for Sutton to go in at half time 31-0 ahead.
With the strong breeze behind them Chobham made a better fist of the second half and for the opening 7 minutes pinned Sutton back but when they lost possession on the Sutton 22, Munford picked up burst clear and sprinted 80m to score under the posts converting his own try. Sutton then lost flanker Felix Symonds to the sin bin for 10 minutes for stupidly throwing the ball away when Chobham had been awarded a penalty. Chobham took full advantage and showing that they could also produce excellent rugby hammered at Sutton’s line for nearly 10 minutes, showing great ball retention and were eventually rewarded when centre Ollie Guy running a reverse angle shot in to score wide on their right.
Sutton with Symonds restored came straight back and from a 5 metre lineout, Munford dummied a pass out wide and then passed to Whitaker travelling at a huge rate of knots who went round the blindside swatted two defenders aside to get his hat-trick with a try wide on the right. The conversion attempt went just wide.
Chobham to their credit did not lose self belief and in the last move of the match centre Ollie Guy put a grubber kick through the Sutton defence the ball stood up perfectly for replacement fly-half Alex Hudson who took the ball at some speed and scored next to the posts. His full back Liam Monaghan converted with the last kick of the game.
This was a vital 5 points for Sutton as at moves them another place up the table and gives them breathing space.
Due to the internationals next weekend Sutton have a week off before a tough match away on 13th November to 2nd placed London Irish Amateur who are unbeaten at home. Kick off 2.15pm at London Irish ground, The Avenue, Sunbury.
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