Sutton & Epsom RFC An amateur community rugby club

Latest Match Report

Hertford Master the Elements
Hertford 31 -3 Sutton & Epsom
On a filthy afternoon in Hertfordshire the hosts put a dent in the fine early season form of the Black & Whites. It rained throughout, there was a strong wind and it was decidedly cold but apart from that it was a perfect day for rugby. Two weeks ago Sutton revelled in similar conditions to put Dorking to the sword but on Saturday they never came close to reaching those dizzy heights and succumbed to Hertford who deservedly took the spoils 31-3.

S&E kicked off with the elements. The golden rule in such circumstances is to get points on the board to provide a sizeable cushion to weather the inevitable second half storm. In terms of territory and possession both boxes were resolutely ticked but in the points column they were found wanting. Time and again the ball was either dropped or lost in contact. The conditions made handling very difficult. Full credit to the Hoe Lane team who defended stoically and their well organised defence did not yield a clear cut chance as they were camped in their 22 for the majority of the first period. Multiple penalties were kicked into the corner. The ensuing catch and drive was skilfully contained. When the ball went wide despite the sterling efforts of Jacob Knight the Hertford line was rarely breached. On 25 minutes the home team lost prop Geoffrey Hughes to a yellow and the visitors forced a scrummage penalty soon after. The peerless Sam Hurley maintained his perfect kicking season with a penalty to put Sutton 3-0 to the good. The team from Ware would no doubt have been delighted to turn around with such a negligible deficit but with a rare sortie into the opposition half they scored with the final play of the half. A clinically executed two on one with admirably safe hands by wing Jack Mitchell saw him slide joyously  into the corner. The wind blew the attempted conversion back and the whistle blew as the teams retreated to the shelter of the changing rooms with Hertford 5-3 up.

If the first half score in the dying seconds of the first moiety was a sickening blow to the men from Rugby Lane the opening of the second half was no dream start. The long kick off was knocked on near the line and from the ensuing 5 metre scrum a penalty try was awarded. It came as no surprise to those assembled that Hertford now monopolised territory and possession. The visiting defence held firm for the remainder of the third quarter. The excellent Red Newberry who had carried effectively putting the hosts on the front foot was replaced on the hour by veteran back row Dave Archer. Immediately the evergreen flanker was in the action and scored from close range. The conversion struck the upright and the lead was stretched to 17-3.

The inevitable occurred. Having been contained in their 22 and trailing by two scores Sutton were forced to take some risks to salvage the game. In the conditions such an approach was fraught with danger. The home team with good tactical kicking put the visitors in their 22. Scrum half Michael Sargent was growing in prominence and sniped from a ruck and was brought down close to the line. Desperate defence held out but from the 5 metre scrum the nine popped over to score. Ben Lloyd added the conversion for an insurmountable 24-3 lead. For the visiting supporters, despite valiant efforts, there was not even the sniff of a consolation try in the last ten minutes. Indeed it was another Hertford substitute, Tim Matthews, who rounded off the scoring as the Hoe Lane forwards forced their way over on the last play of the game. Ben Lloyd added the extras for a comprehensive 31-3 triumph.

Hearty congratulations to the generous hosts of Hertford who were undeniably the better side on the day and adapted splendidly to the harsh conditions. This campaign the Black & Whites have shown admirably patience and efficiency in the opposition 22 in collecting points. However, at Hoe Lane they failed to convert pressure into points as they were plagued by handling errors in the testing conditions. No doubt they will wish for better weather in a fortnight’s time when the visitors to Rugby Lane are the men from Tunbridge Wells and they will hope that the visitors do not have Japheth’s Stone in their kit bag.

Sutton & Epsom
Tom Lennard, Sam Hurley, Jamie Wilcock, Jacob Knight, Kyren Ghumra, Jamie See, Steve Munford, Theo Skoumbourdis, Chris Farrell,  Alex Mount, James Caddy ( capt ), George Drye, George London, Joe Ridgley and Andy King.
Replacements (all used): Raynn Bruce, Paul Parker & Andy Matthews.

 

 

1st XV

London & SE Premier

View the League Table