Sutton impress in narrow win (From Croydon Guardian)

North Walsham RFC 22 Sutton & Epsom RFC 15

11:32am Monday 7th September 2009 in Rugby Union By John Ashton

On this performance in their opening National League 3 match of the 2009/10 season, Sutton proved they will be a force to be reckoned with this season.

Norfolk side North Walsham having played many seasons in the National Leagues are a strong and fast side but Sutton matched them in all departments and in the end only lost to a disputed try, the scorer having clearly knocked on twice before touching down.

Sutton just about edged the forward battle and the Walsham backs were just that bit stronger than Sutton’s but right to the end the result could have gone either way with Sutton winning the second half 10 points to 3.

Sutton’s young captain, scrum half Steve Munford was the pick of Sutton’s players but he was run very close by new winger Aaron Warner who has joined the club from Bridgend and looks a class act.

What is also good to see about the Sutton team is that 10 of the 18 players named in Saturday’s team have arrived in the first team from Sutton’s fantastic junior section.

Sutton started this match at 100mph but after nearly 15 minutes had nothing to show for it until an inch perfect kick out of defence allowed the speedy Sutton backs to put huge pressure on the Walsham full back who dropped the ball.

Sutton’s centre Andy Nichols kicked ahead, his centre partner Steve Warnham picked up and gave the perfect pass to left wing Charlie Purvis who touched down in the corner. The conversion was missed.

Lifted by this Sutton were rampant for a while but when one of their attacks was broken up on the Walsham 22 the home sides centre Bruce van Poortvliet running a great angle from deep took the pass cut inside through the Sutton defence to score next to the posts.

Fly half Justin Loveridge converted to give the Norfolk side the lead.

The game then flowed back and forth until Walsham put together a lovely passage of play taking them to the Sutton 22 where the ball went to lock Chris Kent he juggled the ball then bounced it twice basket ball style, knocking on then collected it and scored on the left. Loveridge converted.

Walsham scored again just before half time when with Sutton’s centre Andy Nichols receiving treatment on the pitch a lineout was allowed to be taken, Walsham took advantage of the overlap and van Poortvliet scored in the corner. The conversion was missed and at half time North Walsham led 19-5.

The opening minutes of the second half were all Sutton, they hammered at the Walsham defence and eventually showing great handling skills, the ball was passed across from the right to the left wing and winger Aaron Warner went in at the corner for an unconverted try.

Loveridge kicked a penalty for the home side shortly after but Sutton refused to lay down.

They were helped to some extent by some pretty aimless kicking from North Walsham which gifted them possession and allowed them to pressurise the Walsham line.

This pressure was relentless and in almost the last move of the match some great handling saw Warner with three men to beat 3 metres out, wrap himself around the ball and running missile like, hard and low smash through them to score in the corner. The conversion was missed.

Sutton’s 2nd team was also at North Walsham and recorded a magnificent 5-29 win over their hosts.

On Saturday Sutton are at home to Basingstoke kick off 3pm at Rugby Lane, Cheam.