SUTTON COLDFIELD  16 - 9  HEREFORD

Sutton, 21 December 2002

Powergen Midlands 2 West League

The game started with Hereford going straight into the attack and pinned Sutton down in their 22 for a good 10 minutes. However the front row took time to settle and did not win their own ball from a scrum near the Sutton line, allowing the home team to clear 60 yards back into the Hereford half. From the ensuing line out a Hereford forward was deemed to be offside and Nevitt kicked the 3 points.

This gave Sutton a bit more confidence and proceeded to lay siege to the Hereford try line for a ten-minute spell. After 15 minutes and some sloppy tackling, it was Nevitt who finally crossed in the corner to make the score 8-0. After 15 minutes

Clive Eastwood replaced the impressive Jackie White. After the centre got a crack on the leg and had to limp off. Although this weakened the backs and forced some positional changes, were more competitive up front.

From the kick off Hereford once again went into the attack and Clever play form Richard Mayson, playing his first game at outside half, almost sent Will Mcquaid through but the Sutton defence held him up. An infringement for offside followed and the Home team cleared their lines. Back Hereford came and were finally awarded a penalty for offside which Colin Osborne kicked. 8-3. The first half ended with Hereford again making inroads into the Sutton 22 but were unable to cross the line.

Following a sustained period of play in the Sutton half another penalty was awarded after 50 minutes and Osborne made no mistake.

Back came Hereford from the kick off and with Johnson in the thick of things again Hereford were awarded a penalty for offside. Osborne kicked it and Hereford were deservedly in the lead for the first time at 8-9 with ten minutes to go.

There followed several attacking moves form the visitors, where Richard Mayson started things off but Hereford were just kept out on several occasions.

Sutton seemed devoid of ideas and attempted 3 or 4 long-range drop kicks at goal. However from the resulting 22-drop out from Osborne Hereford were guilty of 4 or 5 missed tackles to allow an attack deep into the Hereford 22. The reliable Jamie Bullock and Matthew Pritchard stopped the attack but Sutton sent the ball out quickly to winger Jones who just crept into the corner despite some fine cover work from Will Mcquaid.

From the restart Sutton kicked deep and from the resulting line out a penalty for offside was kicked by Nevitt. 16-9.

With only 3 minutes to play Hereford had two opportunities to score but again the last passes just didn’t arrive.

Hereford’s Chairman Guy Griffiths said “The players are obviously disappointed as this was a game they knew they should have won, but unlike last season they are honest enough to realise where they went wrong and each takes his share of responsibility, in an effort to put it right for the following week. With 10 first team squad players unavailable today, it shows the depth in strength of the club, in that new players can come into the squad, be accepted, and play as a team. All looks well for the future.” “Don’t forget our Fathers and Sons game kick off 1pm Boxing day at the Club where I’m reliably informed that the Osborne family will be represented by 3 generations if Granddad Colin can bend down long enough to do his laces up!”