On a wet and cold afternoon under the floodlights at Rugby Lane, Sutton & Epsom displayed their promotion credentials with an emphatic win over Chobham. In recent times this fixture has been a tense attritional affair with honours even.
To the great credit of both sides, despite the conditions, an entertaining expansive game was served up to large crowd. Since the weather had put paid to Guildford’s match against Havant the Black & Whites bonus point win restored their four point lead in London One South.
The visitors recovered at once, punishing the home side’s indiscipline. Declining a pot at goal they kicked to the corner for an attacking line out. They were rewarded for their positive play as the forwards scored from close range. The conversion narrowly missed but the men from Fowlers Wells were right back in the game. There was no respite in the entertainment and any thoughts of a more cautious approach were soon blown asunder with a thrilling remainder of the first period.
Firstly, a sniping break from Steve Munford and beautifully timed offload to Raynn Bruce saw the prop force his way over for a 19th minute try. 5 minutes later Chobham were level, 12-12, as a wonderful piece of deception saw scrum half Ian Barnes ghost in under the posts. The crowd hardly had time to draw breath as Sutton scored twice in a 5-minute blitz. The first was an exquisite 30-yard run by Joe Ridgley as his perfect line carved through the visitors defences.
Then Paul Hodgson scampered in under the posts following a series of attacks. With an additional Ollie Clements conversion the Rugby Lane team had not only gained a 24-12 lead within 30 minutes but also secured the 4-try bonus point.
Breathless stuff indeed but not an end to the first-half scoring. Chobham hurled themselves into the fray forcing a string of penalties that led to a yellow card for Andy Matthews. The hosts were going to have to survive the rest of the half with 14 men. Valiantly as they defended the visitors clinically exploited their numerical superiority to end the half with a converted try to trail 24-19 at the interval.
Restored to their full compliment the Black & Whites needed to reassert their control.
Both sides were frustrated by handling errors that were understandable in the slippery conditions. Finally, on the hour the home crowd greeted the familiar sight of a Matt Whitaker try that was expertly converted by Ollie Clements to give Sutton breathing space with a 31-19 lead. The game was then secured with just over ten minutes remaining.
Kyren Ghumra, who had spurned a great opportunity by failing to gather a loose ball earlier, was the beneficiary of better fortune as he followed up an Ollie Clements chip. The covering defence failed to secure the ball by the line gifting the winger his second try of the game. Ollie Clements added the extras as his touchline conversion went over via a post and crossbar.
The remainder of the game was seen out without further additions to the 38-19 scoreline. Sutton not only had the 5 points but also the welcome bonus of a return to the team of their inspirational skipper James Caddy after a long injury lay off. From the kick off he threw himself into the fray and demonstrated exceptional fitness as well as the determination of a man wanting to make up for lost time in this most impressive of seasons at Rugby Lane.
The league campaign continues with a couple of trips to the South Coast in the form of Gosport & Fareham and Tottonians. This will be the prelude to the much anticipated encounter with title rivals Guildford at Rugby Lane. If the game at Broadwater earlier this season is anything to go by, when a last minute try saw Sutton across the line, this will be the match of the season.
So put 3pm Saturday 5th March in your diary for what promises to be an enthralling clash between the top two teams in London One South.
Team: Ollie Clements, Kyren Ghumra, Aaron Phillip, Pete Matthews, Andy Matthews, Paul Hodgson, Steve Munford, Raynn Bruce, Seb Bonizzi, Craig Bellringer, Matt Harwood, Felix Symonds, James Caddy, Joe Ridgley, Matt Whitaker. Replacements: James Bennett, Neil Mauger, George London.
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