Sutton & Epsom RFC 26 – Maidenhead 45. Saturday 4th March.

The Black & Whites returned to Rugby Lane in the knowledge that their race had been run
this season. The men in magenta had torn them to shreds at Braywick Park in November and both
squads were fully aware of that outcome. Despite the match having no consequence with regard
to the league table or which cup competition would be entered both sides produced a thrilling
spectacle played at breakneck pace with eleven tries to applaud. Maidenhead won by 45-26 but
Sutton restored their pride with a performance that deservedly earned them a bonus point.

It might have been the first Saturday in March but there was no sign of spring in the air as
Freddy Bunting started the match with a biting wind behind him. From the outset it was clear that
the visitors were going to utilise their excellent back division and run the ball from anywhere. This
scenario was no surprise to the hosts whose defensive line on the Berkshire 22 held firm despite
several efforts to break free. Reluctantly Maidenhead cleared with the boot. S&E’s first possession
proved to be most productive. The covering Caddy charged towards the 22 and after several swift
phases Alex Mawdsley’s perfectly timed pass allowed Robbie Martey to score. Freddy Bunting
added the conversion for 7-0.

That instant success focussed the Maidenhead minds and within five minutes they had not
only drawn level but had taken the lead. Though Sutton safely secured the restart after a few
phases near halfway the opted to kick. Their opponent countered at pace searching for space on
the right before switching to the opposite flank. An arcing run by centre Harry Wells set up the
prolific Alex Turton who ran round under the posts. Moments later Harry Wells turned from
provider to scorer. A long clearance into the Surrey men’s 22 was run back but the ball was turned
over and the alert Harry Wells swept down the unguarded blindside to score. Greg Smith
converted both scores and the boys from Braywick Park led 14-7 after a magnificent seven
opening minutes.

There was no respite from the high tempo as both teams threw themselves headlong into
attack. Equally both sides were demonstrating resolute defence. At the start of the second quarter
the Black & Whites encamped within five minutes of glory. Jordan Huie went close, a 5-metre
catch and drive was denied and a golden opportunity to level the scores was missed. Then to heap
Pelion upon Ossa the visitors cleared their lines and scored with their next attack. Harry Wells was
a central figure again as he put Greg Smith into space. The fly half burst into enemy territory and
was only stopped by an excellent tackle by Alex Mawdsley but the ball was soon in the hands of
Scott Prince who ran in the last 30 metres for the first of his three tries of the afternoon. Greg
Smith, perfection personified, added the extras for 21-7.

Excellent Sutton defence from the restart regained possession and moments later the hosts
had a penalty. A well-rehearsed lineout ploy saw George Drye rampage down the touchline. The
ball was spun wide to the opposite flank where Jordan Huie was thwarted by excellent cover. A
minute later it was Chris Farrell throwing himself at the line like a torpedo who went agonising
close and a shrill blast from Mr Dixon’s whistle gave Maidenhead a relieving penalty. Very soon
relief became a form of cruel and unusual punishment. A speculative kick ahead by Scott Prince
enjoyed a favourable bounce and the ball was transferred to fullback James Maddern who coasted
home to score. Greg Smith celebrated the bonus point try with another conversion for 28-7.
With the interval rapidly approaching the hosts desperately needed some reward for their
first half endeavours. It was now S&E’s turn to run back a clearance kick and score. Robbie Martey
evaded the first man, sped through the gap and drawing the retreating defence onto him he
passed to Jamie See who did well to cover the last 10 metres to touch down. Freddy Bunting
added the conversion as the referee concluded the first half with the magenta men 28-14 ahead.
Despite the score-line the Black & Whites had had the majority of the possession and territory as well as more minutes in their opponent’s 22. However, the visitors were ruthless in exploiting any errors as well as additionally demonstrating scintillating back play.

Sutton enjoyed the perfect start to the second period with a try. Despite failing to secure
the 5-metre lineout they regained possession and this time they were not to be denied close to the
line. Appropriately George London was the scorer on an afternoon when he carried with relentless
aggression and to great effect. Trailing 19-28 S&E were right back in the contest. It was now the
turn of the Braywick Park boys to turn the screw in the Sutton 22. Time and again the Rugby Lane
men scythed down the opposition but the Maidenhead team patiently retained possession until a
long pass found Scott Prince who crossed the whitewash for the second time. Though the
conversion drifted wide the visitors had a 14-point cushion leading 33-19 with half an hour to go.
Despite dominating the next fifteen minutes with George Drye to the fore with rampaging
runs synonymous of classic locks throughout the ages S&E erred at the crucial moment. Whether it
was a lineout infringement or pressure from the organised and resolute opposition defence they
failed to add to their score. To massage sodium chloride into the laceration Maidenhead needed
the merest glimpse of a chance to see them adding to their account. A turnover near their line led
to an audacious counter that saw captain Niall Crossley put into space and stride in from 40
metres. With Greg Smith having departed with an earlier injury scrum half Archie Dunnill took over
the kicking duties and bisected the uprights for 40-19.

Making light of the latest setback Sutton continued the search for a fourth try and a bonus
point. The remarkable pace of the game did not relent and the attacks rained down at either end.
A jinking run by Dan Jones hinted at greater deeds. Then five minutes later Alex Mawdsley made a
break on halfway but his errant pass was gathered by Scott Prince who needed no second
invitation to sprint in unopposed to complete his hat trick. The challenging conversion drifted wide
and Maidenhead led 45-19. The game entered time added on and the Black & Whites continued
their quest for the Holy Grail of the bonus point. Agonisingly they were held up over the line. Then
with the final play of the afternoon there was at last ecstasy after so much agony. Fittingly the
score followed another charge from George Drye and an incisive burst from Robbie Martey to set
up Freddy Bunting for his first league try for the Black & Whites. He failed to convert his score and
the referee ended the contest with Maidenhead 45-26 victors.

In the end it was Maidenhead’s superior quality that told in an enthralling contest. Harry
Wells was at the creative heart and wingers Prince and Turton were a constant menace with the
former taking the glory with his triple. The Black & Whites more than played a supporting role in
this fixture. The back row trio of Messrs Tame, London and Caddy were exceptional as they
tackled, harried and carried throughout. George Drye played like a man possessed, as ever Steve
Munford tackled everything that moved and parenthood has not blunted Jamie See’s talents. For
S&E it was an afternoon when every error was punished with brutal efficiency whilst they failed to
make the most of their chances. That being said they took the game to one of the best attacking
sides in the league from their early opening score to their bonus point try on the final play of the
game and deserve great credit for their performance.

The season concludes for Sutton & Epsom next Saturday with the visit of Bracknell who
defeated the Black & Whites on the opening day of the season. The kick off at Rugby Lane will be
3pm. It is hoped that a sizable crowd will be present to bid a found farewell to the departing
quartet of Sam Hurley, James Caddy, Jamie See and George Drye who have given many years of
devoted service to the team and have been instrumental in the club’s recent successes.

Sutton & Epsom
Alex Mawdsley, Jordan Huie, Sam Hurley, Jamie See, Robbie Martey, Freddy Bunting, Steve
Munford, Tom Boaden, Chris Farrell ©, Will Lloyd, George Drye, Josh Glanville, Ben Tame, George
London & James Caddy.
Replacements: (all used) Joe Reid, Dan Jones & Joe Lovatt.

Maidenhead
James Maddern, Scott Prince, Harry Wells, Niall Crossley ©, Alex Turton, Greg Smith, Archie
Dunnill, Elio Mandozzi, Jake Leach, Finlay Glass, Brook Harvey-Smith, Mark Grimshaw, Chris Gill,
William Macaulay & Ed Atkins.
Replacements: Dan Hostetler, Mykel Parrott & Charlie

Brighton 39 Sutton & Epsom 22. Saturday 25th February. The last of Epsom and Sutton’s rearranged fixtures sadly fell on a weekend that not only featured the Six Nations but also a couple of stag weekends. Creativity was the byword for selection as 2 nd XV players, veterans of yesteryear, coaches and university students gathered at Waterhall for the formal introductions before taking on the Blues. In September at Rugby Lane the Black &
Whites enjoyed one of only two successes this campaign when they overcame Brighton 42-24. The south coast men gained a measure of revenge winning 39-22 which eased their fears of the drop but the result relegated S&E because remarkably at Bodicote Park Banbury had defeated second-placed Camberley.

The Sutton and Epsom XV included the veteran trio of Frankie Murray and the brothers Pointing, Chris and
Mickey, debutants Jordan Farrar and Alex Gerhard from the Swallows, students Jack Benton
and Taylor Gaye and coaches Steve Munford and Mark Lambert. Tom Brooker took the
armband and was the only remaining member of the pack from last Saturday’s Havant loss.
The clouds dispersed and the game started in sunshine but with a strong wind that was
illustrated as the Brighton kick off sailed out on the full. The majority of the crowd wisely took
advantage of the well-appointed clubhouse rather than braving the elements pitch-side for a
match of great significance for both clubs in terms of survival in this league. The hosts looked
to spread the ball from the outset and their back division with Onke Nesi to the fore was lively
and threatening. S&E tackled ferociously and the pack willingly took on the ball-carrying
duties.

After ten minutes winger Aled Edwards thought he had wriggled free but was brought back for
a foot in touch. The Waterhall woes were immediately abated when centre Arthur Robinson
scythed through the defence after sustained Brighton pressure to score. In the absence of the
redoubtable Sean O’Hagan scrum half Harry Alexander took over the kicking duties and made
light of the tricky wind to make it 7-0. Five minutes later the Sutton resources were further
stretched when Kyren Ghumra was forced off after a knock on the head when falling on the ball.
With no spare back on the bench Jordan Farrar went on the flank and Jack Butt stood in on the
wing. Despite the adversity the Black & Whites were tenacious in defence and the forwards
relished the set scrums with the experienced duo of Reid and Lambert winning penalties.

The Sussex men had to wait until the half hour to extend their lead. A well-worked lineout ploy
from 5 metres was thwarted but prop Billy Rolfe twisted and stretched for the line to score. The
conversion drifted wide as the hosts led 12-0. Sutton & Epsom brought on Hartpury University
prop Taylor Gaye for his debut and he made an immediate impact. The diminutive Dan Jones won
a penalty for a high tackle which was kicked into the corner. Though the lineout was lost excellent
scavenging by the pack regained possession and Taylor Gaye scored from short-range. The
conversion was blown wide but Sutton were on the board trailing 5-12. Confidence now surged
through the Black & White ranks and they were soon attacking in the Blues 22. With the interval
rapidly approaching the referee issued a yellow card to Billy Rolfe. At once Sutton looked to benefit
from their numerical advantage. The forwards got to within a yard under the posts before it was
spun wide. It appeared that Angus Findlay had scored in the corner but an excellent defensive
covering tackle dislodged the ball as the winger tried to touch down. Brighton cleared their lines
from the scrum and the referee concluded the first period with the Blues 12-5 up at the break.
If S&E were despondent at their failure to score before the interval you would not have noticed by
the way they started the second half. Robbie Martey caught a clearance on halfway and advanced
towards the 22. Captain Brooker kept up the attack and ball came to Dan Jones who jinked his
way to the line and passed to Frankie Murray who scored a try that rolled back the years. The conversion narrowly missed but Sutton were only 10-12 down with the extra man.

Before the travelling Rugby Lane faithful had time to dream of a remarkable victory they were awoken from
their reverie by an instant reply from the Waterhall men. Having secured a scrum on the 22 from
the restart the ball went out to Arthur Robinson who ran the perfect line to score his second and
Brighton’s third try. Harry Alexander added the extras for the 19-10 lead. Conditions deteriorated
rapidly as the clouds gathered, the rain fell and the temperature plummeted with half an hour
remaining on the clock.

The hosts began to turn the screw with two tries in as many minutes. First to benefit was
returning prop Billy Rolfe who collected his second of the afternoon after relentless pressure from
the Sussex men. Moments later Aled Edwards was touching down in the corner and the Black &
Whites were 29-10 adrift. Entering the final quarter the impartial observer might have thought that
the visitors may have run out of steam and the veterans made to suffer. The floodgates did not
open and contrary to all expectations S&E began their rearguard action. The next score was an
unlikely one when Brighton decided to kick a penalty with ten minutes remaining. Harry Alexander
effortlessly bisected the uprights for 32-10 leaving the visitors needing four scores. The task went
from uphill to climbing Everest in flip-flops when replacement Conor Scott sped in under the posts
finishing with aplomb. Harry Alexander converted for 39-10.

Then Tom Brooker gave a splendid example of leading from the front. Gathering the ball near
halfway he took the ball in to contact and drove back three defenders and broke through their
clutches and bolted towards the posts. He finished in style brushing aside the last tackler as if he
was Alex Dombrandt. Alex Mawdsley drop-kicked the conversion in a blink of an eye for 39-17.
Sutton now went in search of a bonus point and took the game to Brighton. Unfortunately scrum
half Austin Bell was forced off with an ankle injury and S&E shuffled the deck again. Undaunted by
this setback they invaded the opposition 22 again. Quick ball was spun wide and Alex Mawdsley
forced his way over. Whether he applied the coup de grace or the significant pressure was
supplied by Robbie Martey was immaterial as the referee signalled a try. Alex Mawdsley failed to
convert from the flank and the referee blew his whistle to end the game with Brighton victorious
by 39-22.
The Blues were worthy winners. Their forwards carried aggressively and effectively and their backs
looked to run at every opportunity and had plenty of pace to exploit their somewhat makeshift
opponents. The bonus point win was most welcome as the hosts are still not clear of relegation. In
contrast this defeat condemned the visitors to the drop. However, the manner of defeat will be
cherished by the Rugby Lane supporters. The level of commitment, the tenacity and the bonus
point were highlights in a display overflowing with team spirit. Steve Munford gave an outstanding
performance in defence tackling all-comers. The many front row permutations were a constant
menace in the scrum. The side benefited greatly from the leadership on the pitch from not only
Tom Brooker but also the cadre of experienced players that filled their ranks. On the other end of
the scale, the youthful debutants Alex Gerhard, Jordan Farrar and Taylor Gayle put in huge shifts
and looked very comfortable at 1 st XV level which bodes well for the future.

Though the season has come to a premature end for Sutton & Epsom, followers of Brighton will
hope Wimbledon and Havant will reflect their lofty status and put Banbury to the sword unlike the
faltering Camberley so that the Blues stay put in Regional One South Central. Next Saturday S&E
entertain Maidenhead at Rugby Lane in the penultimate game of the season.

Sutton & Epsom
Robbie Martey, Kyren Ghumra, Steve Munford, Alex Mawdsley, Angus Findlay, Frankie Murray,
Austin Bell, Mark Lambert, Dan Jones, Joe Reid, Alex Gerhard, Jack Benton, Chris Pointing,
Jack Butt & Tom Brooker ©
Replacements: (all used) Mickey Pointing, Jordan Farrar & Taylor Gaye.

Brighton
Max Morris ©, George Payne, Arthur Robinson, Onke Nesi, Aled Edwards, David Mcilwaine,
Harry Alexander, Billy Rolfe, Will Fitzpatrick, Andrew Rowlandson, Richard Neil, Milo Cawkwell,
George Orchard, Alex Havers & Angus North.
Replacements: James Trevis, Will Harvey and Conor Scott.

Sutton & Epsom Women 20 Wimbledon Women 43. Saturday 18th February. Sutton & Epsom had enjoyed a comfortable 26-0 triumph at Beverley Meads in November. However, they were only too aware that that result bore no resemblance to the recent form of the Dons. In 2023 they have taken the scalps of not only Hammersmith & Fulham last week but also the Guildford Gazelles and most notably Battersea Ironsides. After 80 minutes of thrilling rugby and an eleven-try bonanza Wimbledon returned to SW20 with the points after an exhilarating 43-
20 triumph.

Hannah Gutteridge kicked off for the visitors on a mild and sunny afternoon that was ideal for
running rugby and both teams capitalised on the conditions. After the initial sparring with both
sets of forwards carrying the ball ferociously and being met with thunderous tackles it was the
Barham Road team who opened the scoring. The Dons were awarded a penalty when an S&E
player failed to roll away. A splendid tackle by Abby Wynne thwarted the first sortie but it was
spread wide for Jade Whareate to squeeze in at the corner for a 5-0 lead. The game went from
end to end as Sutton tried to get onto level terms whilst Wimbledon sought to extend their lead.
With Aegean Leech to the fore the Dons defence stood firm.

Sutton suffered a self-inflicted wound when Abby Wynne’s long clearance was brought back due to
S&E players failing to retreat. Gifted with free possession and the bonus of a penalty on the host’s
22 the visitors exploited the situation to the maximum. Fluent play from the backs set up Maddie
Healey who finished with aplomb out wide. Trailing 0-10 the Rugby Lane team were also forced
into a change as an injured Hannah Smith was replaced by Natalie McCall. Maddie Healey was
soon in the thick of the action once more with another electric burst of pace which should have
created a try but the ball hit the deck when the line was begging.

The fates then conspired against the Black & Whites as a raking clearance kick from Hannah
Gutteridge took the cruellest of bounces to wrong foot the cover. Maddie Healey got to the ball
first and intelligently fly-hacked the ball to the vacant in-goal area. The quicksilver winger won the
race to the line to touchdown for her second try of the afternoon. Hannah Gutteridge made light of
the challenging conversion to extend Wimbledon’s lead to 17-0. Sutton & Epsom pressed hard to
get on the scoreboard before the break. The Dons knocked on the restart and provided the prefect
platform on the 22 for an S&E attack but once more they could not find a way through the
opposition defences. In addition winger Ella Zeqiri was injured in a tackle and had to be replaced
by Lucy Hoad. All the hosts’ efforts were in vain as the first period ended with Wimbledon leading
17-0.

Sutton & Epsom were pro-active at the break and brought Joanne Evans and Jayne Maddox off the
bench as they went in search of an early score in the second half. The latter made an immediate
impact with her running and probing boot. However, the next score went to the visitors. A
stunning break by fullback Ellie Seagrave put the S&E defence under severe pressure. The hosts
conceded a 5-metre penalty. A couple of rumbling carries by the SW20 pack narrowed the defence
and then the ball was spun wide. Zoe Johnson was on hand for the clinical finish to earn the bonus
point for Try Number 4.

Sutton now mounted a stunning comeback. Aegean Leach stole the ball and her swift counter
nearly led to a try. The retreating defence were forced into conceding a penalty and the referee
issued a yellow card. The Black & Whites took immediate advantage of their numerical superiority
with the tap penalty sent wide where Joanne Evans battled her way over the line to score. Trailing
5-22 the crowd only had a moment to draw breath before they were cheering another Sutton
score. S&E secured the restart and Jayne Meadows crossfield kick was gathered but a bone-
shaking tackle from Aegean Leach turned over the ball and the talismanic Sutton back set off for

the line from halfway. Her powerful run down the touchline culminated in a jolting hand-off to the
last defender before scoring. The visitors’ lead was now only 22-10 and they were still 14.

It was now Jayne Meadows turn to turnover the ball. Natalie McCall was awarded a penalty after a
strong carry which was quickly taken and Jayne Meadows carried it to the 22. The ball was spun
wide until Aegean Jones cut back and her angled run saw her collect her second score under the
posts. The momentum of the match had swung dramatically in the hosts’ favour as they now only
trailed 15-22. However, their wings were clipped when not only they temporarily lost the influential
Joanne Evans to a yellow card for a high tackle but they also lost Aegean Leech to an injury.

It was now Wimbledon’s turn to take advantage of the yellow card scenario. A fabulous run from
depth by Ellie Seagrave fielding a Jayne Meadows clearance almost saw the 15 score but support
was on hand from replacement Shenay Nurse who crossed the whitewash. Hannah Gutteridge
added the extras for 29-15 and clear water between the two teams. Sutton returned to attack
mode and a flurry of penalties saw another yellow card being awarded to one of the Dons. S&E
failed to convert the pressure from 5 metres out and Hannah Gutteridge relieved the pressure with
a huge clearance kick. They say a kick is only as good as the chase and Shenay Nurse raced after
the ball and her pressure resulted in a knock on. The visitors were in no mood to ease off and
centre Jade Whareate scored a marvellous solo effort to garner her second try of the afternoon.
Hannah Gutteridge bisected the uprights as the Beverley Meads team stretched their advantage to
36-15.

Joanne Evans returned as S&E sought out at least a solitary bonus point for the fourth try. But
Wimbledon had not finished and as if she had felt left out of the action outside centre Sophie
Jackson set off in search of glory. Her powerful run carved through the defence and she had
enough in reserve to burst through the last tackle and score under the posts. Hannah Gutteridge
added her fourth conversion of the afternoon to make it 43-15. However, the final moment
belonged to Lucy Hoad. The winger collected the ball near halfway and began an arcing run across
the width of the pitch, having outflanked the defence she only had one opponent left who she
promptly sidestepped for a stunning score. That concluded the scoring on a pulsating afternoon of
rugby.

Wimbledon deservedly won the contest 43-20 with their excellent back division scoring a
magnificent seven tries. On the back of the strong ball-carrying of their forwards the distribution,
handling and finishing of their backs showed what can be done with exemplary core skills. The
revitalised Sutton after the break seriously threatened to overturn the 22-point deficit and the final
margin of defeat probably did not reflect the competitive nature of this wonderful contest.
Next Sunday, 26 th February, Sutton & Epsom will be looking to return to winning ways when they
travel to the Guildford Gazelles who they have yet to play this season.

Sutton & Epsom
Abby Wynne, Ella Zeqiri, Rachel Kinsella, Olivia Lambe, Charlotte Mahoney, Aegean Leech, Zoe
Smith, Tia Jones, Caroline Styan, Hannah Smith, Beth Evans, Robyn Bloomfield, Alice Clarke,
Bernadette Rees & Harriet Forsyth.
Replacements: Georgina Farrington, Isabelle Keith, Lucy Hoad, Natalie McCall, Joanne Evans, &
Jayne Meadows.

Wimbledon
Ellie Seagrave, Zoe Johnston, Sophie Jackson, Jade Whareate, Maddie Healey, Hannah Gutteridge,
Sophie Blackett, Nikeisha Hendricks, Willow Ingleton, Maryam Nejand, Zoe Adams, Zoe Leake,
Tracey Smith, Heather McNaughtan & Lucy Boiling.
Replacements: Stacey Malinowski, Karen Williams, Shenay Nurse, Jennifer Crooke & Lauren
Morton.

Havant RFC 50 – Sutton & Epsom 5. Saturday 18th February.

The traditional close encounters of the rugby kind between Sutton & Epsom and Havant
had a Rugby Lane resurrection in November when the Hampshire men secured a hard
fought 30-27 success. The Hooks Lane faithful are enjoying a splendid campaign this
season having eight wins out of nine at home with only the table-topping Dons have
downed their colours to the tune of 16-11 in a game where the hosts suffered four yellow
cards. It was always going to be a mighty challenge for the Black & Whites against the
club sitting second in the league and there was to be no underdog story as Havant
enjoyed an 8-try triumph by 50-5.

On a cold, overcast afternoon with the sound of the rattlers in the grandstand Freddie
Bunting kicked off the match. The opening five minutes was one-way traffic and the blue
sign with the white arrow was pointing towards the Sutton try-line. Eschewing thoughts of
kicking the ball Havant were keen to stretch the legs of their stylish back division. The
initial sparring ended with the ball being brought back for a penalty that the hosts kicked
to within 15 metres of the visitors’ line. Ross Parkins caught the lineout and the forwards
advanced. The backs were released and a long pass introduced fullback Cam Smith into
the line and relishing the gap in the defence he opened the scoring. Though the
conversion drifted wide it was 5-0 to Havant and moment later it would be 12-0. Following
concerted pressure Reuben Knight was stopped under the posts but a dextrous
backhanded pass out of the tackle gifted brother Joel the simplest of scores and he added
the extras to boot.

Sutton & Epsom are not unfamiliar with trailing matches in the first quarter this season.
Finally, they had some phases but having made little progress they were advanced by a
well-placed Freddie Bunting kick. Soon after they won a penalty and chose to decline the
3-point option and they kicked into the corner. The disappointment at losing the 5-metre
lineout was replaced instantly by euphoria. Havant tapped the ball into their in-goal area
and Tom Brooker reacted the quickest for a Sutton try. Though the conversion from the
flank drifted narrowly wide the Black & Whites only trailed 5-12. From the restart problems
began to mount for the visitors. They were penalised under pressure at the scrummage.
The ball was kicked into the corner and the initial triumph of halting the Havant catch and
drive was tempered by James Caddy being shown a yellow card. The hosts took
advantage of their numerical superiority with Try Number 3. The next 5-metre lineout was
overthrown but recovered by Reuben Knight and from the ruck the ever-alert Ben Holt
sniped from close-range. The errant conversion meant that it was now 17-5 to the
Bedhampton boys at the end of the first quarter.

In the Rugby Lane fixture Havant were denied the bonus point being tryless in the second
period. Invoking that spirit Sutton set forth to reduce the deficit. The pressure from the
Surrey men saw Havant receive a yellow card as Will Brock left the fray. Just before that
Mr Tompkins was very busy with his notebook when James Caddy returned S&E emptied
their bench as Messrs Bell, Boaden & Tame were replaced by Messrs Farrell, Parsons &
London, though the latter had temporarily switched with Baptiste-Wilson for an earlier
scrummage. This was tactical rather than injury-induced. Though Sutton Mark 2 fared little
better against the Hooks Lane XV who were not prepared to rest on their laurels. Robust
running from flanker Wes Dugan saw him swat away would-be tacklers and touchdown

under the posts. Joel Knight added the easiest of conversions for 24-5 and a bonus point
was deposited into the bank. The hosts had not finished and rounded off the first half with
their fifth try. The ball found Harry Carr on the flank who used his speed and strength to
score in the corner. The conversion failed but the hosts led 29-5 and soon after the half
concluded and the teams retreated to the warmth of their dressing rooms for words of
encouragement.

The hosts were in no mood for charity and extended their lead within five minutes of the
restart. The Sutton cause was not helped by dropping the kick-off that gifted territory and
possession to the Havant XV. After sustained pressure Joel Knight forced his way over
from short distance for his second, and Havant’s sixth, try. The centre converted his try
for a 36-5 lead. The Hooks Lane coaches rang the changes in personnel in a more singular
fashion than the visitors. Firstly, the sizeable lineout presence of Ross Parkins was
replaced by Matt Whitehead and five minutes later Jonah North was swapped for Rory
Penfold on the wing. The Black & Whites started to enjoy more possession but their
improving efforts were undone by poor passing. The Hampshire scrum-half, Ben Holt, fell
victim to white line fever and ignored Richard Janes to be heldup over line by excellent
S&E cover. Moments later the errant Holt made amends and finished clinically from a
metre. Joel Knight bisected the uprights for 43-5.

The game entered the final quarter with the result beyond doubt but plenty to play for in
terms of pride. Whether it was going to be a case of damage limitation or a spirited finale
with consolation scores for Sutton remained to be seen. George London, as he has done
so often before, took the game to the opposition, driving his tackler back yards in contact
he sought to inspire the Black & Whites. Their followed a bizarre passage of play when the
visitors turned over the ball four times in just over a minute. To be fair drizzle and
dropping temperatures had made handling increasingly challenging as the game became
somewhat scrappy.

Inside the last ten minutes winger Harry Carr produced a moment of brilliance with a
blindside break at express pace. Though he was denied the individual glory replacement
Matt Whitehead was on hand for the final flourish to score Havant’s eighth try. Joel Knight
made it five from eight from his boot that added to his brace of tries brought his personal
tally to 20 points in the 50-5 scoreline. Soon after Ben Holt added a yellow card to his
entertaining afternoon and retired to the sidelines and Wes Dugan stepped in at 9. Sutton,
with the extra man, pressed hard for a consolation try. Teams do not sit second in the
table if they have a porous defence and the hosts defended their line as if they led by a
solitary point rather than 45. Time and again thumping tackles repelled the S&E pack. The
ball went wide and the adamantine line stood firm as the Rugby Lane men knocked on.
Havant cleared and the Black & White army retreated with renewed sympathy for
Sisyphus. In the last knockings it was the hosts who looked like ending with a final score.
A fine break by Joel Knight saw the inside pass blocked. Then Harry Carr was denied a try
as he just failed to reach his chip ahead. The referee blew his whistle and Havant had
deservedly won with a bonus point by 50-5.

The combination of robust ball carrying forwards and dynamic backs spearheaded by the
trio of Knights was more than enough to defeat the visitors. For the Black & Whites it was
the third Saturday on the trot against top three opposition and once more it was a case of
spirited resistance in adversity. Their cause was not helped by early scotomata in their

defensive alignment. Though they had to make do with limited territory and possession
they were too often undone by errant passing.

Next Saturday S&E head to the coast to fulfil the Brighton fixture that succumbed to the
freezing temperatures before Christmas. At Rugby Lane in September the Black & Whites
enjoyed their finest hour with a thrilling 42-24 triumph and would dearly love a repeat
performance.

Sutton & Epsom
Alex Mawdsley, Kyren Ghumra, Sam Hurley, Lawrence Elliott, Ollie Baptiste-Wilson, Freddy
Bunting, Austin Bell, Tom Boaden, Alex Mount, Will Lloyd, George Drye ©, Josh Glanville,
Ben Tame, James Caddy & Tom Brooker.
Replacements: (all used) Chris Farrell, George London, & Ross Parsons.

Havant
Cam Smith, Harry Carr, Joel Knight ©, Jacob Knight, Jonah North, Reuben Knight, Ben
Holt, Luke Marks, Sean Shepherd, Tam Lindsay, Richard Janes, Ross Parkins, Will Brock,
Wes Dugan & Dylan Lawley.
Replacements: Jez Smith, Matt Whitehead & Rory Penfold.

Hackney Women 32 Sutton & Epsom Women 17. Sutton & Epsom womens rugby had not played a match since their 8 th January victory at Hammersmith & Fulham. They had been frustrated by the weather when hosting Hampstead and then
endured the unexpected decision by table-toppers Battersea Ironsides to forfeit their fixture. The result was five weeks of competitive inactivity as they travelled to Hackney who were looking for revenge for the 22-5 defeat they suffered at the hands of S&E at Rugby Lane in November. The host’s honour was restored with a hard fought 32-17 victory over the Black & Whites.

Hackney kicked off on a gloomy but still Sunday afternoon thankfully free from rain. The
visitors failed to deal with the kick which would be a portent for things to come. Hesitation
from Sutton and pressure from Hackney saw the hosts turn over the ball to gain
possession in a prime position. S&E were under considerable strain defending scrums,
lineouts and penalties in their 22 as the Londoners pressed for the opening score.
Courageous defence against the rampant forwards delayed an inevitable score until it was
spun wide for fullback Rachel Castola to squeeze in at the corner. The challenging
conversion was missed but it was first blood to Hackney who led 5-0.
Sutton & Epsom went in search of a rapid reply forcing their opponents back into their 22.
An offside penalty was kicked to the corner for the 5-metre lineout. The disappointment of
losing the throw was immediately offset by a magnificent turnover. The backs were
released and Aegean Leech finished with aplomb in the corner despite the attention of
several defenders. With the scores level at 5-5 the Rugby Lane team prepared for the
restart. Once again they invited pressure on themselves by not dealing adequately with
the kick. In no time at all Hackney had the ball in their hands and took advantage of an
overlap with a clinical finish on the flank by winger Allie Nelkom to restore Hackney’s lead
at 10-5.
Sutton returned to the offensive with Beth Evans carrying powerfully. The referee’s whistle
became a regular feature with a particular penchant for offside. As the offences mounted
up the official issued a stern warning that the next infringement near the line would be
costly. True to his word he flourished a yellow card to give S&E numerical superiority. At
once the Black & Whites took advantage and Beth Evans, running an intelligent angle,
took the pass near the ruck and was unstoppable from close-range. Another conversion
fell short and it was all-square once more at 10-10.
The pendulum swung back with Hackney on the attack as their powerful pack provided
plenty of ball. The pressure was ceaseless from the hosts and the defence heroic by the
visitors. Twice players were held up over the line but the drop out clearance just initiated
another attack from Hackney. Finally, Louise Edwards scored under the posts and with the
conversion successful S&E trailed once more by 17-10. There were no further additions to
the score as both sides listened to the sagacious words of their coaches during the
interval. For the hosts it was a question of whether they could maintain their effort as they
were dominant in the scrum or whether the tremendous workload already put in by their
pack would see them fade in the latter stages. For the visitors they needed to reply once
again and return to parity on the scoreboard and start to impose themselves on the game.

The second period started with Aegean Leech on a one-woman mission to level the
scores. Taking the game by the scruff off the neck she took a quick tap penalty near
halfway and was only halted in the 22. The retreating defence was penalised again and
another Aegean Leech tap and go penalty saw her cross the whitewash. The conversion
was added and for the third time Sutton had levelled the scores. It was the perfect start to
the half but whether this was the turning of the tide remained to be seen.
The opening exchanges of the second period saw an outbreak of tactical kicking by both
teams eager to establish the territorial advantage to attack. It was Hackney who once
more took the lead. A tremendous break by Ella Harte put S&E on the back foot and it
needed superlative defensive tackling from fullback Abby Wynne and Beth Evans to
prevent the score. But the hosts would not be denied and Allie Nelkon collected her
second try of the afternoon to regain the advantage at 22-17. Thunderous tackling and
tremendous swarming pressure from Hackney buoyed by their tireless pack forced
handling errors by Sutton. This time the visitors could not reply and ten minutes later it
was the hosts who replied. Pouncing on a dropped ball the Londoners countered and the
increasingly prominent centre Nia Watson-Campbell forced her way over the line. Hackney
now had clear water and led 27-17.
The Black & Whites made every effort to get back on terms but the Hackney defence
stood firm and did not allow the visitors any further addition to their tally. In fact the only
additional score was from the hosts. Following a rather scrappy sequence of knock ons
near halfway centre Ella Harte gathered the ball and set off for glory. A wonderful
covering tackle in the corner by Zoe Smith denied the outside centre but her centre
partner in crime Nia Watson-Campbell was rewarded for her excellent supporting run with
her second try. That concluded the scoring and Hackney had deservedly won by 32-17.
It was a pulsating contest with nine tries between two evenly matched sides. Hackney had
the upper hand in the scrums and had the benefit of being able to play on the front foot
whereas S&E ball came on the retreat. Great credit must be given to the Hackney pack
who were relentless from the first minute to the last carrying the ball powerfully and
aggressively gaining those hard yards with flanker Camilla Turchetti quite outstanding.
The backs finished clinically with Allie Nelkon collecting a brace of tries but it was the
centre combination of Nia Watson-Campbell, who also scored twice, and Ella Harte that
ensured that their possession was put to good use.
For Sutton & Epsom there was much to be commended. Emily Grainger’s thunderous
tackling set the tone for the determined pack with Beth Evans was very prominent in the
loose. The talented back division did their utmost with limited possession with Aegean
Leech to the fore. The defence was exceptional near their own line with fullback Abby
Wynne making several try-saving tackles. Ultimately Hackney enjoyed the majority of the
territory and possession and made good that statistical advantage. Though this was a
disappointing result in terms of their title aspirations their chances for glory still lie in their
own hands and were aided by Wimbledon defeating Hammersmith & Fulham 31-14.
Sutton & Epsom return to Rugby Lane next Sunday 19 th February for the visit of local rivals
Wimbledon. The kick off will be at 2:30pm as the Black & Whites look to return to winning
ways and press on towards the Promised Land of Promotion in what is turning out to be a
most fascinating and competitive league.

Sutton & Epsom
Abby Wynne, Lucy Hoad, Aegean Leech, Olivia Lambe, Rachel Kinsella, Joe Evans, Zoe
Smith, Tia Jones, Harriet Forsyth, Beth Evans, Robyn Bloomfield, Isabelle Keith, Alice
Clarke, Bernadette Rees & Emily Grainger.
Replacements: Georgina Farrington, Natalie McCall, Charlotte Mahoney, Holly St George.
Hackney
Rachel Castola, Alex Nelkon, Ella Harte, Nia Watson-Campbell, Caroline Mitchell, Katie
McAndrew, Flora Gibbons, Jessica Evans, Vanessa Riscado, Louise Edwards, Beth
Patterson, Zara-Louise O’Toole, Camilla Turchetti, Carol Anderson, & Zoe Durbin.
Replacements: Kate Davidson, Ka Ling, Diane Anstis, Victoria Bibby, Justine Despins &
Megan Hollyman.

Sutton & Epsom RFC 5 – Wimbledon RFC 42 – Saturday 11th February. When these two clubs met last season the dominant Dons arrived at Rugby Lane as the unbeaten leaders after eight matches and overwhelming favourites against a Sutton and Epsom XV who were languishing with a couple of wins that included a walkover against the
hapless CS Stags. S&E upset the odds and added a further dose of unpalatable medicine to their neighbours when they also beat Wimbledon at SW20 for good measure. That happy memory for Sutton & Epsom fans now seems like Ancient History as the Wimbledon juggernaut arrived on Saturday as league leaders with 17 wins on the bounce, including a November 41-10 victory over the Black & Whites, and pressing for promotion. There was
to be no Hans Christian Andersen storyline nor a story penned by Roald Dahl as the visitors departed as 42-5 victors.

_{Image courtesy Robin Kennedy}

Wimbledon kicked off on an afternoon unaffected by the elements and most suitable for 15-man rugby. Sadly Sutton and Epsom could not resist the Circean charms of the modern fad of aerial ping-pong that resulted in conceding the opening score. The Dons pounced on an ineffective clearance and ran the ball back past the grandstand crowd with outside centre Paul Hendry scything through the defence for his first try of a personally very productive afternoon. Ed Morgan effortlessly added the extras for a 7-0 lead. Sadly S&E’s starts have often been more pedestrian than express pace this season and the Cape Town centre added his and Wimbledon’s second try moments later. The hosts won a lineout in their 22 and Ross Parsons exploited the blindside but the ravenous visiting pack stole the ball and released their backs and Paul Hendry made the break to saunter home. Ed Morgan did the necessary and the centre was set for the fastest ever league hat trick against the Black & Whites as the hosts trailed 14-0.

The SW20 outfit were determined to turn the screw and continued to dominate proceedings with their excellent winger Ollie Kitto to the fore. Ollie Kitto is not a winger who languishes forlornly on the flank waiting for service but buzzes around the pitch like the most irritating and evasive mosquito. He was denied an assist when his legerdemain was dropped in the but he was soon crossing the whitewash. Wimbledon burst into the 22 and the ball nestled in the winger’s hands and he made light of the surrounding traffic to dance his way under the posts. Ed Morgan made it 21-0 at the end of the first quarter.

Things needed to change for the Rugby Lane team and quickly. The team dusted themselves off and reminded themselves that this was a derby game by evoking memories of not only former glories against the Dons but also of their performance against Camberley the previous Saturday as they belatedly entered the contest. Sutton and Epsom began to play with more urgency and worked tirelessly to deny their exalted visitors time and space. Their reward was instantaneous as they were awarded a penalty that they kicked into the corner. From the lineout the forwards ushered Tom Boaden over the line with clinical efficiency. The conversion from the flank drifted wide but the try injected confidence into the body of the Black & Whites. Though the league leaders enjoyed the statistical superiority in terms territory and possession for the remainder of the first period the hosts were far more competitive. The back row triumvirate of London, Hegarty and Caddy were tenacious in the tackle and on the deck and Ollie Baptiste-Wilson started to gain yardage on the extremities. There was a far more determined defence that thwarted the visitors in their quest for the vital fourth try that would secure their bonus point. Steely resolve was evident in abundance as S&E defended for the final five minutes of the first half. A flurry of a 5-metre lineouts and 5-metre penalties were all overcome as Mr Priestley ended the half with Wimbledon 21-5 to the good.

The table-toppers looked for a reprise of the start of the match and Ollie Baptiste-Wilson was forced into defensive duties as he fly-hacked the ball through the dead ball area to prevent a try. Once more Sutton stayed strong five metres from their line. The sniping effort of Rhys Morgan was denied and a subsequent surge was held up over the line. The siege was relieved as a grateful S&E accepted the drop out from under the posts.

As the Black & White defence pressed hard to deny their opponents time on the ball the error count mounted for their illustrious opponents as passes were knocked on. The cool, calm machine that had swept all before them in the opening exchanges was becoming increasingly frustrated in their search for the fourth try. What had been a ceremonial procession for the soon to be anointed champions was now a serious contest. Throughout this period the Rugby Lane team’s attempts at narrowing the deficit were thwarted by the defensive excellence of Wimbledon. Too often the host’s possession was disrupted at the breakdown by the scavenging efforts of Messrs Freeman and Pearce.

The Dons tackled with the ferocity of a side who relish their defensive duties and stripped the ball in contact on more than one occasion. In the dying embers of the third quarter the leaders finally secured their fourth try after a frustrating forty fruitless minutes. The vital score followed excellent Sutton defence that included a backpedalling interception and an excellent Austin Bell tackle but the weight of numbers finally told as Paul Hendry completed his hat trick. Ed Morgan bisected the uprights for 28-5.

The game entered the final quarter with the Dons hoping to improve on their impressive points difference in the table and Sutton searching for consoling scores. From the restart replacement Mark Scott powered his way to halfway but the support failed to fully capitalise on his break. The Barham Road Boys, more relaxed after the bonus point, forced another drop out as they encamped in Black & White territory. They were rewarded with a fine score from a scrum. A quick strike was gathered and a couple of passes exchanged saw fullback Ally Duddell surge to the line. The impeccable Ed Morgan converted for 35-5. From the restart the hosts pressed hard to add to the scoreboard.

Ross Parsons took a quick tap penalty and made yards but it was brought back for Sutton and Epsom to have a second chance with a kick in the corner. Despite a fine take by Josh Glanville there was no repeat of the first period success as the Dons halted the drive and earned a scrummage. The final flourish came from Wimbledon as they countered from deep and a flyhack ended up in their grateful hands and replacement Tim Ridler scored try number six. Ed Morgan kept his 100% record with the boot to extend the lead to 42-5. Soon after the referee brought proceedings to a close. Wimbledon were excellent value for their deserved victory with periods of sustained power and pace. Additionally at the breakdown and in their tackling they were disruptive. Who knows why Sutton and Epsom so regularly begin a contest in a lacklustre fashion? Please send answers on a postcard to the Club Secretary. Then they transform into a team trading blows toe-to-toe with the opposition and play with great spirit and no little skill.

This result has propelled Wimbledon closer to the Promised Land of Promotion. For Sutton and Epsom, nails and coffins spring to mind but one must never give up hope and their followers should find solace in the story of Gilbert’s poteroo. Next Saturday they travel to Hampshire to take on Havant who currently lie second in the table.

Sutton & Epsom
Ciaran Mohr, Austin Bell, Sam Hurley, Lawrence Elliott, Ollie Baptiste-Wilson, Freddy Bunting, Ross Parsons, Tom Boaden, Alex Mount, Will Lloyd, George Drye ©, Josh Glanville, George London, Rob Hegarty & James Caddy.
Replacements: (all used) Jack Howes, Chris Farrell & Alex Mawdsley.

Wimbledon
Ally Duddell, Ollie Kitto, Paul Hendry, Jack Reville, Max Lufkin, Ed Morgan, Rhys Morgan, Tom Boot, Jake Farnworth, Sam Gratton, Matt Grobler, Jack Cooke ©, Max Freeman, Connor Pearce & Zane Dillinger.
Replacements: (all used) Bradley Ugodulunwa, Mark Scott & Tim Ridler.

Sutton & Epsom RFC 26 – Camberley 50. Saturday 4th February. This fixture was scheduled for December but fell victim to the freezing weather. Camberley arrived smarting from a most unexpected defeat, only the second of their campaign, at the hands of lowly Bournemouth and were keen to return to winning ways. In contrast Sutton hoped to gain inspiration from the Chapel Gate upset and record a priceless win. After a wonderfully entertaining
encounter with a dozen tries it was the visitors who claimed the victory, but not all the plaudits, with a 50-26 success.

Image courtesy  Robin Kennedy

Liam Prescott kicked off towards the clubhouse for Camberley and S&E were soon awarded
a penalty at the breakdown. Sutton had the first opportunity to open the scoring from the line out
on the opposition 22. Rob Hegarty carried well and that began an onslaught on the opposition line.
Probing runs from George Drye and Stefan Cooksammy saw the ball move from one side of the
pitch to the other against sterling defence by their lofty opponents. Then, agonisingly, George
Owen intercepted the ball 5 metres from his line and after some juggling secured the ball and
sped away down the touchline to score the first of his hat trick of tries. Liam Prescott impressively
slotted the conversion from touch for 7-0. Undeterred by the setback Sutton stormed back and the
sidestepping Kyren Ghumra was stopped 5 metres short. The ball was quickly spun to the opposite
flank for Ollie Baptiste-Wilson to score. Freddy Bunting levelled it for 7-7. It was a mightily
impressive reply considering the deflating nature on the earlier score.

Sutton & Epsom had started impressively and had met Camberley’s first sorties were met
with resolute defence as both sides tried to assert themselves territorially with well-placed kicks.
As the end of the first quarter approached the Watchetts XV kicked a penalty into the corner. Their
lineout very efficient lineout catch and drive set up prop Adam Pickett for a try. Though Liam
Prescott failed with the conversion they had regained the lead at 12-7. This score initiated 20
minutes of stunning rugby as Camberley produced the best passage of play seen at Rugby Lane
this season or, indeed, on any of the Black & Whites’ travels this campaign.

From another attacking line out the well-oiled machine churned out another try as Dom
Sammut powered over. Liam Prescott added the extras for 19-7. If these two scores were
functional and efficient the next four were far more thrilling in their execution. As if to prove they
were not one trick ponies the next line out ball was spun wide to be to be touched down in the
corner by George Owen. Liam Prescott converted from the touchline for 26-7 and the vital bonus
point was secured. A clinical finish that was a mere hors d’oeuvres to the sumptuous feast that
was to follow. Camberley won a scrum near halfway and went left and Liam Prescott put the
runner into space as wonderfully angled running and passes were interchanged to see centre Alex
Young score. Liam Prescott bisected the uprights for 33-7. Sutton cause was not aided as they lost
Stefan Cooksammy to a dislocated shoulder. The emboldened visitors were in no mood for
sympathy and were running the ball from everywhere. A 50-metre burst from their 22 down the
left was then recycled and spun to the right as brisk well-timed passes saw try number six.
Moments later try number seven was a replica of the previous one for 43-7. The timing of the
passes, the pace and the unselfish play were breathtaking as Nick Barry scored and Alex Young
collected his second try. The only surprise was that Liam Prescott’s conversions had drifted wide.
Sutton were dealt another injury blow when winger Kyren Ghumra withdrew injured. The
rearranged back division saw Ross Parsons off the bench to 9, Austin Bell retreat to 15 and
Lawrence Elliott slot in in the centres. Meanwhile Captain Chris Farrell was press-ganged into the
backs. From adversity sprung hope as the half ended with prop Alex Mount crossing the whitewash
and Freddy Bunting converting to make the score 43-14 at the break. It had been a half of
fabulous rugby but the Rugby Lane crowd must have been a little bit concerned over their interval beverage how their emergency three-quarter unit would cope against the expected second half
onslaught.

The contest resumed and Sutton put on a display of rare character and courage against
their esteemed opponents and making light of adversity they threw themselves into attack in
glorious style from the first whistle. Replacement prop Joe Reid was added to the mix and Sutton
won a penalty from the scrum they had been awarded from the restart. Ross Parsons took it
quickly and broke down field as excellent support play saw Josh Glanville score. Freddy Bunting
made it 21-43 for a perfect start to the second half for the hosts. Both sides threw caution to the
wind confident in their ability to add to their tally of tries. It was breathless stuff with S&E with
limited possession not only resolute in defence but attacking with panache at every opportunity.
The hosts secured a bonus point with their own catch and drive try that saw George Drye touch
down which was a deserved reward for a superb display by the lock forward. The only blemish
was a rare miss from Freddy Bunting as the Black & Whites now trailed 26-43.

Camberley attempted to reassert their scoreboard superiority but the Rugby Lane team
was emboldened by their tries and were now formidable in defence. Ross Parsons and Chris Farrell
in quick succession stopped the visitors near the line. S&E withstood a 5-metre catch and drive
and turned the ball over on the line. The siege was lifted and Sutton returned to the front foot
seeking another score. Indeed, it took until the final play of the game for the Black & White line to
be breached. It needed a deft piece of skill by Liam Prescott to deflect the pass under pressure to
George Owen who squeezed in at the corner to complete his hat trick. The redoubtable Prescott
converted from touch and Mr Powdrell concluded proceedings with Camberley 50-26 winners.
The visitors were excellent from 1 to 15, they not only had power and pace but clinical
precision exploiting every overlap in a thrilling display of 15-man rugby. However, by keeping
Camberley to a solitary second half try in the final moment was a measure of the quality, character
and determination of S&E’s performance in the second period. Making light of the mitigating
circumstances of the injuries they again showed at Rugby Lane they are a XV that plays well
above their lowly position in the table.

Next Saturday S&E host local rivals Wimbledon who are on the crest of a wave having won
every game this season following an opening day blip against Camberley. Having not being
inconvenienced by the elements they sit on top of the table with the handsome advantage of
points secured on the board. At Barham Road in the reverse fixture against S&E the Dons were
41-10 winners despite a very spirited display by the Black & Whites. The match will kick off at
Rugby Lane at 2:30pm.

Sutton & Epsom
Lawrence Elliott, Ollie Baptiste-Wilson, Sam Hurley, Stefan Cooksammy, Kyren Ghumra, Freddy
Bunting, Austin Bell, Alex Mount, Chris Farrell ©, Will Lloyd, George Drye, Josh Glanville, George
London, Rob Hegarty & Tom Brooker.
Replacements: (all used) Joe Reid, Tom French & Ross Parsons.

Camberley
Victor Hardwicke, Max McCarthy, Alex Young, Jaid Wiltshire, George Owen, Liam Prescott, Alistair
Walton, Adam Pickett, Michael Clarke, Nicholas Barry, Sam Voight, Dom Sammut, Ed Grosvenor,
Chris Bird ©, Alex Hughes.
Replacements: (all used)
George Franzel, Josh Watson & Joseph Wood.

Oxford Harlequins 67 – Sutton & Epsom 20. Saturday 28th January. Our local rugby team travelled to Oxfordshire to play the Oxford Harlequins. In the reverse fixture at Rugby Lane the crowd enjoyed a thrilling game that was in the balance until the final whistle. On that occasion the visiting Harlequins held on to win 22-19. A lot has happened since that afternoon as Sutton & Epsom are now staring relegation in the face whilst their hosts sit comfortably fifth in the table. There were to be no surprises or a much-needed upset for the Black & Whites as the hosts strolled to a 67-20 win.

Kyren Ghumra and Robbie Marty were unavailable for S&E and were replaced by Messrs
Hurley & Baptiste-Wilson on the wings and George Drye returned to the second row. It was the
first time that the Black & Whites had played at the Horspath Sports Ground but in contrast it was
the 150th appearance in the league for James Caddy. Freddy Bunting kicked off and a couple of
minutes later he was in a very similar location lining up a kick at goal. Once more his prodigious
boot bisected the uprights from a considerable distance to give S&E a 3-0 lead. A minute later the
hosts lost flanker John Ireland to an injury to be replaced by Ben Jenkins. Despite these early
setbacks the Oxfordshire men were soon ahead on the scoreboard. From a 5-metre lineout hooker
Joshua Archer scored and Ewan Fox added a finely struck conversion for 7-3.

Freddy Bunting kept Sutton within touching distance with another superb penalty cutting
Sutton’s deficit to a single point as they trailed 6-7. Then Tom Varndell made his first impact on
proceedings making the initial break before the ball went to the opposite side and Ben Jenkins
scored in the corner. Ewan Fox missed the conversion but was soon to make amends. Tom
Varndell with a powerful run down the flank stayed in play enabling the ball to be spun open and
this time Ewan Fox was the beneficiary with exquisite footwork he weaved his way over. The
tryscorer converted his score for a 19-6 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Surrey team had an opportunity for a swift response. The Black & Whites not only
failed to exploit their 5-metre line out but allowed the hosts to break from defence far too easily.
On the half hour the Horspath crowd were applauding the bonus point try from winger Josaiah
Ratulaveta. Oxford Harlequins were disappearing over the horizon and were benefiting from poor
tackling by the visitors as they led 24-6. S&E set about the task of getting a foothold in the game.
With the interval approaching a tremendous catch and drive set up the visitors and Ollie Baptiste-
Wilson was only denied by an offside player intercepting. The miscreant Varndell was shown a
yellow card and S&E were awarded a penalty try for 13-24.

Sutton failed to take advantage of their numerical superiority. Firstly, James Caddy was
shown a yellow for a high tackle and the game became 14-a-side. Secondly, Ewan Fox extended
the host’s lead with a penalty to make it 27-13. Soon after the referee concluded the half. It would
take a considerable effort and a comeback reminiscent of the Rugby Lane encounter if the Black &
Whites were going to get anything from their afternoon’s endeavours.

If there were any doubts about the outcome of this fixture they were resolved in the
opening five minutes of the second half. The hosts were in no mood to sit back on their laurels
and coast home as they turned up the heat in search more tries. Try Number 5 came from a catch
and drive from an impressive distance that saw Ben Jenkins collect his second try of the afternoon.
Ewan Fox did the necessary for 34-13. Try Number 6 followed a couple of minutes later and it was
a close-range effort courtesy of fine play by the pack with flanker Tom Walton getting the glory.
With the extras added the score was 41-13 and the contest was over and it was only a question of
how many the hosts would score.

The Black & Whites rallied and threw everything at the Harlequins perhaps in the belief
that attack was the best form of defence. A quickly taken tap penalty by the returning Caddy and
a 5-metre line out created a chance. Drye, Boaden and Hegarty went close before the ball was
knocked on in the face of a resolute defence. As the game opened up with both sides eager to run
the ball S&E were handicapped by the loss of their quicksilver 10 Jamie Flatley to an ankle injury.
On the hour the hosts replaced Ewan Fox with Oliver Brian. Immediately his half-back partner,
scrum half Harry Burn, was crossing the whitewash to give him his first shot at goal. Replacement
Brian duly obliged for 48-13.

The crowd then were treated to the Tom Varndell Show. His first score was a classical run
on the outside of his man demonstrating blistering pace considering his 37 years. The second
came moments later and was the best of the afternoon. If the first was orthodox the second was
stunning as his perfectly angled run against the grain saw him collect his second. Oliver Brian
accepted one of his two offerings and it was suddenly 60-13. Sutton & Epsom responded with
great heart. Replacement Ross Parsons poached the ball to make an opportunist break down the
touchline but was unfortunately injured in the process. However, at last the visitors took
advantage of an advantageous field position. From the lineout George London drove back the
defenders to be halted a metre shy but George Drye following up forced his way over the line to
score. Freddy Bunting wasted no time in dropkicking the conversion for 60-20.

The game ended with Oxford Harlequins ninth and final try. They spun the ball wide and
fullback Jonathan Hughes’ arcing run saw him score. Oliver Brian added the conversion to
conclude the scoring as the referee signalled the end of the game with the rampant Quins 67-20
victors. The result told the story. Oxford Harlequins were vastly superior on the day. Sutton &
Epsom did not help their cause with a combination of weak tackling and errors when close to
scoring. The Oxford Harlequins backs had impressed at Rugby Lane without Tom Varndell but with
the formidable winger in their ranks they had more than enough firepower to overwhelm S&E.
Next Saturday S&E host Camberley in the fixture re-arranged from 10 th December. The
visitors will be smarting from a most surprising defeat at Bournemouth that has derailed their title
hopes. Way back in September Sutton & Epsom lost at Watchetts Recreation Ground by 43-21.
The promotion-chasing visitors will be looking to return to winning ways to keep up the pressure
on the leaders, Wimbledon, and the match will kick off at Rugby Lane at 2:30pm.

Sutton & Epsom
Lawrence Elliott, Sam Hurley, Freddy Bunting, Alex Mawdsley, Ollie Baptiste-Wilson, Jamie Flatley,
Austin Bell, Tom Boaden, Alex Mount, Will Lloyd, George Drye, Ewan McTaggart, Chris Farrell ©,
Rob Hegarty & James Caddy.
Replacements: (all used) Dan Jones, George London & Ross Parsons.

Oxford Harlequins
Jonathan Hughes, Josaiah Ratulaveta, Edward Yeates, Toby Haines, Tom Varndell, Ewan Fox,
Harry Burn, Bradley Cook, Joshua Archer, Joel Hopkins, Harvey Tricker, Allan Purchase, Tom
Walton, John Ireland & George Primett.
Replacements: Jonathan Vermont, Ben Jenkins & Oliver Brian

Sutton & Epsom RFC 5 – Royal Wootton Bassett 26. 21st January. Sutton & Epsom had travelled to Wiltshire in October to take on the winless Royal Wootton Bassett and returned to Surrey with their tails between their legs having lost 31-29. So the return fixture at Rugby Lane saw the bottom two clubs, with only two wins each this season, desperately slugging it out to grasp a lifeline to stay in Regional 1 South Central. For both clubs every match is of critical importance in their fight to retain their status but the coaches, players and supporters would have eyed this fixture as one to win. At the full-time whistle it was RWB who were triumphant in the relegation battle winning 26-5.

Rugby Lane was bathed in sunshine on an afternoon where the hard ground had claimed half of
the league fixtures that afternoon. S&E gave a debut to Alex Mawdsley in the centre and Lawrence
Elliott and Jack Howes, who were replacements against London Welsh, started. Jamie Flatley’s kick
off was plucked from the sky by the S&E pack and Sutton were immediately on the attack. A
penalty was kicked into the corner and Josh Glanville gathered the line out and was stopped a
metre short. The forwards inched their way under the posts before it was spun wide to Robbie
Martey to nip over in the corner. Though Freddy Bunting’s conversion slid by it was an ideal start
for the Black & Whites who led 5-0.

The Wiltshire All Blacks response was instantaneous. They matched S&E by regaining the restart
and also winning a penalty with the only difference being they went for the quick tap. Scrambling
defence denied the initial surge before the ball was delivered to the opposite touch where flanker
Scott Parry crossed untouched. Rhys Floyd added the extras for the visitors to take a 7-5 lead.
Royal Wootton Bassett pressed hard to extend their advantage and endured a series of near
misses as they failed to exploit an overlap and were also held up over the line. It was one-way
traffic and deservedly at the end of the first quarter flanker Ollie Baycroft scored for RWB. Rhys
Floyd missed the conversion but his team were well worth their 12-5 lead.

Sutton were struggling to gain any fluency despite the upper hand in the set scrum and a fully
functioning line out. The hosts’ best opportunity to level the scores came on the half hour with
some exquisite footwork from Jamie Flatley. The diminutive 10 jinked his way from halfway to five
metres from the posts but his pass was knocked on under the pressure of the scrambling defence.
For the remainder of the first half the Black & Whites were the architects of their own misfortune
as they tried to attack from their own 22 and conceded possession. However, despite the visitors
dominating territory and possession they had to be satisfied with the 12-5 interval score.

RWB opened the second period by kicking a penalty to the hosts’ 5-metre line. Sutton stole the
line out but an inadequate clearance was returned with menace only for the alert Kyren Ghumra to
secure the loose ball. The Black & Whites were struggling to find any sustained pressure as their
opponents continued to search for a third try. The Wiltshire 10 entered flamboyant mode. First
Rhys Floyd chipped over the top and re-gathered the ball in the 22 but was enveloped by the
cover. Then a cross-field kick was added to his expanding repertoire. With Wiltshire winger
favourite to score a cruel bounce denied the visitors.

Sutton & Epsom were clinging on by their fingernails but 15 minutes into the second period the
pressure finally told. A sweeping attack was halted 10 metres short but a perfectly timed and
angled run from the outstanding Number 8 Gavin Ougan saw him score. Rhys Floyd impressively
converted from the flank for a 19-5 score-line. At this stage the Sutton resistance was being led by
bullocking runs from Stefan Cooksammy who had replaced an injured Robbie Martey in the first
period but there was very little fluency in the S&E game. Then at the start of the final quarter the
Black & Whites arose from their slumber. Their best play saw Kyren Ghumra denied in the corner
by a fine cover tackle. Then from a 22-metre line out the Surrey men attacked the left hand corner before switching to the wide-open spaces on the right. A try looked a certainty before an unforgiving pass left a brace of backs staring at the undefended line.

With the chance for a grandstand finish and memorable comeback fading by the minute it was
Gavin Ougan that steadied the nerves of the Wiltshire All Blacks. Whether picking the ball up from
the base of the scrum or receiving the ball in open play he rampaged forward clocking up the
yardage to put Sutton on the back foot. With ten minutes left remaining RWB secured their fourth
try and the bonus point that their superiority on the day warranted. Attacking from a line out on
the S&E 22 they won a penalty 5 metres from the line. A couple of phases later winger Jamie
Murray was over in the corner. Rhys Floyd made light of the angle to bisect the uprights for 26-5.
The hosts were left playing for pride as they sought out a consolation score or two. A beautifully
weighted kick from Jamie Flatley from 40 metres initiated a curious moment. The RWB cover
gathered the ball near his line and passed it to an S&E player who immediately passed it to back
to another RWB man, it was becoming one of those afternoons for Sutton. From a 5-metre scrum
the retreating Wiltshire pack conceded a penalty. The Black & Whites spread themselves wide and
from the tap penalty were held up over the line. The hosts returned the drop out from under the
posts and nearly scored in one corner before switching directions. Jamie Flatley was in a promising
position threatening a score but lost his footing and a grateful defence swallowed him up. The
referee then ended the contest with Royal Wootton Bassett victors to the tune of 26-5.

With this result for Sutton the thought of relegation has shifted from possibility to probability with
this crucial defeat to the side that sit at the foot of the table. In contrast RWB will be not studying
the ‘3 Rs’ but the ‘4 Bs’ as they have fixtures against Bracknell, Banbury, Brighton and
Bournemouth as the plot their route to survival. The visitors thoroughly warranted their success
and will hope to maintain their momentum they have gained since the prolonged festive break. In
contrast the Black & Whites remaining fixtures are predominantly against those teams in the upper
echelons.

Next Saturday S&E will be visiting new territory when travelling to Horspath to play against the
Oxford Harlequins. In the reverse fixture the Rugby Lane crowd saw a thrilling contest that the
Oxfordshire side edged by 22-19.

Sutton & Epsom
Lawrence Elliott, Robbie Martey, Freddy Bunting, Alex Mawdsley, Kyren Ghumra, Jamie Flatley,
Austin Bell, Tom Boaden, Jack Howes, Will Lloyd, Josh Glanville, Ewan McTaggart, Chris Farrell ©,
Rob Hegarty & James Caddy.
Replacements: (all used) Alex Mount, Stefan Cooksammy & Ross Parsons.

Royal Wootton Bassett
Daniel Hale, Matthew Huggins, Scott Douglas, Connor Tomley, Jamie Murray, Rhys Floyd, Rhys
Higginson, Ben Wilkinson, Scott Parry, Christopher Roshier, Jack Daynes, Josh McCafferty, Ollie
Baycroft, Dylan Higginson, Gavin Ougan ©.
Replacements: (all used) Jamie Davison, Sam Williams & Sean Marsden.

London Welsh 42 – Sutton & Epsom RFC 27 – Saturday 14th January. When these two sides met at Rugby Lane in October they produced an engrossing affair that ended honours even 15-15. Sutton and Epsom arrived at the famous Old Deer Park ground looking to build on the previous Saturday’s win against Bournemouth as they attempt to fight their way out of the relegation zone. The Exiles fielded a much-changed team from the earlier encounter and were able this time to field the formidable trio of Couzens, Bodinham and Cowdy.

After a feast of running rugby and eight tries London Welsh prevailed 42-27. Fortunately the torrential midday rain abated in time for the kick off. Sutton had only two changes in their starting XV as they welcomed back Ross Parsons and James Caddy. London Welsh kicked off and the hosts started at full throttle forcing their way into the visitors’ 22. They opened their account via the boot of Dafydd Manley for a 3-0 lead.

After one-way traffic for the opening ten minutes the Surrey men were awarded a penalty on their first incursion into the Welsh half. Though the kick was near halfway Freddy Bunting strode up and thumped over what was to be the first of his five penalties of the afternoon to level the score, 3-3. Parity did not last long. The marauding Number 8 Ben Davies passed to the towering Ed Couzens and Rhys Howells was on hand to add the finishing touches for the first try. Dafydd Manley’s conversion failed but London Welsh led 8-3 after fifteen minutes. 

Sutton had enjoyed limited possession and precious little time in their opponent’s territory but took the lead in stunning style. After good work by the forwards Jamie Flatley was presented with the ball and with quicksilver footwork left the defence clutching at thin air to scamper in under the posts. Freddy Bunting did the necessary and Sutton and Epsom led by 10-8 at the end of the first quarter.

London Welsh did not trail for long. Scrum half Adam Nixon darted down the blindside to release Sion Cowdy whose perfectly timed pass put in Jacob Butler to restore the ODP team’s lead as Dafydd Manley added the extras for 15-10. Another Freddy Bunting penalty reduced Sutton’s deficit to 13-15. But minutes later it was the hosts who were awarded a penalty but they opted to kick it into the corner for the attacking line out. The pack controlled the ball and ushered captain James Buncle over the line for his first try this campaign. Dafydd Manley failed to add to the scoreboard as the Welsh led 20-13. Sutton and Epsom were still very much in the contest and with the prodigious Bunting adding another penalty with half time rapidly approaching the visitors were trailing 16-20.

The gloss was rubbed off Sutton and Epsom’s first period performance when scrum half Adam Nixon finished off an attack he initiated with a quick tap penalty. When Dafydd Manley’s conversion sailed between the posts Mr Michael Essam blew his whistle to end the first half with London Welsh 27-16 to the good. The Black & Whites started the second period well playing at a high tempo with excellent work from the forwards to set up camp in the host’s 22. Despite the control and pressure they were only able to add another Bunting penalty to trail 19-27. In their first sortie to the Sutton 22 the ODP team consoled themselves with a Dafydd Manley penalty for 30-19. Despite this score it was the visitors who were now in the ascendancy. The Sutton and Epsom pack hammered the Welsh defences with power and control as Ewan McTaggart advanced to the line.

The red wall held firm and hooker Gareth Lewis stole the ball to relieve the siege. After such a superb defensive effort London Welsh offered a lifeline to the visitors as Ben Bodinham received a yellow card. Sutton and Epsom and Epsom replacement Lawrence Elliott made an immediate impact with a surging break as Sutton and Epsom pressed hard to make their numerical superiority pay.

The visitors were playing their best rugby of the game but had to content themselves with another Freddy Bunting penalty. Trailing 22-30 with 15 minutes to go and a man up Sutton and Epsom were very much back in the contest. Hope springs eternal but misery can deflate spectators in seconds. From the restart Sutton and Epsom knocked on and from the scrum Tom Brooker was shown a yellow card and the game continued as a 14-man contest.

To compound the problems for Sutton and Epsom the Exile’s Number 8 Ben  Davies burrowed his way over from close-range to extend London Welsh’s lead to 35-22 with ten minutes remaining. Sutton had to get the next try but that honour went to the hosts and it was the best of their six. Sion Cowdy strode forward from halfway, chipped ahead and won the foot race as he regathered the ball he passed to supporting full back Tom Hunt who scored. Dafydd Manley added the conversion to make it 42-22 and end all hopes of a Sutton success.

Sutton and Epsom refused to retire meekly in the gathering gloom as the game entered time added on. Tom Brooker returned to the contest and made an instant impact as the Rugby Lane men went in search of a consolation. After pressure from the tireless pack had drawn the Welsh defences to their posts the ball was spun wide and a long ball floated pass reached Tom Brooker on the wing and he scored in the corner. That was the final score in a thoroughly entertaining contest with London Welsh earning a bonus point for a 42-27 victory. London Welsh scrum half Adam Nixon won the Devil’s Bridge Rum Man of the Match and he had been at the heart of the action throughout. London Welsh were worthy winners as they created more chances and secured six tries.

The kicking of Freddy Bunting kept Sutton and Epsom in the contest and if they had been more clinical they may have gained a bonus point or two. Sutton and Epsom certainly matched the hosts for phases of the match and played some exhilarating rugby but the try on the stroke of half time and the yellow card were critical blows from which they did not recover. Next Saturday sees the basement battle as Rugby Lane plays host to the Wiltshire All Blacks, Royal Wootton Bassett, who earned a very creditable bonus point at home against Havant as Sutton and Epsom toiled at ODP. Further afield Banbury’s 17-17 draw at Brighton was another result that was not welcome for the Black & Whites.

When Sutton & Epsom ventured to Ballards Ash earlier in the campaign they lost by the narrow margin of 31-29 as RWB celebrated their first win of the season. Sutton will need to turn the tables on Saturday and will hope a large and vocal crowd will gather at Rugby Lane for the 2pm start to cheer on the Black & Whites.

Sutton & Epsom: Sam Hurley, Robbie Martey, Freddy Bunting, Jamie See, Kyren Ghumra, Jamie Flatley, Ross Parsons, Tom Boaden, Alex Mount, Will Lloyd, James Caddy, Josh Glanville, Chris Farrell ©, Rob Hegarty &  Tom Brooker. Replacements: (all used) Jack Howes, Ewan McTaggart &  Lawrence Elliott.

London Welsh: Tom Hunt, Sion Cowdy, Rhys Howells, Dafydd Manley, Osian McAvoy, Adam Nixon, James Buncle ©, Gareth Lewis, Sam Johnson, Ed Couzens, Ben Bodinham, Charlie Bramble, Rohan Pixley &  Ben Davies. Replacements: (all used) Myles Keane, James Downing & Elis Staines.

Go to https://www.suttonrugby.co.uk   for future fixtures.