Sutton & Epsom RFC 33 Brighton 43. Saturday 6th December.
Brighton is one of Sutton & Epsom’s oldest fixtures dating back to 1897. The arrival of Brighton also marked the midpoint of the campaign with Round 11 of 22, with the men from Sussex being the last opponent to face the Black & Whites. So it was appropriate that there was a curtain-raiser as an appetiser before the main course. A thrilling junior match concluded with the S&E XV winning 35-30 against the South Coast visitors thanks to a late score from Will Birch. Sadly for Rugby Lane supporters this was not a propitious omen for the 1st XV. Brighton confirmed their status as league leaders with a 43-33 victory in a match that was not only highly entertaining but also competitive.
Brighton had not lost since the opening day of the campaign, a narrow home defeat to Beckenham. Since that day they had won nine on the spin and sat proudly atop the league. In contrast, the Black & Whites had lost their last three. Home supporters were hoping that once again Rugby Lane would be a graveyard for the top team in Regional 2 South East as it had proved last season for the Kent triumvirate of Sidcup, Medway and Beckenham. On an overcast December afternoon Freddy Bunting kicked off towards the clubhouse. The visitors monopolised the opening ten minutes with a splendid 50/22 from fly-half Maxx Morris providing the first opportunity of the game. Excellent Sutton & Epsom defence culminated in a turnover and S&E cleared their lines.
Against the run of play Sutton & Epsom scored the first try of the afternoon. Gareth O’Brien did well to cut back inside to find support and the hosts advanced centrally. The forwards carried before releasing the backs. A perfectly timed and angled run by captain Bunting to an inside pass saw him surge 30 metres untouched to score under the posts. The captain added the extras for a 7-0 lead. Within five minutes the crowd were roaring on winger Finlay Scott, who was just forced into touch by the cover. Filled with confidence S&E went in search of their second score. The supporters did not have long to wait. Playing their best rugby of the game, the Surrey men were awarded a couple of penalties 5 metres from the line. Mr Ollie Carter issued a warning to curb the indiscretions of Brighton. From the second opportunity under the sticks the forwards finally forced their way over, with flanker Josh Rae scoring. Bunting doubled the advantage with the simple conversion for a 14-0 lead.
Within five minutes the table-toppers were on the board. Having kicked a penalty to the corner, the catch and drive ushered hooker Tom Youngs over the line. The conversion was not met by unanimous approval and was declared to have passed over the top of the upright and so a miss. This initiated a period of Brighton dominance. Dogged defence offered Sutton & Epsom relief with a penalty. The failure to find touch received the ultimate punishment. Maxx Morris countered from halfway, glided around the cover and popped the ball inside for Number 8 Fergus Matla to run in unopposed. Centre Marcus Condon added the extras as Brighton trailed 12-14. Moments later they were celebrating the lead. Fullback Ross Miller made the telling break and winger Tyrone Makasi was sprinting to the corner. Fullback Gareth O’Brien desperately corner-flagging forced his man into touch. Mr Carter ruled the challenge illegal and correctly awarded a penalty try and a yellow card. Brighton now led 19-14.
Having conceded three tries without reply, and being reduced to 14 men, the half-time whistle could not come quickly enough for Sutton & Epsom. S&E rallied and ended the first period on the front foot. As the teams turned around it seemed the remaining minutes on the yellow might be crucial. Damage limitation for Sutton & Epsom or the pressing home of numerical superiority by Brighton seemed the likely scenarios. The hosts had demonstrated in the first half that at their best they might still prevail. It appeared it would take the Black & Whites’ best to down Brighton’s colours.
Against the odds Sutton & Epsom opened the second-half scoring within five minutes. A couple of kicks from scrum half Munford behind the defence led to a penalty. The ensuing 5-metre lineout created the try for the irrepressible hooker Sam Lennie. Despite being a man down S&E were level at 19-19. But Sutton & Epsom were soon deep in defence following a brace of penalties and the Morris boot. A 5-metre lineout created quick ball, a powerful carry by flanker Kas Lee set up the try for his captain, fellow flanker Will Hoare. Condon bisected the uprights for 26-19. Then a break by Morris set up Makasi but excellent defence denied the winger. It was temporary relief. Again, the Morris boot advanced his charges. A lineout was secured in the 22, the forwards took charge and Matla had his second try. Condon extended the lead to 14 points with Brighton 33-19 ahead.
The game, yet to enter the final quarter, was at a critical phase. Would Brighton disappear over the horizon or could Sutton & Epsom claw back into contention? The Black & Whites rallied. Perhaps a quick tap penalty 30 metres out was the wrong option; a kick to the corner or an easy 3-pointer might have been wiser. Fortunately, shortly after the scrum won S&E a penalty and they reprised their lineout success. A touch of “same same but different” as this time Jack Howes was the beneficiary, scoring off the bench for the second week running. The conversion made it 33-26.
Brighton responded swiftly with a penalty, taking the easy three for 36-26. The Rugby Lane reply was instant. Adam Bibby collected the restart and Sutton & Epsom surged down the touchline. The ball was spun open and Sam Lennie, like a rhinoceros on the charge, ran over the not inconsiderable presence of Kas Lee. Gareth O’Brien, now at 9, picked up from the ruck and burst to the line, sidestepping the last man. Bunting added the extras and Brighton had a slender 36-33 lead. The men from Waterhall stayed calm. Matla’s powerful 30-metre carry put the visitors in the Sutton & Epsom half. Then a penalty conceded at the scrum was punished. In the blink of an eye the Blues were advancing to the posts and Kas Lee joined the Brighton back-row try club. Condon’s conversion made it 43-33. A late Morris break resulted in Kyren Ghumra receiving a yellow card for failing to intercept. Minutes later Mr Carter concluded proceedings with Brighton 43-33 to the good.
This might have been the fourth loss on the bounce but it was a far better performance from Sutton & Epsom. They fought back after trailing by 14 points and at 33-36 it was anyone’s game. They scored five excellent tries, dividing the spoils 3-2 in favour of the tireless forwards. Now that S&E have faced every side in the league, Brighton look excellent value as league leaders. Kieran Finney, starting at lock, had his best game of the season, Gareth O’Brien coped admirably as stand-in 9 in the final quarter and the effort could not be faulted. It was a game with guts and tenacity to the fore, sprinkled with a couple of stunning Sutton & Epsom scores.
Brighton were well worth their bonus-point win. Consistency in selection reaps rewards as five of their forwards have played every match. The powerful back-row trio of Captain Hoare, Lee and Matla contributed four of their six tries and impressed throughout. Another ever-present was fly-half Maxx Morris. The affectation of the extra ‘x’, on this showing, looked to stand for extra special, thankfully sparing a third that might imply a career in adult entertainment. The fly-half had an outstanding game, kicking with precision, making numerous breaks and running the game. Back in 2015-16, when he was breaking into the 1st XV, he impressed at Rugby Lane in a 22-3 loss to Sutton & Epsom’s title-winning team playing opposite Paul Hodgson, and it is wonderful to see a player of great promise develop into such a talent and stay at his boyhood club.
Next Saturday Sutton & Epsom travel to Dartfordians, who they beat 33-29 at Rugby Lane back in September. The Black & Whites will be looking to start the return leg of the season with a win. Kick off 2pm at Horn Park. Meanwhile, Brighton host Battersea Ironsides with their lead extending to eight points following Sidcup’s 29-31 home loss to Bromley.
Sutton & Epsom:
O’Brien, Scott, Bibby, Bunting ©, Ghumra, Lennard, Munford, Johnson, Lennie, Boaden, McTaggart, Finney, Rea, Tame & Hegarty. Reps: Howes, Duey & Bennion.
Brighton:
Miller, Challis, Condon, Pratt, Makasi, Morris, Taylor, Peake, Young, Rowlandson, Simpson, Egerton, Hoare ©, Lee & Matla. Reps: Travis, Ashby & O’Hagan.
Photo credit: Robin Kennedy