Sutton & Epsom Rugby beat the unbeaten ›

On Saturday 11 th October 2014 Sutton & Epsom RFC visited Crescent Farm to play Sidcup who
were the early season league leaders of London 1 South after five games. On that day the Black &
Whites tore up the form book winning 23-16 with a stunning Kyren Ghumra try manufactured by a
perfect kick from Frankie Murray. Almost a decade later to the day it was a sense of dejà vu as
high-flying Sidcup arrived at Rugby Lane this time topping Regional 2 South East. The visitors
were the only unbeaten team in the league, had secured the maximum 20 points from four wins in
which they had scored the most points and conceded the least by a considerable margin. It was
not a case of lightning striking twice but more like Thor’s hammer descending from the heavens in
a cataclysmic explosion such was the intensity and physicality of this superb contest won by S&E
by a margin of 12-7.
Freddy Bunting got the ball rolling as Sutton played towards the clubhouse with the
permanent threat of rain. The early exchanges ceded little territory before a wonderful kick from
Josh Twyford angled into the home 22. The hosts responded with two bone-shaking tackles from
Ben Tame, that set the tone for an afternoon not for the fainthearted, and a fine kick from Gareth
O’Brien cleared their lines. The ferocity of the tackling and a slippery ball hindered the attacking
prowess of both XVs. Kiwi Josh Rea demonstrated his talent with a brace of tackles followed by a
fine break, Bunting probed with the boot and Sutton attempted to prise open the visitors’ well
organised and aggressive defence. The first genuine chance came on the quarter hour when
Austin Bell kicked ahead and the covering Seb Ellison was caught as he attempted to run from his
line. However, in the ensuing frenetic melee the referee awarded Sidcup a scrum for a knock on.
The game continued with great pace whilst thunderous tackling from both defences held
the upper hand as time after time ball-carriers were unceremoniously dumped onto their
posteriors. With the half hour approaching Josh Twyford perfectly placed kicked settled irritatingly
just outside the Sutton 22 and a hesitant Bell, now at 15 after an injury to Gareth O’Brien, kicked
out on the full. The visitors failed to prosper as their lineout faltered. From a Sutton scrum Rob
Hegarty ducked, weaved and evaded tacklers before offloading to the galloping Glanville who burst
to halfway where, as ever, Dan Jones was in support. The ubiquitous flanker set off on one of his
increasingly familiar runs and was finally halted by the swarming Sidcup defence in their 22. Sadly
this exhilarating attack ended as a pass was delivered to a man who was more trying to get out of
the way than storm forward.
The Rugby Lane team’s confidence was growing and Bell put through a grubber on halfway
and recovered it and chipped over to the 22. The second kick was rather over-egging the custard
and a grateful opposition regained the ball. To remind everyone who was the top team Sidcup
went onto the attack. An excellent kick-chase established them in the Black & White 22. It was
now the moment for their backs to demonstrate some wonderful handling in the wet conditions.
Sutton were scrambling on their line defending for their lives. Perhaps it was frustration or
impatience but with a try looking probable the Crescent Farm men conceded a penalty by going in
from the wrong side. Freddy Bunting thumped the ball to halfway and danger was averted.
As the enthralled spectators were contemplating a 0-0 score at the break the deadlock was
finally broken. Sidcup 15 Seb Ellison collected a Bunting kick on his 22. His return was not his
finest strike but the ball descended into space for the rapidly approaching fullback. A favourable
bounce was recovered and Seb Ellison ran the ball back from halfway. The covering Freddy
Bunting ushered him to the corner no doubt hoping this would be a 5-point score at worst. Up
stepped the experienced Josh Twyford who converted magnificently from the touchline to put the
league leaders 7-0 ahead. It was already in time added on but the robust nature of the contest
had meant that the medical teams had been on the paddock rather more often than usual
rebuilding their troops and there was ten additional minutes. Josh Twyford just failed to increase
the visitors’ advantage as a long–range penalty drifted wide. Then it was a case of cattywampus in
extremis as a Sutton scrum buckled. Fortunately for the hosts the Twyford kick into the corner
erred in their favour and sailed out of the dead ball area. The half finally concluded with the Black
& Whites pressing for a score.

The Kent men were determined to reaffirm their status and put the Sutton upstarts in their
place at the start of the second period as they kicked an early penalty into the corner. S&E were
soon in survival mode as they had a scrum 5 metres from their line. Tremendous Sidcup
scrummaging drove the Black & White eight over their line at a rate of knots. Steve Munford
managed to touchdown to avert the try. Now it was Sidcup’s turn to have the put in. The home
supporters feared the worst based on the most recent evidence. Incredibly Sidcup conceded a
penalty at the scrum as it wheeled. The hosts gleefully accepted the salvation. Reinvigorated by
their defensive resilience they went onto the offensive.
Sutton progress was met by a Sidcup side whose tremendous tackling scythed down all
before them. But the Black & Whites were not deterred and started to benefit from a flurry of
penalties. The spectators were divided over the perennial question: “Take the three points or kick
into the corner?” The team went for the higher tariff option. The excellent S&E lineout secured
possession but progress could be measured by inches rather than yards so resilient was the
visitors’ defence. Then an infringement gave Freddy Bunting a ‘free ball’ and he kicked to the
corner where the ball escaped the clutches of two of his comrades. Another 3 points was declined
and this time a huge tackle dislodged a ball giving an escape route for the leaders that they
gratefully accepted.
The action switch ends but a lofted kick ahead just drifted into the Sutton 22 and an alert
Bunting called for the mark and set off on a counter. Replacement Angus Findlay made a
wonderful run into the Sidcup half. The ball came to Lawrence Elliott outside the 22 and to counter
the onrushing defence he kicked ahead along the deck. The crowd were distracted as Elliott was
poleaxed but Josh Rea kept his eye on the ball and won the race to score. Though Freddy Bunting
missed the conversion his side now trailed 5-7.
Mr Willis declared that there were 11 minutes to play as the crowd urged on both teams for
another score. Sidcup descended into the Sutton 22. Austin Bell seeking anonymity and respite for
an injured shoulder retreated to the flank for a breather. Unaware of his condition he was given
the ball close to his line. He kicked for touch but the breeze meant it settled on halfway. Bell was
first to the ball and fly-hacked onwards wisely declining to scoop it up on the run. The ball
advanced deep into the 22 and S&E regained possession. The ball was sent wide where Jordan
Huie collected the pass and ran straight for the corner. A fabulous covering tackle brought him
crashing down but he stretched out to score his first try for Sutton. An ecstatic crowd cheers
increased when the insouciant Bunting made the touchline conversion look elementary for 12-7.
The hosts managed to see out the game without creating unwanted anxiety to record one of their
best wins in many seasons.
Any side contemplating beating Sidcup this campaign will need to bring their ‘A+Triple Star
Game’. The front row triumvirate of Messrs Gibboons, Fordham and Carmen are formidably
supported by a powerful back five. With the ageless Josh Twyford as the puppeteer at 10 they
have variety in attack and multiple threats. Traditionally their defence has been superbly organised
but there is now an almost savage power to their tackling. Indeed both sides dug so deep in
defence they might have enjoyed vistas of Bondi beach. Sutton rose to the challenge and matched
the league leaders for defensive desire and were neither intimidated nor subdued. Willing forwards
carried, the backs attacked at every opportunity and the kicking game was astute. From 1 to 18
the Black & Whites raised their level to new heights. There have been an avalanche of tries in the
league so far at Rugby Lane but this was by far the match of a season that is still in its infancy.
Sutton & Epsom
O’Brien, Huie, Scott, Elliott, Bell, Bunting ©, Munford, Boaden, Mount, Gibson, Glanville, Tame,
Rea, Jones & Hegarty.
Replacements: Hilton, Green & Findlay.
Sidcup
Ellison, Masters, Leek, Smith, Keeley ©, Twyford, Sullivan, Gibbons, Fordham, Carmen, Clarke,
Stock, Ruff, Healey & West.
Replacements: Conlon, Williams & Pooley.