Again the weather was more scorching and not ideal for playing Rugby. It was S&E that scored first with only two minutes on the clock the Sutton Captain Freddy Bunting slotted a penalty to take a 0-3 lead.
It was only four minutes later that Sutton looked confident on the ball and were moving the ball wide when Tom Allen managed to intercept a pass and suddenly, he was away and no one could catch to score a try under the posts. Flyhalf Conor Woods converted the try and 7-3 and the home side were ahead. OR’s looked to be under the posts again, Alex Skinner looked to be heading towards a second try when the Ref called him back for a forward pass.
At 18 minutes Finlay Lock who had been working in Liverpool that morning and travelled back for the game showing great support to be on Harrison Mitchell’s shoulder to receive an outstanding offload from Mitchell for Lock to score in the corner. Another great conversion from 18 year old Conor Woods.
Max Coyle had looked a constant threat on the Wing and then a simple move from a solid scrum saw Coyle go over for Reigatian’s third try Woods converted and 21-3 before half time.
S&E were clearly not finish and in the last ten minutes of the first got themselves back in to the game with a try showing good ball retention and after multiple phases their forwards managed to find a way through the home defensive line and then on the stroke of half time Captain Bunting slotted a penalty to make the Half Time score 21-13. The visitors were in a purple patch and clawing their way back into the game. Bunting’s boot added another three points 21-16.
This lifted the team in Black & White and they seemed to find a second wind. Play was worked downfield towards the OR’s line and again Sutton scored for the second time this match the Reigate team were behind 21-23, Bunting added another penalty and with the score 21-26 Old Reigatian knew they needed to keep the ball in hand and play at the tempo they were comfortable with. The heat must have been taking it’s toll on the players in the final quarter of the game.
From a Sutton clearance kick that missed touch but found Max Coyle. Coyle ran with great intent and beat a number of Black and White shirts, with the last defender to beat he passed to Skinner who was in support who scored in front of the posts an easy conversion for Woods and OR’s were back in front 28-26. Reigatian came straight back at Sutton from the restart and showing great hands and fast flowing Rugby this time the other Winger Mitchell scored in the corner another great kick from Woods 33-26. With ten minutes left S&E needed two scores.
The visitors didn’t give up and moved play towards to home side’s try line. Great defence from OR’s kept Sutton out but finally a penalty was awarded and that man Bunting stepped up again to make it 33-29. One score in it and a few minutes to play. Regatian managed to retain the ball and watch the clock tick by. Again as hard as Sutton defended a penalty was always on the cards. Sutton penalised and Captain Reilly had the choice, kick the ball dead or go for goal and deny S&E a losing bonus point with Woods in great form with the boot. Th egot the backing of the Captain &The Coaches from the touchline! Woods kick sailed wide and the ball was still in play.
Sutton sensed an opportunity and ran the ball back the had to keep the ball in play or it would be the end of the game. They worked their way into Reigatian’s half went the ball came loose and Sam Turner manged to collect the ball and kick it off the field. Old Reigatian claimed their third bonus point win from three games and Sutton & Epsom claimed a well deserved bonus point.
Next week OR’s travel to Old Colfeians.
1. Ciaran Lee 2. Ciaran Nestor 3. Toby Collister 4. Reilly Franklin – Talbot © 5. Dan Grant 6. Seb Courtney Walker 7. Finlay Lock 8. Oli Brooks 9. Alex Skinner 10. Conor Woods 11. Max Coyle 12. Tom Allen 13. Gareth Stephens 14. Harrison Mitchell 15. Sam Turner
16. Ethan Monk 17. Sam Lenihan 18. Max Nicol
