For the second week in a row Sutton came up against a side which contributed very little rugby to the match but were prepared to rely on defence bringing about mistakes from an adventurous Sutton team, writes John Ashton.

All the rugby came from Sutton but it came up against a solid and often cynical Barnes defence, witnessed by three Barnes players being sent to the sin bin for professional foul play within the Barnes 22.

Unfortunately Sutton’s goal kicking was not up to its usual standard and four penalty attempts went begging.

Sutton started the match brilliantly when their fullback Steve Warnham collected the kick off in his own 22 under pressure and called for a mark.

He took a quick tap and passed to his centre Joe Goatley who cleared the ball way downfield.

An awful clearance kick from Barnes fullback Campbell fell right into Warnham’s hands, he chipped the defence collected the ball committed the fullback and put his left wing Will Newman over in the corner.

Goatley converted and Sutton led 7-0. Sutton hammered at the Barnes line for the remainder of the half but their own naivety and Barnes cynicism kept them out and at the turn round the scoreline was unchanged.

Sutton opened the second half as they had the first, Goatley and number eight Steve Ebbett making some superb breaks and the Sutton pack bossing things but even after Barnes number eight was sent to the sin bin for yet another incidence of killing the ball close to the Barnes line they could not convert pressure into points and in a rare attack from Barnes the visitors fly half Jonnie Fennell chipped over a drop goal from 35 metres.

For 10 minutes after this Barnes did come out of their defensive shell and play some rugby and having won a line out on the Sutton 5 metres line their centre Gareth Williams-Davis made it in at the corner. Campbell converted to give Barnes the lead.

Sutton went straight back on the attack but lost possession close to the Barnes line.

A huge kick downfield by Campbell stopped a metre inside the deadball line and Barnes’ inside centre Adrian Penzorn won the race to the touch down.

Again Campbell converted for Barnes to lead 7-17.

Sutton stuck to their guns and continued to play the attractive attacking rugby they are good at and were rewarded by a superb individual try from number eight Ebbett who first burst through several tackles in midfield, then chipped ahead charged down Campbell’s attempted clearance and scored wide on the left.

Goatley converted and then when yet another Barnes player went to the sin bin for Killing the ball, kicked a penalty to level the scores.

Sutton looked to have rescued a point but sadly it was not to be they gave away a penalty on their 10 metre line with about 4 minutes to go and the reliable Campbell kicked it with ease.

Sutton still had a chance and committed themselves to attack but as so often happens when a side chases a win, mistakes happen and having won good lineout ball 30 metres from their line a looped pass was intercepted by Barnes No8 Matt Monhan who galloped in wide on the right.

Campbell added insult to injury with the conversion with the last kick of the game.

On Saturday Sutton are away to National division 3 side Richmond in the opening rounds of the EDF cup. They return to League rugby the following Saturday away at Cambridge side Shelford.

Richmond & Twickenham Times