The better team won

The game much affected by the strong wind. Barnes scored early then had a 14 point lead after 11 minutes. At halftime the score was 14-all with Sutton doing most of the defending. They took the lead with a penalty early in the second half. The scores in the rest of the game were two more penalties for the home team and a last one for Barnes to get a losing bonus point.

The home team kicked off with the advantage of the diagonal wind; the ball going into touch 9 metres from the opposition line. From the line-out Barnes went wide then used an up-and-under. Sutton secured the ball and put together 8 mixed phases before their opponents' fly-half intercepted then ran to the posts inside 2 minutes. Their scrumhalf added.

Another up-and-under following the restart resulted in a penalty for S&E for a challenge in the air. The kick took them to just inside the visitors' 22. An error at the line-out gave possession back to Barnes and they kicked for territory. Sutton ran back to get a penalty 12 metres past halfway and their kick took them to almost 5 metres from Barnes' line. The line-out was stolen and the visitors cleared to touch 18 metres from halfway. They stole another line-out then used another up-and-under that went into touch off an opposition player. From their line-out 13 metres into the other half Barnes put together 7 close phases to get a penalty 18 metres out which they ran to get another 12 metres out. They opted for a closer line-out that resulted in another penalty 5 metres out then after the next line-out and drive the Ref. awarded a penalty try after 11 minutes and S&E lost a man for 10 minutes.

After that during the rest of the game Barnes kicked one penalty while Sutton scored 23 points to win deservedly.

The visitors kicked the long restart back; S&E ran the ball then a high tackle gave them a penalty 9 metres past halfway. Their kick didn't find touch. Barnes cleared to touch 19 metres from halfway then stole another line-out. Next they kicked out on the full but stole a line-out again just outside their 22. They cleared again to touch and the Ref. said that that had been carried back into the 22. Sutton secured their next line-out; their pack crabbed infield then the ball was released. After 8 mostly close phases they were penalised 12 metres out as Barnes counter-rucked. The visitors kicked for a line-out at their 10 metre line then threw the line-out not-straight. Soon after the scrum Barnes were penalised and the kick took S&E to 14 metres out then from their line-out their pack advanced before a forward broke off and one recycle got them to the line or close. The Ref. went back to a previously signalled penalty 5 metres out. Sutton chose a scrum and advanced a bit in that before the Ref. went to the post to indicate the second penalty try of the game at the start of the second quarter.

The visitors restarted with a low flat kick that resulted in their line-out 19 metres from the opposition line. From it they kept the ball close recycling 7 times before being turned over. Three kicks followed before a Barnes' line-out at halfway; that was thrown not-straight to the opposition side and S&E advanced with the ball. They were soon turned over after which they were penalised. Barnes ran with 4 phases to get another penalty 15 metres past halfway and ran again. After one recycle they were 10 metres out then after 4 more recycles they were turned over. Sutton cleared to touch then the visitors threw a quick line-out before an error gave their opponents a scrum at halfway. From that they went wide before being turned over. Following 3 kicks the ball went into touch off an opposition player to give Barnes a line-out near halfway. That was thrown long and the home team got it. They advanced then went wide to advance again this time into the 22. They went wide again then good passing opened up the defence and they advanced to 5 metres out. Four more close recycles resulted in their put-in 5 metres out; from it they went blind then recycled twice close then went wide again. Another recycle to the blind side sent wing Meeson to the corner at 36 minutes. An excellent conversion from scrumhalf Englefield followed.

Sutton secured the restart and kept the ball for five phases before kicking for territory. Barnes cleared to touch 9 metres from halfway then got the ball from the opposition not-straight line-out. They soon kicked long to the opposition 22 and the ball was put into touch for halftime.

The visitors' second half restart went into touch and not by a little amount. From the scrum back Sutton broke through out wide then soon got a penalty 14 metres into the visitors' half near centre field after less than 90 seconds. Englefield kicked for the lead.

They secured the restart and were awarded a penalty after recycling close once. They kicked for a line-out 17 metres past halfway. Soon after the line-out they were turned over; Barnes used an up-and-under. Sutton got the ball then loose ball was hacked by both teams and the home team got the ball back. They recycled 5 times before using an up-and-under. Barnes kicked out on the full for a line-out 30 metres from their line. S&E went wide from their line-out and advanced then were soon turned over; the visitors ran in their 22. After a couple of recycles they put the ball into touch at their 10 metre line. They stole the line-out then after going backwards a bit recycled twice more before trying another up-and-under. This went into touch off an opposition player 2 metres past halfway. From that they soon kicked even better to touch almost 5 metres from the home team's line. The defending team got a free kick at their line-out and cleared for another 25 metres out. Barnes went wide from this one and advanced putting together 8 mostly close phases before losing possession at a tackle. Sutton then cleared well to touch 6 metres from halfway. After the line-out and 2 close recycles Sutton hacked a loose ball on almost to Barnes' line. The defence got the ball and ran out of their 22 with 3 phases to get a penalty 27 metres out. They kicked to 10 metres past halfway then were turned over soon after and were penalised just after that. S&E ran the ball to their scrum 13 metres into the other half. After first keeping the ball in a break off made ground and one pass made more before a stoppage near their opponents' line. This resulted in their 5 metre scrum and an error after that gave Barnes one 9 metres out. The visitors next cleared to touch 17 metres from halfway and regained a loose ball at the line-out. They then kicked out on the full from their 10 metre line. Sutton's pack started a drive then released and chipped through; the visitors soon kicked ahead and the opposition ran back to get a penalty 4 metres past halfway near centre field at 21 minutes. An excellent kick from their scrumhalf doubled the lead.

The visitors restarted to the 22 then Sutton kept the ball for 7 mixed phases before an error was forced giving Barnes a scrum 8 metres past halfway. After advancing a few metres with 4 phases they were penalised for not releasing and their opponents kicked to touch 16 metres into the other half. There they lost their line-out but straight away regained when the visitors dropped the ball. They advanced into the 22 and further to their penalty 13 metres out in centre field at 25 minutes. To this was added a man advantage for the rest of the game, that being less than 10 minutes. The kick made their lead 9 points.

The restart went into touch 17 metres into the half off an opposition player. Barnes released to centre from the line-out and recycled twice to get a penalty 5 metres back. They ran that with 5 phases to get another just outside the 22 not far from centre field at 28 minutes. Davies kicked the points.

The visitors ran back the restart with 8 phases to get a penalty at their 10 metre line. Their kick didn't find touch and S&E did with their reply. From the line-out at halfway Barnes kept the ball advancing with 14 mostly close phases before being penalised at the 22. Sutton kicked to touch 3 metres from halfway then had the ball for 6 close phases progressing to 9 metres past halfway. The kick took the visitors to 27 metres from their opponents' line. From that they advanced with 9 phases to another penalty 16 metres out. They ran this one recycling 11 times to get a third and ran again. The defence was not 10 metres back and after running again the defence forced an error for the whistle.

Dry, sunny with at least 95% blue sky; not cold yet with a strong but varying wind; the pitch good. First 3pm k.o. of the year with floodlights.