Reeds Blown Off Course By Storm Sutton

REGIONAL 2 SOUTH EAST

SUTTON & EPSOM  17  REEDS WEYBRIDGE 11

Gale force winds, driving rain and a muddy pitch were unwelcome news for the packed stand of spectators who had hoped to see some exciting rugby, but more importantly for Reeds as well, as they have rightly earned a reputation for attacking, with great success, from the most unpromising situations. They have a set of backs that can unlock the best of defences, with pace and mesmerising footwork that leaves defenders clutching at thin air, but those skills, in the wet conditions, were, for the most part, cancelled out and it was a question of who could best handle the conditions. Early on, Reeds with the wind in their favour, set up camp in Sutton territory and stayed there for most of the first half. Jack Jesty Reeds No 10 slotted a difficult penalty but Reeds made a mess of the restart, Sutton secured possession and in a rare incursion into Reeds space Angus Findlay touched down way out for an unconverted try. It was a short-lived lead, Reeds back in Sutton territory came so close to driving over the line, inevitably the Sutton defence strayed offside and Jack Jesty banged over another difficult penalty for a one-point lead. Just before the break, with Reeds down an injured man and the physio on the pitch, Sutton won possession from a loose ruck, quick hands fired the ball out wide but it was the well-timed entry of full back Gareth O’Brien into the line that opened-up the space for a seven pointer and a six-point lead at the change round at 12 – 6.

Reeds eventually lost four players to injury and consequently played a large part of the second half with 14 men putting in a heroic performance against the elements with two backs having to make up the pack. Sutton, despite, having been in territorial defensive mode for most of the first half now had a narrow lead, their forward rumbles, so difficult to stop in the mud produced another five points when Tom Boaden the utility forward crashed over close to the flag and put Sutton into a commanding eleven-point lead at 17 – 6. No question about the best try of the day, Reeds had been under the cosh in the red zone, their loose forwards shunted the maul forward, Ollie Palmer Reeds No 9 saw space, he stole away down the blindside, young Marcus Clark the winger was on the end of a smart passing movement and he sprinted the length of the park, for an unconverted try that left Sutton with just a six point lead at 17 – 11. That Reeds score, heralded a difficult last five minutes for the home side, they were locked into a desperate defence in their own 22 knowing that a converted try would give Reeds the game. Reeds came so close, but it did not happen, and they had to be satisfied with a vital losing bonus point.

The match award was given to Herbie Finn who led the team from the front with a typical abrasive performance, especially in the second half against the elements. Post match DOR Nige Connell commented that if we had used the conditions better in the first half the result might have been different.

Team: Lennon Day / Rhys Day / Kerran Beavis / Cameron Goodwin / Herbie Finn (Captain) / Ben Ewington / Michael Wasko / Joe Wastie / Ollie Palmer / Jack Jesty / Aaron Enderley / Josh Clark (Vice Captain) / Ollie Maitland / Nick Brown / Marcus Clark / Jacob Howe / Ollie Tyndale / Phys Homfrey.

Next week Reeds are away to the Battersea Ironsides, currently second in the League. KO 2:00pm

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