Suttonians Season Comes Of Age To Topple League Leaders
Suttonians’ Outhalf Jack Ussher Scythes Through The Monkstown Cover To Score For Suttonians
Suttonians upset the form book with a comprehensive 27-10 victory over high flying Monkstown at Station Road on Saturday afternoon. Played in a strong south-easterly that was blowing straight across the pitch and favouring neither side, the home team got off to a bright start but had nothing to show for it on the scoreboard. Monkstown gradually began to assert themselves and went 5 nil up when the home side were reduced to 13 men, Conor Kelly seeing yellow for clumsy clear-out at a ruck and captain, Rory Litchfield unnecessarily carded for an excellent poach.
The home side began to dominate then, their set-piece proving far too strong for the visitors and the aforementioned Conor Kelly got in for the first try and was followed across the line shortly after, by out-half Jack Ussher who added the conversion for a 12-10 half-time lead. It was more of the same in the second half, Monkstown unable to cope with the organised chaos that Suttonians brought to the game.
Then Joe Kelly made great ground up the middle from inside centre and the midfield continued to snuff out the Monkstown backline. The back 3 of Darragh Henry, Fergus Flood and Matthew Byrne were excellent, coping with all the kicks aimed in their direction in the strong wind and running the ball back with aplomb. The fleet-footed Henry crossed for the 3rd Suttonians’ try, Ussher again converting. By this stage the Sutton pack was dominant at scrum and line-out as the pressure continued.
An excellent off-load from the hard-working Matthew Linehan saw his fellow St. Fintan’s 1st year coach Jack Walters cross for an excellent try after some great carries by substitute Brian Digan and which meant the home supporters could relax for the last few minutes, Ussher closing out the scoring with a penalty for a well-deserved 27-10 bonus point victory.
Meanwhile the Suttonians second team played an entertaining game against the same opposition, running out narrow victors and like the 1sts, will look to build on this form, on the first Saturday in December, when they play host to a Boyne team with whom they played out a 36 all draw earlier in the season.
Meanwhile the women’s team had a well-deserved week off as they prepare for their conference semi-final on the same day in Galway. Galwegians were the victors when the teams met earlier in the season but as defending conference champions the Sutton girls will be hoping to reverse that result and advance to the final.
Will Keep You Posted @ JustLocal
Please follow and like us:
