Sutton & Epsom 7, Thurrock T-Birds 67

T-BIRDS returned from Surrey on Sunday (5 October) with a huge Championship South win under their belts as they put their hosts, who are bottom of the table, to the sword.

The tone of the match was set from the start when T-Birds received the ball and pressed Sutton backwards pressure from both forwards and backs, before spinning the ball out wide where Hannah received a pass and turned on the afterburners to deliver the ball under the posts. Jessica Pettafor converted.

The power and running strength of Milly Thurman-Newell brought the visitors' second try on 13 minutes when Sutton failed to significantly clear their lines with a kick and she charged through several attempted tackles. Pettafor again added the extras.

Another try, in not dissimilar circumstances, followed five minutes later when, after being unable to advance with ball in hand Sutton kicked weakly and Abigail Jones seized the opportunity to return the ball from out wide and extend the lead. This time the conversion drifted wide.

Sutton's defence held firm for almost 15 minutes before Thurrock crossed again, with Samantha Willmott going over from close range after a rolling maul. The conversion was almost in front of the posts, but against a very strong wind Pettafor pushed the ball to the right of the uprights.

From the restart Thurrock attacked from deep in their own half and ran the ball at pace through a disparate defence, with Hannah Thornhill finishing the move off. Pettafor did convert this time.

There was still time for Thurrock to cross twice more before the interval, Willmott grabbing her second with an enterprising dive over the line following a throw in and Pettafor adding five points at the end of a blistering run. Both were unconverted as Pettafor's struggles continued but Thurrock led 41-0 when the break came.

The lead was extended within a minute of the restart, Thurrock forcing the ball over from close range and Elsie Burns claimed the honour. Once more the conversion was missed.

Sutton finally got a try 12 minutes into the half when concerted pressure against a Thurrock, reduced to 14 because of a technical yellow card for Jones, paid off as Emily Maguire pushed her way over close to the posts and the score was converted.

Thurrock responded with a 58th minute try from Izzy Lush after unselfish work from Laila Hassan.

Soon after Toba Lawale crossed and, again, Pettafor did the business from the tee peg.

And she was also to have the last word, scoring Thurrock's final try, racing through on the outside racing under the posts just before the close and rounding off the scoring with her own conversion.