Sutton & Epsom 33, Thurrock 29

THURROCK'S wait for a London & SE Division Regional 2 South East win goes on after Saturday's defeat in Cheam - but at least they gained a second and third bonus point of the season for scoring four tries.

However, it was little consolation for the disappointment of Sutton & Epsom winning thanks to a last play try to inflict an agonising defeat on the visitors.

On an overcast afternoon the hosts opened the scoring with a Freddy Bunting penalty for 3-0. Undeterred Thurrock proceeded to monopolise the game. Their forwards went through the phases and advanced steadily. Thurrock opened their account with a moment of the highest quality.

Number 10 Charlie Chitty, with immaculate precision, chipped to the flank where winger Elliot Chew timed his leap to perfection to gather the ball under pressure and score in the corner. Harry Reynolds impressively converted from the touchline for a 7-3 lead.

And the lead was extended when Reynolds converted a penalty at the end of the first quarter.

A degree of urgency awoke Sutton & Epsom and Tom Lennard recovered a charge down as Thurrock tried to clear from their 22. Fluent passing found Jac Davies in space and his deft footwork presented Freddy Bunting with a try, that was converted and scores were level.

With the interval approaching both sides looked to the boot for territorial advantage but more often than not gifted possession to the opposition.

Sutton & Epsom regained the lead when they returned a kick and surged into the 22 and won a penalty. Steve Munford pounced with a quick tap and flanker Dan Jones put through Adam Bibby for his first Sutton try. Bunting added the extras for a 17-10 lead.

From the restart Thurrock were awarded a penalty that they kicked to the corner to provide the perfect attacking platform. They secured possession and their advance was halted. The initial thrust was denied but moments later they exploited the narrow side as replacement prop Ben Flatt squeezed in at the corner.

Though the conversion failed the visitors finished the first period trailing 15-17 with the contest very much in the balance.

The second half opened with the first opportunity coming to the hosts after five minutes. Bunting took a simple three points from a penalty adjacent to the uprights near the 22. Leading 20-15 Sutton were fortunate moments later when Thurrock squandered a huge advantage.

Overwhelmingly outnumbered by the visiting hordes who were sweeping into the S&E 22 the hosts were saved by an unforgiving pass that arrived at the bootlaces rather than the midriff. Moments later Bunting was adding a dollop of sodium chloride to the freshest of wounds.

With a fabulous penalty from near to halfway the captain put his side 23-15 up. Sutton and Epsom appeared to be in the ascendancy and put together their best passage of play that ended Callum Hilton, diving over the line to score a fabulous try. Celebrations were cut short as the referee was concerned over the grounding of the ball and awarded Thurrock the drop out!

As the clock ticked down Thurrock continued to show resilience and were rewarded for putting increasing pressure on their hosts when flanker Ben Timson forced his way over. Harry Reynolds made it a one-point game with another fine conversion as Thurrock trailed 22-23.

Bunting then made light work of a 45-metre effort from the middle of the pitch and Sutton & Epsom were 26-22 up with ten minutes on the clock.

The momentum switched to Thurrock as they entered the Black & White 22. A combination of careless play and poor discipline undermined the hosts and resulted in a Thurrock line out 10 metres from the line. The catch and drive was halted but at a cost as the referee lost patience and removed Josh Glanville with a yellow card.

Now it was a five-metre line out. The Thurrock forwards threw themselves time and again against the Sutton line. It was classic defence against patient and controlled attack with every inch being contested to the full.

Finally, it went to flyhalf Chitty who dummied and skipped through the gap to score. Harry Reynolds added the extras and Thurrock led, in time added on, by 29-26.

It was to prove to be a case of so near- so far!

Bunting's restart descended with the pack perfectly just outside the 22 and the ball was regained. The referee awarded Sutton a penalty but they declined the opportunity to level the scores. It was all out attack against heroic defence.

The referee indicated a penalty advantage and S&E pressed on and spun it wide. The crowd roared as Jordan Huie sprinted down the touchline in classical style to score but there was a forward pass. Back for a penalty in front of the posts and again the kick was rejected.

From the tapped penalty flanker Dan Jones exploited a tiny gap in the defensive wall and lock Ewan McTaggart was on hand for the glory of the winning try. Bunting converted with the last kick of the game.

If there was any consolation for Tees it was their first bonus point for four or more tries and saw their highest points tally to date and their effort and spirit could not be faulted with the pack performing well and the Chitty brothers (Charlie and Scott) at halfback showed great potential.

Hopefully the tide will turn for Tees sooner rather than later.

Next week sees Tees have a rest but they will be back in action on Saturday, 30 November when they travel again, to Reeds Weybridge, who sit fourth.