Sutton Coldfield 28 v Whitchurch 56

First trip on the road for Whitchurch in the Regional 2 Midlands North this season proved a successful afternoon in the bright Birmingham sunshine. In near perfect conditions the first 10 minutes were fairly even until Charlie Fletcher linked well with Danny Nicholas with the latter scoring in the corner. Benny Elliot was close to adding the extra points for the conversion but just missed. Sutton Coldfield replied almost immediately with a converted try to put the home side in front. Whitchurch dug deep and a break by second row player Sam Warrington piled through to score under the posts leaving Elliot with a simple kick for the conversion. The Reds then added another try when Fletcher made a good run from the half way line side stepping a couple of defenders before offloading to Harry Jackson to score a try with Elliot again successful with the conversion. The home side fought back and scored another try under the posts to bring them to within a score of the visitors. Whitchurch were then awarded a penalty kick when the home side were offside which Elliot converted for the 3 points. Whitchurch were under pressure in their own 22 metre line when Jake Rees stole a loose ball off the opposition line out and set off on a run the length of the pitch beating a couple of defenders constantly looking for support from team mates but none were there so made a valiant and successful run to score in the corner for the try of the game just on half time to give a 14:27 Whitchurch lead at the break.

In the first minute if the second half Whitchurch extended their half time lead with Harry Jackson scoring his second try of the afternoon after good work by the backs. Captain Ian Gillespie then suffered a head injury following a high tackle and had to leave the field for Elliot Horton to replace. Ben Elliot kicked the penalty for 3 more points following the incident. The home side never gave up and were the next to score with a well worked try which they again converted to bring themselves 14 points behind. The speed of the youthful Whitchurch backs was shown again as Charlie Fletcher flew past defenders from the half way line to score another try which Elliot converted. Whitchurch started to control the game and following a good run by Danny Nicholas who found Henry Appleby on his shoulder to pass to as he was tackled for him to score under the posts for another easy conversion. Sutton Coldfield replied with another converted try before Ben Elliot went over the whitewash in the last couple of minutes to set himself up with a conversion he converted for a comfortable 28:56 win.

Whitchurch are competing well at this higher level and have looked comfortable winners in the first 2 opening games. There will be harder tests to come though and that might start next week at home to Nottingham University who put 78 points on Matlock at the weekend. Kick off is 3pm at Edgeley Park.