Tring 33 Sutton & Epsom 15

National Three London & South East

Tring 33 Sutton & Epsom 15

SUTTON & Epsom's survival chances suffered a double whammy last Saturday as they returned from Tring pointless with their hosts securing additional reward for scoring four tries.

Things went badly from the start for Sutton who fielded a rearranged backline after captain Steve Munford failed to recover from a virus.

The visitors were denied a possibly try-scoring opportunity early on as the Tring full back seemed to knocked the ball on when attempting to clear on his own try-line, but the referee waved play-on.

After losing winger James Matthews to injury, Sutton took the lead with a penalty from fly half Simon Green before another key decision went against them.

Tring appeared to knock on just outside the visitors' 22 but no whistle came and wing Tim Holgate scooped up the loose ball to score. His full back Rob Newton converted.

Sutton's pack drove over for No 8 Simon Hough to get the touch down on 25 minutes, Green converting to level the scores, but five minutes before the break Newton kicked a penalty to put Tring 13-10 ahead.

In the opening 10 minutes of the second half Tring camped in Sutton's 22 and although the visitors defended with great determination, wing Ray Roberts went down the blind side for an unconverted try.

Sutton's forwards gradually worked their way back upfield and then released the ball on the Tring 22, Green drew the defenders before delivering a perfectly-timed ball to winger Andy Nicholl who waltzed in at the corner.

But Newton kicked a penalty shortly after to stretch Tring's lead and Roberts went over for his second try, Newton converting.

Sutton were eventually finished off when Newton fielded a poor clearance kick on his own 10-metre line and side stepped his way untouched through half the Sutton team to score just to the left of the posts.

Sutton host Bishop's Stortford this Saturday (kick-off 3pm).