NOT OUR BEST PERFORMANCE

It was a disappointing week for Sudbury after last week’s performance, losing to the only other team in the league without a win. A two hour coach journey to start the day did not help but they lacked the sparkle of the previous week and made many unforced errors.
Sudbury kicked off and the home side immediately attacked the Sudbury half and for the first five minutes were under some pressure, Summers received a yellow card for hands in the ruck in the red zone and from the penalty the heavier Ruislip pack rolled the maul to score and convert. Sudbury replied immediately with a fine run from the backs to put Henry Cowling over but with no conversion to keep Sudbury in the hunt. Sudbury then had some bad luck when Ruislip scored again when they kicked ahead, Shaun Smith had the ball covered but it took a wicked bounce away from him and into the arms of a Ruislip player who ran in unopposed.
Sudbury were being pushed about in the scrums by a much bigger pack but were holding their own in the lineouts and the lose play but missed a kick at goal midway in the first half. Ruislip then scored again with a good move from their own half involving all their players and then the winger ran from halfway to score. Sudbury came back into the game for the last ten minute of the half but failed to score giving a score of 19-5 at the break.
The second half had a bizarre start with Ruislip losing three players to the bin in almost three successive phases of play as Sudbury attacked their lines. After the second player was sent from the field Sudbury scored from close range from the penalty and the referee saw something in the melee and gave the third his marching orders with only seven minutes on the clock. With a three man advantage the Sudbury forwards surged forward but Sam Conning had to cross the line twice before his efforts were rewarded. Sudbury should have made more of their numerical advantage but their handling was not the best and spilled the ball more than once in contact, ending some good moves and handing back possession to the opposition.
Ruislip stretched their lead with another penalty and then spilled the ball themselves as they crossed the line letting Sudbury off the hook. Ruislip then made up for the mistake with a good move up the centre to suck in the defence and then shipped the ball wide to the right to score.
Shaun Smith replied for Sudbury after quick hands moved the ball wide to give Sudbury the four try bonus point but was denied the losing bonus point when the home side once again used their backs to stretch the lead beyond seven points before the end of the game .