Bonus Point Win On The Road Sees Tamworth Back On Track

Tamworth faced their second consecutive away fixture to local neighbours when they visited Sutton Coldfield on Saturday. Another unseasonably balmy day welcomed the sides with Sutton still looking for their first win of the season whilst their visitors were hoping to bounce back from a heavy defeat last time out.
Tamworth just about edged the opening exchanges and missed a chance to take the lead Jay Rosenbach seeing his penalty drift to the right of the upright.
They very soon did find themselves in front when a lovely passage of play ended with the ball in the hands of flying winger Jack Dalton who didn’t need asking twice to extend his scoring run to three tries in three games. Danny Norton added the extras taking over kicking duties from the injured Rosenbach. 0-7
The injury to the fullback saw Harry Mason make his first team debut from the bench after impressing for the second team in previous games. This forced Tamworth into a reshuffle in the back line.
Tamworth scored again when a quick tap penalty caught Sutton a little disorganised defensively Macauley Green forcing his way over powerfully. 0-12
The rest of the half was more or less fought out in midfield but Tamworth did manage to extend their lead with a Norton penalty sending them into the break with a healthy fifteen point cushion.
The second period started well for Tamworth instantly putting Sutton under pressure the hosts being pinged for a misdemeanour at the breakdown Norton slotted the kick and Tamworth were seemingly in control.
The visitors moved twenty five points clear two minutes later when lock Joe Mason smashed his way over. Norton’s boot was again true and it was difficult to see how Sutton could get back into this tie.
They had a good go at it to be fair to them with some smart kicking stretching the visiting defence.
Tamworth put themselves under pressure when they were reduced to fourteen men when the referee deemed them to have committed a cynical foul whilst attempting to stop the hosts scoring Sutton finally getting some points on the board with a converted try. 7-25
Whilst still down a man Tamworth conceded again when Sutton created another good try from a deft kick through and a few fingernails were being chewed in the Tamworth dugout. 14-25
It would take just two minutes for Tamworth to settle the nerves when they extended their lead again Leighton Norton starting his first game at scrum half spotting the smallest of gaps around the breakdown diving over to score the bonus point try. Brother Danny kicked the extras and Tamworth led 14-32.
To their credit the hosts didn’t give up and narrowed the gap with their third converted try of the day but the clock was definitely now in Tamworth’s favour never the less Sutton had their eye on a couple of bonus points that were still within reach.
It would be Tamworth though that would round off proceedings with probably the try of game. With Sutton committing everything in attack Danny Norton exploited the inevitable gaps with one of his trademark jinking runs offloading brilliantly to the onrushing Liam Saayman who crossed under the posts giving Norton an easy kick to round off the game giving Tamworth five points seeing them to fourth place in the table with three wins in four games with a home tie to come next week against Melish before a week off.
Final Score
Sutton Coldfield 21
Tamworth 39