Manor welcomed top of the table Sudbury to the New Wilderness this week, a side that had only lost once this season. Manor knew that if they played to their potential they could cause an upset and whilst they were the better of the two teams for a good part of the game, the result was ultimately decided on the number of cards issued by the official.

Sudbury kicked off the game and it was soon apparent that the teams were very evenly matched with both sides looking good with ball in hand and when needed, defending well. Despite Manor having some early pressure it was Sudbury who opened the scoring, Manor gave away a penalty close to halfway which Sudbury kicked for a lineout inside Manors 22. With the ball secured Sudbury set about testing Manors goal line defence, which was solid and well organised until they gave away a penalty at the breakdown giving Sudbury an easy shot at goal which they took going into a 0 – 3 lead after 6 minutes.

Manor were playing into a strong wind and again found themselves under pressure inside their 22, again the defence stood strong eventually turning the ball over allowing them to drive the ball out of their 22 only to give away a needless penalty handing possession over and with another kickable penalty Sudbury extended their lead 0 – 6 after 11 minutes.

Manor now got into their stride using their forwards to punch holes in Sudbury’s defence with BJ Tunde, Jesse Liston and Frank Sullivan who was playing his 50th game for Manor to the fore. Manor were playing at a good tempo and after another drive scrumhalf Toto Odulaja spotted a gap in the defence and took play to the 22 where he was tackled but managed to pass out to the supporting debutant hooker Ciaran Preston who broke through two tackles then showed good pace to beat the covering defenders to go in at the corner for Manors first try. Cameron Dutch was unsuccessful with the conversion from out wide but after 15 minutes Manor were in the game 5 – 6.

Manor continue to have the upper hand testing Sudbury’s good defence until the ball carrier got isolated allowing Sudbury to get their hands on the ball and win a penalty which they kicked deep into Manors half for an attacking line out. They secured the ball and set off on a series of drives at the heart of Manors defence but the home side was up to the task, driving the ball carrier back in the tackle until the ref blew for a penalty to Sudbury and issued his first yellow card of the match sending Alex Leo to the bin for not rolling away in the tackle.

Sudbury kicked for a lineout but Manor stole the throw in and took play up field but couldn’t capitalise on the territory they had made as Sudbury turned the ball over snuffing out a promising Manor attack.

It was Sudbury who were next to score and yet again it came from a penalty conceded at the breakdown which their kicker gratefully accepted the offer of three points increasing Sudbury’s lead to 5 – 9 after 25 minutes.

Sudbury were showing why they were sitting at the top of the league with their forwards carrying strongly working well with a fast backline and after winning lineout ball they set off on a fast paced attack working their way around Manors defence but a last ditched tackle by Lloyd Anderson stopped an almost certain try taking the ball carrier into touch.

It was now Sudbury’s turn to fall foul of the ref’s whistle as they were penalised a number of times allowing Manor to travel the length of the pitch and into Sudbury’s 22 where when awarded another penalty they opted for a scrum. With David Banfield now on from the bench, Manor dominated the scrum allowing Liston to drive off the back, he was then joined by the rest of his pack as they drove towards the line but eventually had the ball stripped from their grasp, then using the strong wind Sudbury sent down an enormous clearance kick that went into touch inside Manors 22, giving a lineout to Sudbury.

Once inside Manors 22 Sudbury kept possession well and were further helped when Sullivan was yellowed carded for kicking the ball out of a ruck. This allowed Sudbury to kick for another lineout which they won and moved the ball quickly along their backline making the most of their extra man going over for an unconverted try in the corner. The conversion was missed and with the ref blowing for halftime Manor found themselves trailing 5 – 14, but with advantage of the strong breeze to come in the second half.

Manor kicked off the second half and immediately put pressure on Sudbury and although they tried to run the ball out, they were pinned inside their 22 so kicked deep for a lineout. Manor won the lineout allowing Odulaja to dart through a gap and make his way to within 8 meters of Sudbury’s line before being brought to ground, the ball was then sent out wide to Dutch who had just enough room to squeeze in at the corner and thought he had scored Manors second try but the ref deemed an earlier knock on, but was playing a penalty advantage.
Manor opted for a scrum 8 meters out and again got the drive on allowing Liston to pick up from the base and despite four defenders trying to stop him he got over the line for Manors second try, again unconverted Manor had reduced the deficit to 10 -14 after 8 minutes of the half.

David Ogufere now entered the fray and made an immediate impact when he went on a bullocking run, driving over and through a number of Sudbury defenders before finally being felled close to Sudbury’s 22 but his support couldn’t control the ball allowing Sudbury to turn the ball over and embark on their own fast paced attacked which took play to Manors 22 where the hosts scrambling defence managed to win a penalty. Keeping the tempo up Nick Horton took a quick tap and go then sent a long raking kick into Sudbury’s 22. With an excellent chase by Manor they put Sudbury under pressure and won a scrum inside the 22.

From the scrum again Manor were dominant, driving their opposite pack back, and quick as a flash, with a penalty coming Odulaja, darted down the blindside leaving defenders in his wake to sprint 20 meters and go in at the corner. The touchline conversion just missed but Manor now lead 15 – 14.

Sudbury upped their game and put Manor under pressure winning a kickable penalty but on this occasion the attempt was missed.
Still Sudbury came back at Manor and after a short period of defending Dutch intercepted a pass and set off up field taking play beyond Sudbury’s 10 meter line. When he was finally hauled down Manor were there in numbers winning the ruck but the ref blew his whistle, awarded a penalty to Sudbury and showed Leo a second yellow card then a red card, Manor would play the remaining 25 minutes at least one man down.

Despite having 14 men Manor were causing all sorts of problems with powerful forwards runs by Banfield and Brad Burrell taking play into Sudbury’s 22, but good defence saw the ball turned over allowing Sudbury to put in a clearance kick to relieve the pressure, but this didn’t last for long. Dutch scooped up the clearance kick and as a Sudbury player faced him he popped the ball to winger Ire Onabajo, he then set off on a 30 meter unstoppable run, powering through numerous tackles using his pace to get to within 5 meters of the line before two defenders tackled him, but he still had the strength to make it to the line and score a spectacular solo try. The conversion attempt bounced back off of the post meaning Manor had extended their lead to 20 – 14 after 25 minutes.

Sudbury hit back at Manor taking advantage of their numerical advantage to score a well worked try in the corner, with the conversion missed they had reduced the deficit to 20 – 19 after 29 minutes. Manor were dealt another blow when their influential scrum hah Odulaja had to come off injured.

Sudbury were now taking advantage of the extra man, playing fast paced rugby to eventually score their fourth try which was converted giving them back the lead 20 – 26 with 10 minutes left to play.

Again from the restart Sudbury attacked Manor at pace and looked to have broken away taking play close to the 22 where Dutch faced two attackers, as they passed the ball Dutch tried to intercept but knocked the ball on, the ref deciding it was deliberate sent Dutch to the bin, Manor would play out the remaining time with 13 players.

Sudbury took advantage again with a quick tap penalty eventually going over for their final unconverted score, 20 – 31 with 5 minutes left to play.

Manor wouldn’t lie down and came back hard at Sudbury, despite being 2 men down, they battered Sudbury inside their 22 where Banfield, Ogufere and Liston all won penalties, but the ref didn’t increase the sanctions against any Sudbury player. Eventually, from 5 meters out Ogufere drove over for Manors fifth try which was converted by Horton and with time to restart the match Manor were back to within one score, 27 – 31.

Despite their efforts Manor weren’t able to trouble the Sudbury line again with the ref eventually bringing the contest to a close.
Manor had played some great rugby and had victory within their grasps but ultimately the cards dished out to Manor dictated the result of the game, a fact that was acknowledged by a number of Sudbury players. Sudbury are the best side in the league and were able to take advantage of Manors indiscretions. Manor have to re-group and prepare for next weeks difficult trip to Amersham knowing that they have to cut out their infringements if they want to reach their full potential.

Eton Manor DoR Mark Farrell said;
"Perhaps a game we lost rather than Sudbury won, but full credit to Sudbury, somehow they managed to keep all their players on the field and they are top of the pile for a reason. But we can take a lot from a game like this, our players showed immense determination, our defensive work was connected & strong, our offensive play was direct & powerful, at times too much for Sudbury to handle, our five tries testament to that, we showed throughout the whole game that we can compete with the best this league has to offer.

We have lessons to learn and they will be, we still have 7 games to go with 35 points on offer, every game has become a cup final!"

UTM