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Sutton's prop Graham Hill on the charge

Sutton & Epsom finished their London One campaign with a 39-27 defeat at Portsmouth.

But, having trailed by 31 points at half-time, Sutton can reflect on a much improved second-half performance that saw them turn on the style.

The scene of a 68-0 defeat on their last visit three years ago, one of Sutton's heaviest ever league defeats, a similar score looked on the cards after 40 minutes.

Portsmouth had almost total domination, showing superb ball retention and playing with great intensity against the Surrey Cup winners, who were rarely able to put together more than two phases of play.

Portsmouth scored four first-half tries, with scrum-half Rupert Neville kicking 14 points to give the hosts a 34-3 half-time lead, Sutton's only score coming from a Joe Goatley penalty.

The first 25 minutes of the second half couldn't have been more different.

Sutton turned on some sublime rugby with fly half Joe Goatley, centre Bryan Milne and scrum half Steve Munford ripping their defence apart to score 24 points and causing near panic in the Portsmouth camp.

First, a great break downfield by flanker Felix Symonds set wing Ray Enslin away and he twice came close to scoring.

Then Goatley battered his way over from 5m for Sutton's first try, but narrowly missed the conversion.

Sutton's case was further helped shortly after when Portsmouth's flanker Graham Butterworth was sent to the sin bin for a high tackle and Sutton took full advantage.

First an initial break by Symonds was taken on by replacement winger Lyndon Burrell who weaved his way through centre field then gave a perfectly timed pass to Enslin who sped over in the corner for an unconverted try.

Then Sutton's centre Jake Webber ripped ball away from a Portsmouth player passed to centre Milne who sped through from 50m.

Goatley converted. Finally Sutton's replacement flanker Chris Pointing took a superb catch in the lineout, the ball went to Goatley who dummied and broke through to 10m from the Portsmouth line for Milne to take it on and score under the posts.

Goatley converted and Sutton were suddenly within a converted try.

With Butterworth restored to the pitch however, Portsmouth steadied their game, tucking the ball up their jumper they got back to what they did best and in their only attack of the half created an overlap on the left for Gronow to get his second and for Portsmouth to retake the sixth place in the league Sutton had taken the previous weekend.

9:52am Friday 25th April 2008

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