On paper Sutton were expected to win this Surrey Cup semi-final comfortably and the scoreline may indicate the same but the reality was rather different as a spirited Old Reigation side pushed them hard for well over an hour.

Sutton could not have made a better start playing down the slope but into a stiff wind and they took the lead inside 2 minutes with a sharp try. Wing Keith Middleton who was in impressive form throughout made a clean break runninga superb angle and put his fellow wing Ray Enslin away for the score.

OR’s full back David O’Hanlon got three points back with a penalty and the home side maintained parity until 5 minutes from the interval when Sutton’s prop Sean Kent burrowed over from close range.

Both Sutton’s tries went unconverted and within a few minutes of the second period Reigations levelled the scores at 10-10. Inside centre Jonathan Schalwyk got the try off a simple switch move and his fellow South African centre Alrich Muller added the conversion.

Sutton went back in front with a penalty from fly half Frankie Murray and then made tactical substitutions which effectively changed the game, introducing dynamic flanker Josh Friedler, nimble centre Andy Nichols and most importantly, big kicking fly half Tom Williams. Using the wind Williams pinned Ors back in their own 22 with massive kicks to the corner and this ultimately told when the hosts tried to run from Deep only for Enslin to make a neat interception 30 metres out and race in unopposed. Just 4 minutes later Maddleton made a strong run on a kick return, found Friedler in support and he put hooker James Bennett over by the posts. Williams converted both so suddenly Sutton had a 17 point cushion and the result thereafter was never in doubt.

They added more tries, firstly Nichols finished off a clever move with Middleton, again the architect on the end of Williams miss pass, then Bennett got his second forcing his way over following a lineout and driving maul.

The cup final takes place on Sunday 3rd May at the Met Police Ground Imber court kick off 3pm. Sutton will face either Dorking or Chobham who play Tuesday evening.