Sutton & Epsom's players, tired from the exertions of a tough league game the previous day, opened their Surrey Cup campaign with victory over a determined Wimbledon side at Rugby Lane on Sunday.

Having had such a hard match against Hertford in the league on Saturday, many of Sutton's players looked very tired in the second-half against a Dons side whose Saturday league game had been postponed.

But despite a stirring fightback by the visitors in the second-half, Sutton had done enough during the opening period to book their place in the next round.

Most of the early pressure came from Wimbledon, but having seen that off, Kiwi lock Steve Dixon crashed over for Sutton's first try and flanker James Clark extended their lead by scoring in the corner.

Sutton lock Steve Dixon was then punished for some flashy play and Ben Thornton ran 75 metres to put Barry Collins over for Wimbledon's first try.

However, two brilliant scores from Colin Richens, one of them converted by Sam Frost, gave Sutton a 24-5 half-time advantage.

Early in the second half, Richens set up centre Barry Richards.

But Wimbledon hit back with two great tries both from forward drives scored by Andy Kerr and Julien Ayton.

Jaded

By now, Sutton looked understandably jaded, but they managed one last effort when James Clark trotted over down the blindside following a maul five metres out. Frost's conversion just crept inside the near post to make it 36-15

Wimbledon had the last word when Mark Dawson cruised over for their fourth try.

Richens was named the Driftsbridge Volkswagen man-of-the-match.

l Sutton U13 narrowly beat Wimbledon U13 15-12 in a hard fought match to move into the quarter-finals of the Surrey Cup.

January 31, 2003 12:30