Sutton & Epsom rugby captain Sam Frost believes the club's younger players have a big future ahead of them.

Frost, 32, has seen two of the clubs home grown youngsters centre Graham Dowden and winger Colin Richens establish themselves in the first team squad this season.

And according to their skipper, both have the ability to go on and play at a higher level.

He said: "Both Colin and Graham local lads. Colin is from Cheam and Graham is from Worcester Park.

"They have each had a very good season for Sutton & Epsom. Coming up from the junior ranks into senior rugby is never easy but they have found the step up.

Capable

"It's up to the pair of them what they want to achieve in the game. They are certainly capable."

Despite their undoubted talent, Dowden and his team-mates were on the receiving end of a 26-12 defeat by Basingstoke at Rugby Lane last Saturday.

Sutton started brightly and their rising star went over to score early on.

But just minutes later Dowden left the pitch with a head injury which required 12 stitches.

Although it was quite a serious injury for the Sutton man, Frost added: "Graham's injury shouldn't be a problem for our next game.

"Graham will come back from this. He's very determined, very strong, well built and a very good tackler."

Trying to explain the uncharacteristic defeat, Frost said: "I think we were complacent. "We didn't play very well. It was a bad performance all round.

"They played a much better game than we did and wanted it more on the day.

"I suppose we thought because we beat them last time the same would happen. As we know it didn't."

Sutton's skipper is certain his side will bounce back when they travel to Norwich on January 5.

He said: "They are an excellent side.

"We beat them 25-10 earlier in the season. We are expecting it to be a hard game.

"Norwich are an expensive side. They always like to switch the ball wide and use all 15 players. That was their game plan last time we played them.

"We have to play well to beat them. They are only a few points behind us in the table. It's a game we have to win."

Despite being the wrong side of 30, Frost wants to keep going for at least another season before deciding whether to hang up his boots.

He added: "At the moment the body is having a rest before we start playing again.

"At the moment I want to remain captain for this season and next.

"At the end of next season I will re-assess the situation.

"I will be 34 then. It might then be time to call it a day. I don't know a lot can happen."

December 28, 2001 11:00