Sutton & Epsom scored three tries at Portsmouth on Saturday but still could not find their first win of the season as they lost 35-20.

Once again Sutton came up against a side built on a larger scale in this opening London Division One South match of 2012.

Portsmouth with three massive props to call on dominated the tight scrum and whenever they had a scrum within 10 metres of the Sutton line the visitors were in trouble.

Sutton were lucky in having powerful No8 David Crowest at the back of the pack, time and again he protected his young scrum half Jonjo Wadwa by skilfully picking up ball under the feet of a fast retreating scrum and making ground over the gain line, he also scored two of Sutton’s three tries. Portsmouth were not just a pack of forwards though, they also had a set of large and skilful backs, so Sutton were forced to defend with determination and this they did in spades stopping some very dangerous Portsmouth attacks in their tracks.

Fly half Jak Martin put in at least two huge try saving tackles when faced with two on one situations.

Sutton’s captain, lock forward Austin Sheppard supported to prop Gary Nash also looked up for the game several time smashing holes through the home defence.

Portsmouth’s power showed early on when they pounded the Sutton line but the Sutton defenders put their bodies on the line time and again to keep them out and the home side had to settle for a penalty after four minutes kicked by scrum half Alex O’Connor.

From the kick off Sutton came straight back worked a position 10 metres from the Portsmouth line and were awarded a penalty. Captain Sheppard took a quick tap and smashed through several tackles before slipping the ball to Crowest who scored in the left corner. The conversion attempt went just wide.

This score forced Portsmouth to raise their game and they battered the Sutton defence which held solidly against wave and wave of attacks but eventually Portsmouth’s fly half Andy Barnes was driven in next to the posts. The conversion went just wide.

The Portsmouth pressure continued remorselessly but Sutton’s defence was equal to it until just before half time the home side were awarded a scrum five metres out from Sutton’s line, they shunted Sutton backwards and No8 Luke Richardson claimed the touch down. The conversion was missed and at half time Portsmouth led 13-5.

O’Connor kicked an early penalty for the hosts just after the restart but then Sutton having won a lineout seven metres from the Portsmouth line, set up a superbly well organised rolling maul which despite the weight disparity sliced through the Portsmouth pack for Crowest to get his second try. Centre Steve Warnham converted to reduce the deficit to 4 points. Portsmouth struck back almost immediately when Sutton lost lineout ball on their own 5 metres line and giant prop Harry Cripps despite being knocked down managed to crawl over the line to score. O’Connor converted.

Warnham kicked a penalty shortly after for Sutton and then a powerful charge upfield by prop Gary Nash made 30 metres, wing Kevin Richens took it on some clever interplay with his Captain Austin Sheppard eventually saw Richens score wide on the right. The conversion was missed but Sutton were now just one point behind.

Again this seemed to wake the home side up and they pounded at Sutton showing great off-loading and ball retention, Sutton’s defence matched them but eventually the weight and pressure proved too much and replacement flanker Dan Sargeant crashed over wide on the right. O’Connor converted.

The final disappointment for Sutton was when Portsmouth were awarded a penalty try in the last minute to create a scoreline which did not do real justice to Sutton. O’Connor converted.

On Saturday Sutton are at home to Thanet Wanderers Kick off 3pm at Rugby Lane Cheam.