Sutton & Epsom face a crunch clash in their hopes of surviving in National Division Three this Saturday.

They go into Saturday’s clash with Haywards Heath (3pm) bottom of the table, but a bonus point gained in last Saturday’s 19-15 defeat at Hertford took Sutton level on points with this weekend’s visitors.

Last Saturday’s clash was strange, to say the least, with no points for the first hour before five tries and two penalties in the last 20 minutes.

Sutton looked the better side for much of the game, but again they were let down by poor finishing.

Playing up the slope in the first half, Sutton took the game to their hosts and Hertford were trapped deep in their own half for 15 minutes.

When Hertford did attack, Sutton defended like tigers with captain Steve Munford and diminutive centre Steve Warnham leading the way, while wing Andy Nicholls never failed to break the gain line.

However, with Hertford’s defence looking well organised, neither side had looked likely to manage a score.

That was still the situation for the first 20 minutes of the second half. Sutton, with the wind and slope in their favour, just could not break through a well-organised Hertford defence.

Then, completely against the run of play, Hertford gained good ruck ball just outside the Sutton 22 and a missed tackle in midfield allowed Hertford centre Alistair Fox to burst through a scrambling Sutton defence to score in the corner. Wing Robert Richardson’s conversion made it 7-0.

Almost from the kick-off, Munford’s penalty reduced the deficiti but, within two minutes, Hertford went further ahead.

An attempted box kick from Sutton was charged down by Hertford’s lock Billy Johnson and the ball bounced straight into his hands for him to score an unconverted try wide on the left.

Then Sutton benefitted from a disaster at the other end. Hertford’s winger dropped a simple ball and Sutton flanker Scott Wallbank trotted in wide on the left. Although the conversion was missed, Sutton were back within a try.

With three minutes to go, even hopes of a losing bonus point seemed to have gone away from Sutton when Hertford’s pack drove over Sean Hardy to touch down after a 5m line-out. Richardson’s conversion made it 19-18.

But, with Hertford looking for a bonus point try, Sutton wing Andy Nicholls took an interception on his own 10m line and sped 60m to score under the posts. Munford converted with the last kick of the game.

This day has been designated Andrea Hinton day in aid of breast cancer. Andrea was captain of Sutton’s ladies team but died last February of leukaemia. The day will start with a match between Sutton Ladies and Newbury ladies kicking off at 11.30am followed by the Haywards Heath match.