Bishop’s Castle 3 Burntwood 32
Midlands 4 West North
 

Burntwood rediscovered their way to the try line to regain 2nd place in the league table. They ran in 4 tries to record their biggest win over Bishop’s Castle on their home turf.
The men from The Sportsway have always struggled previously to come to terms with the playing conditions in the Shropshire outpost but the home side have moved to a bigger pitch and the move played right into Burntwood’s hands.
The visitors made a good start to the game with the forwards taking play into the home 22. Craig Seedhouse missed with an early penalty but he made amends by slipping a pass back inside to put skipper Graham Shelley in for the first try.
Winger Chris Smith scored a well-taken try and with Seedhouse’s conversion, Burntwood were 12 points up after just 10 minutes.
Bishop’s Castle hit back with a determined spell of play but with no reward. It was left to Seedhouse to extend the lead with a penalty before the break to complete a satisfying half for his side although they should have been further in front.
The home side hit back with a penalty early in the second period but this only served to spur Burntwood on. A sustained attack was finished by centre Matt Sishton who strolled over with men to spare outside him.
Seedhouse’s conversion and another penalty made it 25-3 and Burntwood began to ring the changes with Rob Cartwright replacing Mark Poole.
They remained on top but Graham Shelley’s last action before being replaced by Josh Bayliss was to make a break from his 22 only for Matt Watkins to spill the scoring pass.
Play moved to and fro but Burntwood had the final say when a fine handling move including Matt Bray in from full back released winger Sam Wanty on a 40 metre run to the posts. Seedhouse added the conversion.
Bishop’s Castle pressed hard for a consolation towards the end but Burntwood’s defence held firm to preserve their record of only conceding one try in their last 6 league games.
Craig Goodall impressed with several strong runs in the game and Seedhouse, whose place kicking earned him 12 points, also kicked well from hand.
 

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Burntwood 2nds took a chance when they acquired Stoke 2nds from the Fixture Pool but they rose to the challenge superbly at The Sportsway. After a match played at a fast pace but also well controlled, they ran out winners 27-5.
It was a refreshing change to get back to winning ways after a couple of recent defeats but the side were firing on all cylinders and they needed to be against good opposition.
A strong pack featuring the likes of Dan Bratton, Mark Partridge and Pete Reynolds took the game to Stoke from the off. It still took 20 minutes to wear the opposition down, during which time Paul Donnelly kicked 2 penalties
Before half time they were 20 points up courtesy of tries by Reynolds and Partridge and 2 conversions by Donnelly.
Simon Edwards’s side made several changes for the second half and they lost the impetus for a while. Stoke capitalised with a well-worked try in the backs.
One of the replacements, Danny Hackett, tested the visitors’ defence with a couple of runs through the centre before finally outstripping the Stoke defence for a try from 60 metres. Donnelly converted.
In a fine all round performance, the forwards took the honours, particularly back rowers Beau Hildick and KJ in support of the ball carriers.

The 3rds, Veterans and colts all went without matches due to opposition cry-offs.

On Sunday morning Burntwood U15s travelled to Linley to play a combined U15s and U16s and returned with a handsome victory by 36-5.
On a boggy pitch the match was hard-fought amongst the forwards but once the ball was moved wide and at pace there was only one side in it as the home defence struggled to cover.
Oliver Aleksejuk (2), Ashley Cockrill, Ben Khalid, Hayden Hastie and Tom Hall ran the tries in and the conversions came from Luke Rookyard and Sam Power. Man of the match was blind side wing forward Khalid.


This Saturday Burntwood face Handsworth with the 1st (league) and 3rds (Merit Table) at home and the 2nds (Merit Table) away. After the matches there is a club karaoke in the clubhouse.
On Sunday morning the U17s (home) and U14s (away) have league games against Willenhall, the U15s have a league game at Uttoxeter and the U13s are also in league action away to Stoke.