Tamworth 24 Burntwood 0
Midlands 4 West North

Burntwood’s run of good results in the league came to an abrupt end last Saturday. Tamworth away has rarely proved a happy hunting ground for them but given the chance to leapfrog them in the table they came away with nothing.
After 50 scoreless minutes, 2 converted tries in 2 minutes effectively decided the outcome especially as Burntwood were deprived of regular points’ scorers Craig Seedhouse and Matt Bray although the 3rd try in stoppage time was a little unfair on the visitors.

Graham Shelley’s side had the first opportunity to score but a penalty attempt by Steve Blockley after 5 minutes fell short. Ten minutes later, Tamworth put together a good handling move to take play into the visitors’ 22. They applied concerted pressure through their beefy pack but Burntwood managed to turn the ball over and clear.
Scrum half Ian Jones came to his side’s rescue after 26 minutes. Tamworth worked the ball to their dangerous left winger who sped down the touchline but Jones managed to catch him and bring him down.
With the half time whistle approaching, Burntwood’s line was again under threat from the home forwards but they were forced out near the corner flag. So the half ended with Burntwood hanging on but they had defended well even if they had shown little in the way of attack.
The first 10 minutes of the second period were evenly contested but a kick into the visitors’ 22 led to the breakthrough. Tamworth won a scrum and their forwards mauled their way over from 10 metres out for a 7 pointer.
Then straight from the restart, Tamworth moved the ball out to their left winger and he was away and gone from halfway to run round to the posts for a 2nd converted try.
Burntwood responded well from these twin setbacks to force their way into home territory. They chose to run a kickable penalty but were eventually turned over.
A tough midfield tussle ensued until the last 5 minutes when Tamworth won a penalty which was comfortably kicked between the posts.
With Lloyd Shelley in the sin bin for a late tackle, Tamworth sealed their win with good handling infield from a line out. Three phases later they forced their way over near to the posts to finish with their 3rd converted try.
 

Burntwood 2nd XV 59 - Veseyans 2nd XV 0

There was more encouraging news for Burntwood’s other 2 senior sides on the day. They gave some of the junior colts their first taste of senior rugby and both sides whitewashed their respective opposition.
The 2nds won 59-0 against Veseyans 2nds at The Sportsway with the young lads making telling contributions.
The first try went to Rob Bowdler who powered his way over after good play by the forwards. Matt Wood, one of 4 colts in the starting line-up, converted.
With Burntwood camped in the visitors’ half, Dave Peplow was unlucky not to be awarded a try but almost immediately Veseyans were caught offside and Wood kicked the penalty.
From the restart, Burntwood were soon on the attack again and winger Chris Brooks went in for the first of his 3 tries. Wood converted and then his colts team mate Russell Lingwood powered through midfield for the next try.
Peplow emphasised the dominance of the home forwards by crossing from a 5 metre scrum, Wood kicked another penalty before Brooks sped around 3 players to notch his brace before half time. Wood’s conversion made it 37-0
Wood added another penalty to begin the second half before Burntwood put together the move of the match 5 minutes in. Danny Smith broke for 30 metres then offloaded to Wood who scored a try which he also converted.
Veseyans enjoyed a good spell of play without looking like reducing the deficit but once Burntwood fed Brooks he was away again to complete his hat trick of tries.
The final try went to Tony Davies who drove through the middle following a line out. Wood converted.
 

Burntwood 3rd Xv 12  -  Spartans 4th XV 0

Burntwood 3rds defeated Spartans 4ths with a try in each half – due reward for the home pack which just about got the better of their opponents who included ex-Burntwood player Jamie Spencer.
Chris Black scored his first try for the club, a 20 metre dart down the touchline to go over in the corner to put his side ahead.
In the second half James Hemingway broke a tackle to cross under under the posts. Mark Bourne converted to complete the scoring.
Several junior colts were introduced to the action during the second half in a contest which was evenly-fought and played in good spirit.
 

                                                                     Ex-Burntwood Player Jamie Spencer