Burntwood 24 Telford 7
Midlands 4 West North
After a topsy-turvey first half of the
season, Burntwood continued their climb up the table with a comfortable
win against Telford to achieve a respectable 6th position at the halfway
stage after losing their first 5 games to begin the campaign.
Telford’s defeat leaves them rooted at the bottom of the table. They
rarely threatened the home line and it was only in the last minute that
they scored their converted try much to the disappointment of local
supporters.
Lock forward Mark Partridge had a fine afternoon’s action, frequently
carrying the ball into the heart of the visitors’ defence to keep them
under the cosh. His first foray earned a penalty goal for Steve Blockley
after just 2 minutes.
A repeat performance 5 minutes later not only doubled the lead but cost
Telford a player consigned to the sin bin. Whilst he was absent,
Partridge went close from a front peel at a line out and then it needed
a try-saving tackle on winger Sam Wanty to stop him scoring.
However, with the banished player about to return, Burntwood hounded the
Telford defence to earn a 5 metre scrum. Wanty received the ball on the
blind side and he expertly held the ball up for Beau Hildick to dive
over the line. Blockley added an excellent touchline conversion.
Blockley kicked his 3rd penalty after a late hit on Sean Beaman which
eventually forced the latter off at half time. Telford also lost a
player before the break, a serious looking ankle injury requiring the
stretcher and then an ambulance.
Much of the 3rd quarter became a midfield tussle which was relieved by a
kick to the corner by Craig Seedhouse, Beaman’s replacement. Partridge’s
line out peel proved successful this time to put his side 21 points up.
With the game effectively won, Darren Brindley and Amrit Derry entered
the fray and Burntwood continued to press. Rob England’s burst took him
to within 5 metres, Seedhouse almost touched down his own chip and chase
and Wanty was nearly away down the left wing.
Despite having Brindley in the sin bin for the last 10 minutes,
Seedhouse made it 24-0 with a penalty. Ironically, with 4 minutes of
stoppage time gone, Burntwood’s best move of the day led to Telford’s
try.
Slick play by the forwards gave the backs good possession near half way
but the ball ran loose and the visitors were away down the right wing.
The conversion from wide out concluded proceedings.
Apart from Partridge, Hildick and the Shelley brothers impressed in the
contest up front whilst the midfield defence led by Blockley was solid
when Telford tried to impose themselves.
Brindley in the bin.
There was success too for the 2nds after a close contest with Leek 2nds
at The Sportsway. A last minute converted try clinched a 14-13 win for
Andy Macey’s
men.
A much-changed line–up of youth and experience knitted well together to
gain parity with a good Leek side who had inflicted a big defeat on the
2nds last season.
They welcomed newcomer Ian Jones, a recent signing from Burton, into
their fold and it was the scrum half who opened the scoring after half
an hour with a try under the posts. Martin Ottey converted.
A penalty late on in the first period and another early in the second
brought Leek back to within a point. Burntwood renewed their efforts and
camped in the opposition half but with 5 minutes left Leek broke out to
score a converted try.
Straight from the restart Burntwood pushed up through the forwards and
then the backs to force the visitors back onto their own line. Simon
Edwards picked up and went close but Dave Tyler, following up in
support, grounded the ball for the try. Ottey’s conversion sealed
victory.
Tyler and Dave Miles anchored the forward effort, supported by Ian Mapp
and Paul Lloyd in the second half, whilst Mark Willson, Jimmy Davies and
full back Adam Ansell were excellent in defence.
Burntwood U17s/colts showed renewed appetite for the game to notch their
10th win of the season at home to Tamworth. They were 20 points clear at
half time and eventually won 49-7.
They had the strong wind at their backs in the first half. An early
penalty by Matt Wood set them on their way. He also added a touchline
conversion to Danny Smith’s try after 10 minutes.
Wood scored the next himself with a trademark chip and chase to the
line. Danny Hackett, playing in the centres for a change, burst through
for 2 tries before the break, one of which was converted by Wood.
Tamworth came back well to reduce the deficit with a penalty try before
the turnaround.
The home side were forced to run everything into the wind in the second
half. From a series of sniping runs, Ben Holt, also out of his regular
position at scrum half, completed one surge with a try. From the kick
off, Danny Smith’s break was finished off by Reg Hampton for 37-7.
Smith scored the next himself, exchanging passes with Holt, before Jake
Harvey, in only his second start, weaved his way in for the last try
which Wood improved with an excellent kick.
Burntwood U15s returned to winning ways after a tough series of fixtures
when they made the short trip to Rugeley. They returned with a 47-5 win
to celebrate.
The forwards were in commanding form throughout. Among the tries were
Cameron Miles, Jack Wright (his first ever), Tom Woodward and Luke
Briggs. Mitch Carless converted most of them.
This Saturday Burntwood play their re-arranged Staffs Intermediate Cup
quarter final away to Cannock. The 2nds host Whittington and the 3rds
are TBA.
On Sunday morning only the U15s are scheduled to be at home, versus
Wolverhampton. The U17s v. Handsworth, the U16s v. Walsall, the U14s and
U12s v. Uttoxeter and the U13s v. Old Halesonians all travel.
SAXON LOCKSMITHS
01543 423299
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