Bloxwich 25 Burntwood 30
Midlands 3 West North

Burntwood completed an early season league and cup double over Bloxwich after a see-saw encounter which was far more entertaining than the Staffs Cup game played at the beginning of September.
The game was littered with turnovers by both sides as they fought for possession in both the set pieces and loose play.
The visitors got off to a great start beginning with Amrit Derry’s clean gathering of the home kick off. It earned his side a penalty which set Burntwood on the attack. Superb passing and offloading, including a decisive inside break by Matt Bray, stretched the Bloxwich defence. Matt Wood broke a tackle and went in under the posts for a try which he also converted with just 2 minutes gone.
The hosts were stung into action but a penalty attempt was wide left and then a forward pass cost them the chance of a try down the right wing. Scrum half Ollie Whitehouse relieved the pressure, breaking out of his 22 after his forwards had taken a Bloxwich scrum.
A well-struck penalty after 17 minutes had Bloxwich on the scoreboard. Three minutes later Burntwood mounted a sustained attack involving Graham Shelley, Sam Wanty and Bray which forced a 5 metre scrum. A promising backs move was ended with an interception and Wood had to chase back to the halfway line to prevent a breakaway try.
Another turnover proved more costly as the hosts went into the lead after 25 minutes. Clever play by the home full back deceived the Burntwood defensive line and he streaked away from halfway for a converted try.
A penalty direct from the restart gave Wood the opportunity to level but he snatched his kick to the left.
Five minutes later and Burntwood fell further behind. A series of penalties allowed the hosts to kick to the bottom corner. Burntwood took the line out but infringed and a quickly taken tapped penalty led to a converted try to make it 17-7.
Within a minute Wood kicked a fine penalty goal, the award given for a high tackle on Ben Holt who was already testing the home defence with silky running from full back. However, Wood was off target with another attempt 3 minutes later.
Bloxwich were threatening again close to half time but a solid tackle by Dave Peplow halted the danger to keep the score at 10-17.
Five minutes into the second period and Burntwood levelled in thrilling fashion. Holt’s counter attacking run and pass to Bray took play across halfway. Whitehouse was up in support to streak away to the posts from 35 metres for a try converted by Wood.
The momentum was now with the visitors. Bray and Shelley featured in a move which took play up to the home 5 metre line. Bloxwich lost a prop to the sin bin and Wood put his side ahead with the resulting penalty.
Next, Peplow won possession in the loose to set Whitehouse on the attack and another Bloxwich infringement allowed Wood to extend the lead to 6 points.
On the hour mark Bloxwich retained possession well in close quarter forward play to earn a penalty which was goaled for 23-20 to set up an intriguing final quarter.
Burntwood had 3 opportunities to score the decisive try and after squandering the first 2 they finally crossed with 10 minutes left.
First, Adam Smith was held up over the line then Holt’s scoring pass was too high for Wanty to collect. Holt made up for the error by dummying his way over near the right corner flag to touch down. Wood added a fine conversion.
With 5 minutes of added time gone, Bloxwich mauled their way 15 metres towards the visitors’ line. They won a penalty which was driven over for the final score, the failed conversion attempt being the last kick of the game.

Burntwood Development XV were forced into a series of late changes but it didn’t seem to affect them much as they overwhelmed Lichfield 3rds at The Sportsway by 72-7 in a Merit Table game.
Leading the way was No. 8 Danny Hackett whose powerful running proved too good for the visitors’ defence. He helped himself to 6 tries altogether. There were 2 apiece for Chris Edwards and Adam Ansell and one each for Martin Ottey and Hal. Edwards landed 6 conversions.
Youngsters James Davison, Ben Poulton and Gareth Wedge distinguished themselves with some excellent support play and line breaks although Wedge was eventually forced off with a dislocated shoulder.
Despite changing their line-up during the game, Burntwood remained on top, replacement Dave Jarrett in particular making a good impression.
Lichfield battled well against the odds and scored a fine converted try just before half time.
 

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It was a different story at Cooke Fields as Lichfield Veterans eventually ran out comfortable winners against Burntwood Veterans 42-10. Paul Rogers’ side had travelled with the bare 15 and they ran out of steam in the final quarter allowing the hosts to pull away with 4 tries.
For the opening 25 minutes Burntwood had the better of the game and scored first. Kenny Adams made a break of 30 metres into Lichfield territory. He was stopped but from the following scrum skipper Rogers picked up and drove over for a try converted by Craig Addy.
It took Lichfield nearly half an hour to level but even then Addy gave Burntwood a half time lead with a penalty goal.
The visitors lost Adams with a broken jaw in the second period and although Lichfield provided a replacement it became damage limitation for Burntwood as the floodgates opened in the final quarter.

Burntwood U16s travelled to face Stafford in a league game only to find that the hosts had no prop forwards so the game was played with uncontested scrums from the start. Stafford won 16-11 but the result is subject to a league ruling.
A sleepy start by Burntwood allowed Stafford in for an unconverted try to open the scoring. However, for much of the rest of the game Burntwood were on top.
Forwards and backs combined well to keep play in the home half and 2 penalties by Liam Degville put Burntwood 6-5 up at the break.
They went further ahead right at the start of the second half. They regathered the kick off to set up a driving maul. It turned into a ruck from which skipper Jordan Wood smashed his way over near the touchline.
Unfortunately, 2 late Stafford tries took the gloss off a good performance by the Burntwood lads.

This Saturday, Burntwood entertain second in the table Wednesbury at The Sportsway – kick off 3.00pm. The Development XV are TBA and the 3rds are away to Wednesbury 2nds.
On Sunday morning the U15s and U13s are at Stoke and Tamworth respectively whilst the U14s welcome Uttoxeter and the U12s host Willenhall.