Burntwood 21 Telford Hornets 14
Midlands 3 West North
Burntwood opened their league campaign with a win but the gloss was
taken off it during a protracted second half which featured 3 yellow
cards and a red.
With less than 10 minutes of normal time to go the Graham Shelley’s men
were 21 points up and looked set for a comfortable win over
newly-promoted Hornets. However, indiscipline by both sides soured the
afternoon. Burntwood were reduced to 14 players and Telford took
advantage with 2 converted tries, the second coming in the 14th minute
of added time.
Burntwood’s first threatening attack came after 8 minutes with Craig
Goodall going close after good approach work by skipper Shelley, Matt
Bray and Mark Partridge. When the ball was cleared, Ben Holt counter
attacked from full back but the promising move ended with a turnover.
Telford’s first scoring opportunity was a penalty attempt after 25
minutes but the 30 metre kick was wide right.
The hosts had struggled to obtain quick ball from the forwards but on
the half hour they finally set their backs free. Matt Wood’s change of
pace saw him breach the defence. He fed Holt who passed to James
Langford who juggled the ball before touching down wide out. Wood landed
the conversion with a fine kick across the wind.
Five minutes later he extended the lead with a close range penalty as
Burntwood moved up a gear. Then Lloyd Shelley broke 2 tackles to take
play into the visitors’ 22 but his support players infringed.
However, there were no mistakes 5 minutes later when they attacked from
halfway. A superb handling move featuring the Shelley brothers and
Goodall had Telford stretched. The skipper’s fine offload to Bray was
the key pass. It allowed Bray to put Holt in unopposed near the corner.
Well into injury time a Telford attack was held up over the home line
and then Lloyd Shelley was just dragged down having raced deep into the
visitors’ 22.
Wood kicked a penalty 6 minutes into the second period but there was
little rugby of note by either side up to the hour mark. Tensions began
to run high and referee Daniels issued 3 yellow cards within 2 minutes,
one to each side for a dust-up and the 3rd to Partridge for a late
tackle.
With Burntwood down to 13 it needed a try-saving tackle by Wood to stop
Telford taking immediate advantage. Wood then had 2 shots at goal and
was successful with the 2nd to take his side up to 21 points.
With Partridge still off the field, Telford stretched the home defence
right then left before forcing their way over in the corner. A fine
conversion was added.
Within minutes of Partridge’s return, Burntwood were back down to 14
when Lloyd Shelley was red carded, deemed to have made a dangerous
charge into a ruck.
Both sides seemed to be playing for the final whistle but it was a long
time coming. Wood had 2 long range penalty attempts which were just off
target then Mitch Adams and Tom Restall combined to stop a Telford score
near the left corner.
With 54 minutes of the 2nd period gone, Telford produced a piece of
quality rugby which was very much out of keeping with what had gone
before. From their own 22, a series of well timed passes out-stripped
the home defence for the scorer to go round behind the posts for an
easily converted try – the last kick of the contest.
1st XV Photos by Simon Currie here
Burntwood Development XV returned from Walsall with a 19-13 Merit Table
win over their 3rd string.
The home side were strong early on, looking to keep the ball in their
forwards but as the game wore on and the heat began to tell, the younger
Burntwood outfit were more threatening.
Danny Hackett, Tony Davies and Mark Poole were the try scorers. Two
conversions by Steve Blockley completed the tally.
To complete a clean sweep of wins for the club on the opening day of the
league season, the 3rds/Vets romped away with their Merit Table game at
home to Warley 2nds, scoring 10 tries to win 54-0.
They were ahead in the first minute after skipper Paul Rogers picked up
at the back of a scrum and unselfishly fed Mark Bourne for the try. This
set the tone for the afternoon with the old boys stringing some great
handling moves together.
Wingers Rob England and Simon Barker benefited more then most, running
in 5 tries between them. Paul Lee, Adam Ansell, Craig Addy and James
Hemingway crossed for the rest to make it a clean sweep of tries for the
backs. Martin Ottey added 2 first half conversions.
3rd
XV photos by Simon Currie
Burntwood have a bye in the 1st Round of the RFU national cup
competition and so they have arranged a club match with Barton-under-Needwood
this Saturday. The 3rds also face Barton whilst the Development XV are
away to Trentham 2nds.
On Sunday morning the U15s and U13s both host Uttoxeter.
Burntwoood are looking to boost their squad numbers in the U12s and U13s
sections. Any boys in school years 7 and 8 can find out more details by
contacting the clubhouse on Burntwood 676651 or you can turn up for
coaching on Wednesday evenings.
On Wednesday, 23rd September Burntwood host Staffordshire’s first round
fixture in the Midlands U18 Championship. The visitors are Warwickshire
and the kick off is at 7.30pm. Admission is free so come along and cheer
the county on.
