Burntwood 9 Tamworth 11
Midlands 4 West North
 

Burntwood slipped to 3rd place in the table on points difference after suffering only their 2nd home defeat of the season. Tamworth’s winning score came with the last kick of the game – a penalty kick from the touchline near half way.
Graham Shelley’s side had built a 9 point lead during the first half but they went off the boil in the second period and the lead was whittled away to culminate in the dramatic finale.
The home side went ahead in their first attack. Tamworth conceded a free kick which skipper Shelley tapped to himself and drove forward. The visitors then gave away a penalty which Craig Seedhouse slotted from infront.
Play then ebbed to and fro for the rest of the first quarter with both sides threatening the 5 metre areas until the visitors were penalised twice on the trot, the second for not retreating 10 metres. Seedhouse extended the lead with a well-judged kick.
Just 4 minutes later and with Burntwood playing an advantage, Seedhouse took the opportunity to take a drop goal and split the uprights for 9-0.
He was short with a long range penalty after 32 minutes but it was Tamworth who came closest to scoring the first try of the afternoon – full back Matt Bray just beating an opponent to the touchdown following a kick through right on half time.
Four minutes after the restart and Tamworth did record their first points of the afternoon – a penalty for 9-3.
Replacement front row Andy Dodd had only been on the field for 12 minutes when he found himself in the sin bin as Burntwood finally worked their way into the opposition half.
They survived his 10 minute absence and when he rejoined they were again in Tamworth territory courtesy of a fine tackle by Lloyd Shelley who was up sharply to nullify a quickly taken line out.
With 12 minutes left Dave Peplow came on for skipper Shelley who was struggling with a leg injury.
Four minutes later the visitors seemed to have scored a try but referee Fox adjudged the ball to have been knocked on in the act of scoring. Good defence at the following scrum and a fine kick to touch looked to have saved the day but the home followers’ joy was short-lived.
Just a minute later, Tamworth made good ground through the forwards before releasing their backs. A well-worked move ended with a try in the corner and the lead was reduced to a single point.
Seedhouse had a penalty chance in the last 5 minutes but his kick drifted left. However, his side had good field position going into time added on and they looked to be hanging on for the win. That was until Tamworth won a penalty 4 minutes into stoppage time.
With one play left, they chose to kick for the posts and a superb strike gave the visitors the win.
 

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Burntwood Veterans went down to their first defeat of the season away to Walsall Vets by 21-5. Crucial 10 minute periods at the start and end of the match proved decisive to the outcome.
Walsall settled more quickly and opened the scoring with a converted try from a 5 metre scrum. For the next 60 minutes Burntwood gave as good as they got. Craig Addy rewarded his side’s efforts with a try before half time.
Going into the last 10 minutes Burntwood were still in with a chance of victory but a loose pass was intercepted for a length of the field converted try. Then in the closing minutes a kick into the visitors’ 22 and a quickly taken line out caught Burntwood napping and the result was put beyond them with Walsall’s 3rd converted try.

Burntwood Colts were out muscled in their league game at home to Willenhall and were well beaten 59-0.
Having had the bare 15 to begin with, they were forced to play the last 20 minutes with 14 after Josh Bayliss, who had given his all in a losing cause, was forced off with injury.
Several U17s were pressed into action and acquitted themselves well, notably Ben in the second row, Ben Poulton and Adam Lampitt. Scott Slater also did well moving in to the unfamiliar position of flanker.

On Sunday morning the U14s travelled to Coventry to play Barkers Butts looking for their first win of 2009. They are still looking as they just lost out 10-7.
On a pitch more suited to a ploughing competition, both sides struggled to play fast and open rugby but the home side won the first half 10-0.
Burntwood made changes for the second half. The return of Chris McNamee to the second row improved the scrummage. From a ruck Troi Coleman received possession to crash over between the posts. Aaron Dunet converted.
The side pressed hard for a winner but to no avail.

At least the U13s enjoyed success by completing the double over Willenhall. An evenly-contested first half ended scoreless but a more determined pack performance in the second half paved the way for a 12-0 win.
With both scrummaging and line out possession much improved, the pressure mounted on the visitors. The breakthrough came 8 minutes into the second half. A good drive by the forwards allowed Rory Newhall to score under the posts. Callum Heath converted.
The win was clinched in the last 5 minutes. Sean Latham and Harry Davison were both held up over the line before inside centre Fred Jones squeezed over in the corner.
In a fine team performance special mentions go to Oliver Tooth, Liam Smith and Latham for their non-stop effort; to Liam Baker for his improved positional play and to Cameron Mia for his improved throwing in to the line outs.

This Saturday Burntwood travel to play Old Yardleians in their next league game. The Dev XV host St. Leonard’s 2nds, the 3rds have a Merit fixture away to Aldridge 2nds and the colts should be at Walsall.
On Sunday morning the U15s welcome Barkers Butts.