Handsworth 8 Burntwood 6
 

Burntwood paid the price for fielding an under-strength team away to Handsworth who are champions elect of the league below Burntwood. A fairly low key affair ended in a narrow win for the home side.
Playing up the slope in the first half, Craig Seedhouse put his side 3 points ahead with a penalty. They retained the lead right up to half time when a Handsworth player broke a series of tackles to score in the bottom left hand corner.
A good opening to the second half by the visitors was rewarded with a second Seedhouse penalty to retake the lead but a soft penalty conceded infront of the posts returned the favour.
Seedhouse almost snatched victory in the last minute with a drop goal attempt but it narrowly missed to allow Handsworth the win.
The home side’s heavier pack had the better of the scrums but No. 8 Dave Peplow and lively scrum half Ian Jones coped well with possession that was far from ideal.
 

Burntwood 2nds also found life difficult away to Rugeley 1sts who are going well this season and are 3rd in their league. The home side used their possession well to romp home 41-7.
Play was evenly contested to begin with but once Rugeley got into their stride, despite some tough tackling by Tony Davies, they hit the front after 15 minutes with a converted try.
However, Burntwood hit back to level the scores when Rugeley infringed. The ball was spun out to winger Chris Brooks who rounded his man for a try converted by Martin Ottey.
Rugeley were typically strong up front and went ahead with a pushover try which was converted. Burntwood were close to replying but a loose pass found its way to the home winger who raced away for the next try.
Rugeley picked up the pace and this, combined with handling errors by the visitors, allowed another try before the break for a 24-7 deficit.
A poor kick out of defence compounded matters early in the second period as the Rugeley winger rounded 3 players on his way to the try line for 29-7.
Straight from the restart Rugeley moved the ball well again for another winger’s try and then to complete the tally their outside half jinked his way in for a converted try.
 

It was left to Burntwood 3rds to record a victory when they overcame Rugeley 2nds at The Sportsway 26-0. The match finished 10 minutes early when an opposition player went down with a neck injury which required medical attention.
Despite playing with uncontested scrums, it was an enjoyable contest with end to end action but Burntwood had the edge in the backs. Paul Lee crossed for 2 first half tries and Mark Fisher also touched down.
In the curtailed second half Adam Ansell scored his side’s 4th try. Three conversions by Mark Willson completed the scoring.
Mike Fones made his debut and did enough to suggest that he has a natural talent for the game whilst Adrian Steele donned his boots for the first time in a good while and quickly settled into the old routine at full back.
 

More 3rd XV Photos Here

   The only scheduled senior game over the Easter weekend is a 2nd team match away to Cannock on Saturday afternoon.
A touring party numbering 80 strong of U16s, U15s and accompanying adults will be in Spain over the holiday weekend based in Lloret de Mar with fixtures against 2 local clubs.
Back home the colts are due to visit Trentham and on Sunday the U12s welcome Spartans.