Newcastle (Staffs) 5 Burntwood 3
Midlands 4 West North

Burntwood have edged several tight games this season but on this occasion they couldn’t quite do it. They probably deserved the victory and had chances via two late penalty attempts to win but to Newcastle’s relief they were off target.
In contrast to the gloomy playing conditions the home side made the brightest of starts. They received the kick off and immediately fed their backs. A well-worked move in midfield allowed space for an attack down the left wing which was finished with a try in the corner in the very first minute.
Burntwood recovered from this setback as the forwards warmed to their task of combating an aggressive home pack. Play was confined to midfield until Chris Smith broke down his wing in the 12th minute. Unfortunately, not only was his inside pass not taken but he injured his shoulder in the process and was replaced by Jimmy Davies.
Going into the second quarter it was Burntwood who were on the offensive with skipper Graham Shelley taking play right up to the home posts but the move ended in a knock on.
Their momentum then suffered a double blow when scrum half Ollie Whitehouse was harshly sent to the sin bin and Burntwood had to use a 2nd replacement when Mark Partridge came on for Lloyd Shelley who suffered a cut eye.
Captain Shelley set up another promising attack down the right touchline only for it to end in another turnover. It looked costly when Newcastle broke away but a grub kick over the try line ran dead just before the touchdown.
In first half injury time good handling by Matt Sishton, Craig Goodall, Martyn Smith and Matt Bray tested the home defence in their own 22. Newcastle were caught offside and Craig Seedhouse goaled an easy penalty with the last kick of the half.
Some loose kicking by Burntwood set the dangerous home backs in motion early in the second period. They won a penalty 25 metres out but the kick sailed wide left.
It was then Newcastle’s turn to lose a player to the sidelines for a yellow card offence. Seedhouse attempted a long range penalty which fell short in the heavy conditions and then Partridge’s strong run ended in an intercepted pass.
In the last 10 minutes the home side were pinned in their own territory by some superb picking and driving by the visitors’ forwards. Goodall and Shelley probed for weaknesses but when the ball was moved wide Ian Jones couldn’t find Sam Wanty near the right corner.
With 3 minutes left Seedhouse had a penalty kick for goal following a line out offence but his effort flew to the right. From the restart Goodall collected and made good ground to earn another penalty. Seedhouse got the distance but agonisingly his kick slid to the right again.
 

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Burntwood Development XV were involved in the proverbial game of two halves at home to Newcastle 2nds. They were on top in the first period to lead 8-0 but lost their way after the break to allow the visitors to win the Merit Table game 22-8.
John Haire kicked an early penalty and then prop forward Dan Bratton went in from close range for a try. Newcastle were only kept in the game by Burntwood errors.
After the turnaround the home side’s discipline dipped and their performance suffered. Without doing anything special, the visitors scored 3 tries on their way to the win as Burntwood repeatedly gave away silly penalties.
Dave Peplow was the pick of the forwards whilst Haire played well in the backs.

Burntwood 3rds have been on a scoring spree in recent weeks but they had to be content with a narrow 7-3 win away to Newcastle 3rds on a pitch which was barely playable.
The points scoring, such as it was, came in the first half. Craig Addy and skipper Ade Williams linked to put winger Chris Black away for the game’s only try, converted by Adam Ansell.
The visitors continued to press for the rest of the half but it was Newcastle who clawed back 3 points with a penalty close to half time.
Burntwood were still dominant in a niggly second half but couldn’t add to their lead. The nearest they came was through Ben Poulton but he narrowly failed to score a try on his senior debut.

Burntwood Colts overcame a reshuffled pack and appalling playing conditions away to Stafford to return with a 29-5 league victory.
They started well and were 10 points up in as many minutes. Danny Hackett crossed for a try and Matt Wood converted and added a penalty. Stafford got back into it but the scoreline remained unchanged up to half time.
Two minutes into the second period Burntwood lost a player to the sin bin but stout defence kept Stafford out despite being under siege in their own 22.
Once they were back up to their full compliment they scored one of their best team tries in recent seasons. Danny Smith made a break from No. 8 before feeding the backs. Flankers Josh Bayliss and Joe Cowling were up in support for the latter to score under the posts. Wood converted.
The next try was a fine individual effort from Sam Cotter who angled his run in from long range to cross under the posts, Wood converting again.
After good approach work, Mitch Adams completed Burntwood’s tally before Stafford were awarded a consolation try in the last move of the game.
Man of the match was Cotter although the back row worked well as a unit and Alex Roberts also caught the eye.

On Sunday morning Burntwood U16s turned in a pleasing performance against a resurgent Tamworth side at The Sportsway despite losing out 15-5.
With both sides deprived of players through injury, it proved to be a very even contest for the most part. Tamworth went ahead against the run of play with a try. It was not until the second half that Burntwood drew level. A clever box kick by Brett Taylor was followed up by Sam Preece who controlled the ball well in a dribble to the line.
From the restart a scramble near the home line ended with a Tamworth flanker squeezing over to retake the lead. The visitors sealed their win with a 3rd try as their better fitness told towards the end.

Burntwood U15s good start to the season was spoilt by a well-drilled Spartans team at The Sportsway. Both sides played some fine attacking rugby but it was the visitors who had the extra man at crucial times to take them to a 41-14 win.
A couple of training ground moves paid off with tries for three quarters Ashley Cockrill and Joshua Hall with conversions by Sam Power and Luke Rookyard. The man of the match award was shared by Hall and Power.

Burntwood U14s maintained their 100% winning record in the league by whitewashing Longton away 59-0.
Tries came from D.Poole (2), B.Tombs, T.Coleman (2), S.Jones, C.Adamson, new recruit J.Swinney and a well-deserved one from hooker J.Corbett. Conversions were by A.Dunet (3), M.Geldard-Williams (3) and D.Poole.
Longton battled well to the end but were no match for the Burntwood lads for whom skipper Rob Jones took the man of the match award.

Burntwood U13s were well prepared to atone for a poor showing against Stoke a week earlier when they took the field against Willenhall on the first team pitch at The Sportsway. They clinched a close game 12-10.
In difficult playing conditions, the Burntwood forwards adapted best early on mauling, rucking and driving well to put Willenhall under pressure. Rory Newhall was unlucky not to score after seizing on a loose ball.
Willenhall gradually turned defence into attack and finally broke through for the opening try. However, from the restart Burntwood went right up the other end and another loose ball fell to Oliver Tooth who powered in under the posts. Unfortunately, the conversion kick fell short.
Not to be outdone, another back row forward, Harry Davison, broke several tackles to score a try converted by Callum Heath for a 12-5 half time lead.
Willenhall had the upper hand after the break and the home side were pinned in their own half for much of the time. The visitors crossed the line on more than one occasion but were held up each time.
Eventually they did score in the corner but Burntwood held on to complete a hard-earned victory.

On Saturday after the Newcastle games Burntwood RUFC held their Annual Dinner at St. Matthews Sports and Social Club where they were entertained by guest speaker Nigel Redman and comedian Mick Martin.
Awards for last season were also presented. Player of the Year Awards went to Lloyd Shelley (1sts), Beau Hildick (2nds) and Paul Lloyd (3rds). Most improved player was won by Marc Bailey. Clubman of the Year was Ade Davison. Kevin Cantrill and Rob Forsyth were also made Life Members of the club.

This Saturday Burntwood have a break from league action and will entertain Dudley Kingswinford 2nds at The Sportsway. The Dev. XV welcome Wolverhampton 2nds, the 3rds are at Burton Vets and the Veterans are away to Lichfield Vets.
On Sunday morning the U17s play at W’ton (league) and the U16s host Spartans.