Burntwood 2nds 50 Newcastle 2nds 22

With the fixtures at Newcastle frozen off, the only action for Burntwood last Saturday afternoon was the match at The Sportsway between the respective second teams. They didn’t disappoint although there were two distinct phases to the game.
Five minutes into the second half the home side were 50 points up but the rest of the game belonged to the visitors who ran in 4 tries to finish off an entertaining contest played in a suitably festive spirit.
Burntwood had Newcastle pinned in their own 22 from the kick off and went ahead in the 4th minute. Mark Bourne popped the ball up from a 5 metre scrum to Paul Lloyd who went in from close range. Eddie Saunders converted.

With play confined to the visitors’ half it was not long before Lloyd forced his way over for his second try, again converted by Saunders.
Newcastle re-gathered their own kick off to finally get into home territory but the Burntwood forwards turned the ball over to send Rob England on a run. He almost made it to the line but when he was caught he popped the ball to co-centre Paul Wilson who scored. Saunders converted.
Given a second opportunity, England scored the next after a 60 metre run on 17 minutes. Saunders’ conversion made it 28-0 and the home side looked to be heading for a cricket score.
Bourne set up the next try, his box kick setting up good field position from which prop Darren Brindley twisted and turned his way over the line.
Tom Restall collected a loose Newcastle line out throw to put his side 38 points up after just 23 minutes.
Play was more evenly contested after this whirlwind start and the final score of the half came 5 minutes before the break. Bourne’s chip kick was recovered by Wilson. Restall rucked the ball out to feed England who slipped between the opposing centres for a try in the corner.
England completed his hat trick early in the second half by intercepting and going in from the 22. Saunders’ conversion brought up the half century.
To their credit, Newcastle threw the ball around to good effect and clawed a try back after 48 minutes following good handling down the backs.
They were in again 10 minutes later, finally beating the home defence on the narrow side. Quality handling brought them a 3rd try after 65 minutes and then with 10 minutes to go they completed a good afternoon’s entertainment with a try and conversion.
Many thanks to Ian Mapp for standing in as referee at short notice.

Burntwood U16s achieved a fine win at The Sportsway on Sunday morning against Newport. They came from behind twice to win 24-17.
The visitors had the better of the opening 10 minutes and went in front with a converted try. When the home side woke up they made good ground into opposition territory from the restart and Dan Russon crashed over. Adam Lampitt’s conversion tied the scores.
In what was proving to be an evenly-fought contest Newport regained the lead with a penalty but it didn’t last long as straight from the kick off Andy Edwards went in from close range for a rare try to make it 12-10 at the break.
Two early second half tries rocked the visitors, the first from Mike Cooper and the second from Gary Eccles which Lampitt converted.
Thinking they had won the game, Burntwood sat back and Newport took advantage to reduce the arrears with a converted try. This set up a tense last 10 minutes but Burntwood held out with centres Alex Stowe and Eccles excellent in attack and defence.

The only games scheduled for the last weekend before Christmas are a 3rd XV match at home to Bloxwich on Saturday afternoon and the U17s away to W’ton on Sunday morning.

 

SAXON LOCKSMITHS

01543 423299

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