Old Yardleians 30 Burntwood 15
Midlands 4 West North
Burntwood’s promotion hopes were dealt another blow with their 2nd
defeat in 8 days after a match which went through three distinct phases.
The first belonged to Old Yards who built an 18-3 lead. Burntwood got
back to 18-15 but the home side clinched the points with 2 late tries.
Without
skipper Graham Shelley, tight head prop Mark Poole and outside half
Craig Seedhouse this was going to be a tough assignment especially as
Burntwood are yet to win a league game at Old Yards.
The opening 12 minutes were evenly played between the 22s until the old
boys took a Burntwood scrum on the visitors’ 22. The home No.8 broke the
midfield defence to feed a supporting flanker for the first try which
was converted.
Old Yards kept the pressure on and could have added a penalty but the
kick was pulled wide and then a try was ruled out for a forward pass.
The power of the home scrum told on hooker Ash Stanton who was injured
and replaced by Julian Ewer after 25 minutes.
The home No.8 was having a field day but when his pack lost a strike
against the head Lloyd Shelley launched an attack supported by Ian
Jones, Matt Sishton and Ewer to the home 10 metre line, their first
venture into Old Yards’ territory.
However, whenever Burntwood seemed to be gaining some momentum they
turned the ball over or were penalised to put them back on the
defensive. The home kicker landed 2 of 3 penalty awards to extend the
lead to 13-0 before Burntwood finally got into the home 22 close to half
time courtesy of a thumping tackle by Jones.
Burntwood’s encouraging end to the half was maintained going into the
second period and skipper for the day Matt Bray kicked a penalty just 3
minutes after the restart.
Back came Old Yards and from a scrum on the visitors’ 10 metre line they
broke right to feed their spring-heeled winger who beat 2 to score in
the corner.
This seemed a temporary setback as Burntwood camped in the home half for
the next 20 minutes. Sishton’s interception almost brought him a try but
from a sustained attack right and then left Matt Watkins finally forced
his way over for the try. Bray converted.
Another
superb attack took play under the home posts and after several thrusts
at the line Sishton wriggled his way over after 65 minutes. With the
home pack looking tired, an unlikely victory seemed possible.
However, straight from the restart Old Yards worked the right side of a
scrum again and a neat exchange of passes gave their right winger his
second try which was also converted.
Going into the last 10 minutes the home side sealed victory with a try
by their No.8 after opting for a scrum at a penalty offence close to the
visitors’ line.
The match ended with a failed kick at goal by Old Yards to leave
Burntwood with back to back league defeats for the first time this
season.
The Development XV hosted St. Leonards 2nds and proved too strong for
them, running in 8 tries in a 53-0 win.
They
were dominant in all areas right from the kick off. They received the
ball and fed Danny Hackett in the centre who set off on a storming run
downfield for the first of his 3 tries.
Mark Poole added 2 and Chris Smith signed off with 2 as he heads off
Down Under for 12 months of working and travelling. The 8th try came
from Anthony Cadman. The other 13 points came from the boot of Steve
Blockley who orchestrated the back line superbly.
Burntwood Veterans took on the 3rd team’s Merit fixture away to Aldridge
2nds and in what proved to be a try-fest returned with a 47-36 defeat.
Surprisingly it was only 8-7 at the break, Burntwood having led by a try
and a penalty only for the hosts to score a converted try right on half
time.
Rob England scored a hat trick of tries for Paul Rogers’s side and Matt
Cummins, a late arrival at the game, enjoyed himself when he got on with
2 tries. A penalty and 4 conversions from birthday boy Mark Bourne
completed the tally. Star performer for Burntwood was full back Ade
Steele.
On Sunday morning Burntwood U15s travelled to play Warley U15/16s
without several regulars but they still managed to win 22-19.
The side reacted superbly to their reorganised line up despite several
players playing in unfamiliar positions, particularly in the first half.
They made full use of their back division following quick ruck
possession which resulted in 2 tries for Tom Hall and one for Ashley
Cockrill. Joe Blacker’s conversion made it 17-0 at the interval.
They increased the lead straight after the restart with a solo effort by
Cockrill from his own 22, showing good speed and step work.
Unfortunately, they allowed Warley back into it due to a lack of
discipline which cost them 3 tries, 2 of which were converted.
Man of the match for Burntwood was Tom Hall for his outstanding effort
in the pack.
Under 13's
With the match against Eccleshall being
called off at lunchtime on Saturday, a rapidly arranged match against
Stoke was always going to be 'Hard'.
The U13's played up at Stoke in a league fixture earlier in the season
going down 56-0. The immediate aims for this home fixture were to
improve on the scoreline and to cross the tryline. This was achieved on
both.
In a match where Stoke still showed better structure and handling
skills, the Burntwood boys were full of endeavour, tackling hard and
defending at their limits. This slowed down the flow of Stokes scoring,
but still resulted in a Burntwood 0 Stoke 27 scoreline at halftime.
The second half saw Burntwood have both the slope and the wind in their
favour. More time in possession by Burntwood and greaater time spent in
the Stoke half gave increased confidence to the home side, but Stoke
still broke through for 2 more tries.
With about six minutes remaining an unfortunate injury to a Stoke player
required an ambulance to attend, but after a lengthy delay to their
credit both sides wished the match to continue.
The delay seemed to work in the homes sides favour, quickly back into
the fray Rory Newhall collected the ball and broke away down the left
wing closley supported by Liam Smith. With Liam acting as a decoy and
drawing the defence Rory crossed the line and ran around to score neaar
the posts. The conversion by Callum Heath.
Stoke had the final say with a converted try to finish the match.
Final Score Burtwood 7 - Stoke 44 (a 19 point improvement)
This Saturday Burntwood play their rearranged league game away to
Handsworth. A week later they host Leek for a league game which will
also count as their Staffs Intermediate Cup quarter final, the cup tie
having been postponed twice already.
The Dev. XV host Cannock 1sts, the Vets welcome Lichfield Vets and the
colts are at home to Wolverhampton.
On Sunday morning the U15s travel to Uttoxeter with the U13s.
