Moseley Oak 26 Burntwood 22
Midlands 4 West North

Burntwood wrapped up their league programme with a narrow, midweek defeat away to Moseley Oak after an entertaining game played on Moseley RFC’s first team pitch. Despite the loss they finish 3rd in the table.
After a good first 10 minutes, with both sides probing for openings, it was the visitors who took the lead. From a line out take on their own 10 metre line, Lloyd Shelley and brother Graham made ground deep into the home half. Ash Stanton was up in support to send prop Rob Cartwright in for a cracking try.

Burntwood knocked on at the restart to put themselves under pressure. They conceded a kickable penalty which was missed and then a fine tackle by Matt Sishton denied the home side a try near the corner.
However, this was only a temporary reprieve as from the line out Moseley Oak worked the ball down their back line for a try in the right corner to level the scores.
Then straight from the kick off the home side interpassed down the left wing from 70 metres for a superb try which was also converted.
Burntwood hit back, forcing a scrum 5. They moved the ball left for Sishton and John Haire to go close. When they moved the ball back infield skipper Shelley went over for the try so after just 22 minutes it was 10-12.
A period of midfield stalemate followed this enterprising first quarter which was finally broken 4 minutes from half time. A break down the right was finished off by the Moseley Oak right winger who streaked in near the corner.
Again Burntwood responded by taking play right up the other end but they couldn’t capitalise on a fine break by scrum half Ollie Whitehouse.
A miscued kick off presented the home side with a scrum on halfway. The error was compounded when Burntwood gave away a penalty at the scrum and the home kicker fired over a super kick for 10-20.
Burntwood responded with thrusting runs by Mark Partridge, Graham Shelley and Rob Cartwright deep into the Oak 22 but a turnover cost them at the vital moment.
An easy penalty given for an offside offence stretched the home lead before the Shelley brothers and Partridge were testing the Oak defence again. Their first foray ended in a dropped pass but 2 minutes later they reached the posts to earn a penalty which skipper Shelley tapped to himself to dummy his way over.
The momentum was now with Burntwood. They maintained good field position and pulled to within a point of their hosts after stealing their put in at a scrum. Whitehouse broke to the line and when he was halted winger James Langford was on hand to touch down. A splendid touchline conversion was added by Ian Jones.
Another penalty from the restart just scraped over the bar to complete the scoring after 67 minutes. In the remaining time Moseley Oak had the 2 best opportunities to add to their score but one ended in a knock on with the line at their mercy and the second was snuffed out by a fine tackle from Langford.

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Burntwood U16s were involved in a close game at home to Eccleshall which they managed to win with 10 unanswered points in the second half by 22-12.
The early advantage went to Burntwood. A neatly worked switch pass between Mitch Carless and Dan Thornton allowed the latter to score the first try. Carless converted.
Eccleshall levelled the scores with an interception try and conversion.
The forwards combined for the next home try. A succession of rucks and mauls was finished off by skipper Liam Wallace with a touch down near the corner.
Again, the visitors brought the scores level with a try before half time.
Both sides made changes for the second half which worked in Burntwood’s favour as they camped in the visitors’ territory. However, they could only register one try by Brett Taylor and a conversion and penalty by Carless to show for their efforts. Nonetheless, it was a fine team performance by the squad in a game well refereed by Staffs official Ian Finch.

The U15s were also successful in their last match of the season, defeating a combined Warley U15/16s 31-5 at The Sportsway. All 24 members of the squad saw some match action to complete a good season of progress and development.
From the off, Burntwood’s support play was impressive. It produced 2 tries for Oliver Aleksejuk and one for Sam Power plus a converion by Luke Rookyard.
The forwards outfought Warley at every ruck to create a lot of possession but great defence by the visitors prevented any more scores before half time.
There were 9 changes for Burntwood for the second period and while they settled, Warley took advantage of a mistake at a line out to score their only points of the game.
Brad Berrow and Sam Wright each scored tries for Burntwood and both were converted by Joe Blacker as the home side regained control.
The final playing record for the U15s this season is won 12, drawn 1 and lost 8.

The U13s welcomed Lichfield to The Sportsway hoping to improve on a 53-0 defeat to their neighbours in January. The visitors may not have been at full strength but the Burntwood lads continued their recent good run of form with a 38-0 win.
They made a bright start. Callum Grundy, back in his accustomed position of outside centre, spotted a gap which he burst through for the first try. Rhys Thomas kicked the conversion.
Then skipper Rory Newhall found a weakness in the Lichfield defence and broke through for a try by the posts. Thomas converted.
With Burntwood winning the scrums and rucks they kept the pressure on. A break by Newhall was followed up by excellent support play from Ross McWalter who went over for the try.
Burntwood were full of confidence in all areas including defence where flankers Thomas Hansen-Smith and Oliver Tooth made sound cover tackles. When Lichfield tried to attack through midfield they met some crunching tackles from inside centre Fred Jones.
Left wing Liam Smith scored a fine winger’s try and there were further scores from Grundy and Smith plus 2 conversions by Newhall.
The game was brought to a halt a few minutes early after Burntwood scrum half Liam Baker was injured and needed an ambulance. He suffered a broken collarbone. Everyone wishes him a speedy recovery.
The side played superbly, showing belief in their ability and worked well for each other.

This Sunday Burntwood RUFC holds its President’s Day. There will be plenty to entertain the whole family both on and off the pitch and entrance is free.

On Saturday, 9th May Burntwood hold their end of season members’ dinner at their Sportsway clubhouse. Then on the following Wednesday, 13th May the club has its AGM starting at 7.30pm.