St. Leonards 13 Burntwood 24
Staffs Intermediate Cup Semi-final
Burntwood made their way into the final of
the competition but it was not entirely plain sailing. There was also a
sting in the tail when skipper Graham Shelley was shown a red card with
a quarter of an hour left.
The visitors played the better rugby early on to create more chances but
the hosts came back well in the second half, getting the better of the
Burntwood pack. The result could have gone either way until a late try
by Matt Watkins settled matters.
St. Leonards took the lead with a penalty but Craig Seedhouse cancelled
it out with one of his own and then put his side ahead with a smoothly
struck drop goal.
The lead was extended following good driving play by the forwards. Two
well-timed passes in the backs set Rob England in the clear and there
was no stopping him on an unmolested run to the line. Seedhouse
converted for a 13-3 half time advantage.
St. Leonards got back into it with a converted try but 2 more Seedhouse
penalties kept Burntwood in the clear until a penalty reduced the
arrears.
The 6 point lead looked even more precarious with the dismissal of
Shelley for disorderly conduct.
However, a good move finished by Matt Watkins clinched Burntwood’s place
in the final. The No.8 was one of the few players to shine on the day
along with England and scrum half Ian Jones.
Chip off the old block. Ian Jones in good form
Buntwood 2nds
gained revenge for a defeat at home earlier in the season at the hands
of Whittington by triumphing 18-15 at the barracks.
There was a clear contrast in line-ups with the Whittington old heads
looking to keep the ball tight against a fairly youthful Burntwood
second string. The visitors absorbed a lot of early pressure and then
managed to nick a try from James Langford who was playing in the second
row. He pirouetted off the back of a maul to touch down.
The home side levelled by the break but in the second half play became
more even with the Burntwood pack more productive in terms of
possession. Antony Morgan chipped through for Chris Brooks to keep up
his prolific try-scoring run. Martin Ottey’s conversion and 2 penalties
put his side 2 scores ahead so a late Whittington try didn’t affect the
result.
Langford, scrum half Anthony Cadman and flanker Tom Restall were the
pick of a battling display by the 2nds.
Burntwood 3rds
found Burton Vets a tough proposition at The Sportsway but having fallen
well behind to them they squandered a multitude of chances in the last
quarter to lose out 29-7.
The best performer on the day was Paul Lee and it was he who deservedly
scored his side’s only try which was converted by Mark Bourne.
Burton’s 5 tries and 2 conversions put them in the clear but the hosts
were camped in Burton territory for the last 20 minutes. Unfortunately,
a whole host of handling errors cost Phil Powell’s side any chance of a
comeback.
