Selly Oak 16 Burntwood 17
Midlands 4 West North

Burntwood moved up another place in the table after their 4th win in 5 league games – 3 of them away from The Sportsway.
It looked as though it would be a comfortable win just after the half hour as Graham Shelley’s men totally dominated to take a 17 point lead. However, they lost their way for the rest of the game and it needed a goal line stand for much of the last 10 minutes to secure the points.
The opening quarter belonged to the visitors’ forwards who retained possession well although the ball was slow coming back. Craig Seedhouse was forced into a drop goal attempt from infront to open the scoring after 22 minutes.
Burntwood took the restart kick and moved it efficiently to set up another opportunity on the home 22. This time skipper Shelley took matters into his own hands and broke round the side of a maul to storm in under the posts. Seedhouse converted.
Burntwood remained on top for another 10 minutes forcing Selly Oak back into their own 22. When Seedhouse received possession he grub-kicked through to find no-one at home and he touched down unopposed. His conversion was a formality.
The home side gained some momentum on the back of a string of penalties conceded by Burntwood up to half time. They converted one of two kicks at goal and were close to a try but a chip down the blind side fortunately ran dead before the right winger could touch down.
Burntwood had the ideal start to the second period when Lloyd Shelley recovered Seedhouse’s kick off and burst into the home 22.

The attack ended with a failed drop goal attempt.
With the penalty count mounting against the visitors, Selly Oak made ground and gradually chipped away at Burntwood’s lead, reducing it to 17-9 after just 55 minutes. Another kickable effort went astray 10 minutes later but so did one from Seedhouse after good work by the pack.
With 10 minutes left another chance was missed by the Selly Oak kicker but it set up a prolonged spell of pressure right on the visitors’ line. Desperate defence by Burntwood not only kept their hosts out but also ate up the clock.
With the 80 minutes up, Selly Oak finally broke through in the backs for a converted try but there was only time for one play after the restart and it ended with a clearing kick to touch by the relieved visitors.

There were mixed fortunes for Burntwood’s other 2 sides. The 2nds beat Birmingham Medics 32-0 but the 3rds were over-run by Willenhall 3rds 53-0.
 

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Missing 4 key players, Burntwood Colts put up a valiant performance away to Burton Colts in the County Cup before finally going out 14-5.
The first half was all Burton although their first try had an element of doubt about it after 10 minutes. The second try close to half time was even more controversial.
A joint tackle by Danny Hackett and Russell Lingwood on a Burton player who danced his way down the touch line was deemed high and the referee went behind the posts to award a penalty try.
In the second half Burntwood ran everything. To some extent they were forced to, given the absence of regular outside half Matt Wood. Adam Smith deputised in an unfamiliar role and did well.
Ben Bailey was held up over the line but from a 5 metre scrum Hackett picked up and drove over.
In the closing 10 minutes Burton kicked for position and it needed some heroic defence, led by skipper Amrit Derry, to keep them out.

Burntwood U16s travelled to Wednesbury to play their U17s and came back from an 8 point deficit to win 26-8.
Once they overcame their slow start, Burntwood gained the upper hand and were rewarded when Ben Poulton stole a home line out and ran the first try in.
Before the break his side were ahead. Forwards and backs combined to put Nick Peplow into space and his pace took him clean through to the line for a try converted by Adam Lampitt.
Playing down the slope, Burntwood moved further in front when Joel Ward broke from the home 22 for a try. Lampitt again added the extras. He also improved the final score which came from Gary Eccles – a pick up and run from half way.

Burntwood U13s had to work hard for their 44-7 win at home to a spirited Bloxwich side. It was only 12-0 at the break but the home side pulled away in the second period.
Skipper R. Jones and centre S. Jones crossed in the first half with one conversion by M. Geldard-Williams.
T. Coleman (2), B. Tombs (2), R. Mason and R. Newhall added the tries in the second half. Geldard-Williams converted once. There was a late consolation try for the visitors.
 

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