26/01/08
Burntwood 15 Veseyans 6
Midlands 4 West North
Burntwood moved up to 5th in the table after
their 8th win in their last 9 league outings. They turned round at half
time to face the wind with only a 10-3 lead but a superb, disciplined
performance kept them in front to secure the points.
Veseyans have produced some impressive results against the top sides in
the division recently and they looked confident straight from the kick
off. A break downfield yielded a penalty which was converted for a first
minute lead.
Despite Burntwood having the wind at their backs, it was the visitors
who looked the more purposeful in the opening 20 minutes. However, when
Craig Seedhouse levelled the scores with a snap drop goal the rest of
the half belonged to the home side.
Winger Chris Smith’s follow up tackle on a kick downfield led to a
sustained attack in the Veseyans’ 5 metre area. Burntwood went blind
then open from close range scrummages but final passes weren’t sticking.
Lloyd Shelley, superb in the loose play all afternoon, collected a
Veseyans’ 22 drop out and surged close to the line to keep the pressure
on. Scrum half Ian Jones nearly sneaked over but it was the Burntwood
pack which finally breached the visitors’ defence.
They carefully controlled a 5 metre scrum for No. 8 Matt Watkins to
touch down.
Seedhouse added
the conversion for 10-3.
A driving maul took possession fully 20 metres close to the right corner
flag on 33 minutes but the ball was lost at the vital moment. The half
ended with Burntwood scrumming again close to the line but Veseyans
wheeled it and managed to clear.
A 7 point lead didn’t seem enough given the strong wind and a lively
Veseyans’ back division against them but excellent defensive work kept
the visitors out in midfield for the opening 5 minutes of the second
period.
Then with 47 minutes gone, Burntwood scored a crucial try. They won a
scrum against the head on halfway. Mark Partridge made a break to feed
Steve Blockley. His perfectly timed pass sent Rob England on a clean run
to the try line from 35 metres.
Veseyans responded by really testing the home defence from close range
set pieces but Graham Shelley’s men stood their ground.
Both sides lost a player to the sin bin, Partridge for Burntwood, as the
two sides locked horns but it was the home pack which controlled the
ball for much of the time they were off.
However, it took a great try-saving tackle by full back Matt Bray on the
Veseyans’ left winger to preserve the lead with just over 10 minutes
left. There was another let off for Burntwood when Veseyans missed with
a penalty attempt just afterwards.
With all their replacements on, Burntwood had to survive the last 5
minutes plus stoppage
time
with only 14 men when Blockley went off with a leg injury. They did but
it was mighty close at times.
The match ended with a fine tackle from winger Smith which epitomised
the control and commitment of his team once they had overcome that shaky
opening quarter.
Steve Blockley assisted off the field
Burntwood 2nds believed they had drawn Newcastle 2nds from the fixture pool but their veterans arrived at The Sportsway instead which proved a real handful for the predominantly young home line up and the referee. A match played in increasingly bad taste ended with a 13-6 win for the visitors.
Burntwood made the better start with Bobby Proud and Dave Jarrett making
inroads into
Newcastle territory. When the ball was moved wide the defence were
caught offside and Eddie Saunders landed the penalty.
Next it was Ash Stanton who made good ground to earn another penalty for
Saunders to kick. At this stage Newcastle changed tactics and took
advantage of a card-shy referee to control the game.
A penalty and then a converted try following a Burntwood turnover put
the visitors ahead 10-6 at the break.
It is best to draw a veil over the second half. Newcastle added a
penalty.
Dave Jarrett
