Newcastle (Staffs) 3 Burntwood 9
Midlands 3 West North
A game featuring just 4 penalty goals doesn’t sound too exciting but
both sides threw everything they had at each other to produce a contest
full of spirit and ambition despite the sticky underfoot conditions.
The set pieces were evenly-fought and 2 tight defences were rarely
broken but Burntwood deserved the win for their ability to control
phases of play, particularly in the second half in which their
discipline was commendable.
The first meaningful attack of the game was by the visitors. Ollie
Whitehouse’s break down the blindside of a scrum on halfway was
supported by Matt Bray, Graham Shelley and Tom Restall to take play into
the home 22.
The final pass was forward but when Newcastle infringed at the ensuing
scrum, Matt Wood has his first kick at goal. It proved his only miss of
the afternoon, slipping narrowly left of the posts.
Most of the first quarter was played in the home half but Burntwood’s
enterprising play was only rewarded with a Wood penalty infront of the
posts after 19 minutes.
Newcastle gradually turned the tide and a good attack brought them a
penalty to level the scores on the half hour mark.
However, from the restart, an infringement gave Wood a 35 metre shot at
goal and he took it to restore the slender lead.
Back came the home side. They went close with a move off the front of a
line out which was just bundled into touch in goal. A series of solid
clearance kicks to touch preserved the lead up to half time.
With 10 minutes of the second period gone, skipper Shelley, who was
having a fine game along with back row colleagues Lloyd Shelley and Tom
Restall, forced a turnover as Newcastle tried to run out of defence.
Another penalty followed and Wood was on target again for 9-3.
Five minutes later Burntwood’s defence was put to the test from a line
out. They proved rock solid and were able to break out courtesy of Sam
Wanty’s punt downfield.
It set up a good spell of pressure by the visitors. Ben Holt, Bray and
Whitehouse linked well to take play into the home 22. Wood almost made
the line but his pass to Matt Sishton was intercepted.
The Burntwood forwards then stole a Newcastle scrum. Wood received
possession and chipped through to the line but the threat ended with a
penalty to the home side.
Newcastle were pinned in their own half until the last 5 minutes. They
had one last chance to get in front with a penalty kick to touch in the
visitors’ 22. When the ball was moved to midfield, the Burntwood defence
were up quickly again to force an error.
The forwards then wound the clock down with a disciplined series of
short drives to retain the ball until the final whistle.
Burntwood
Development XV shared the spoils at home to Newcastle 2nds 17-17
although Burntwood players scored the majority of the points. The
visitors arrived short of players and loaned 3 from the home side, one
of whom scored 2 first half tries to help Newcastle to a 14-5 lead.
Despite playing uncontested scrums from the start, the game proved very
competitive in all other respects. Hal was the double try scorer, both
converted, before John Bromwich took a pass from skipper Andy Dodd to
get Burntwood off the mark before the break.
In the second half James Langford’s try and a conversion by Liam Lloyd
narrowed the deficit to 2 points then Danny Lake scored a well-taken try
to put his side ahead.
Newcastle levelled with a penalty.
Burntwood had 2 chances to clinch it but Lloyd’s penalty attempt was off
target and then Simon Edwards had a last minute touchdown ruled out
after intense pressure on the visitors’ line.
John Haire controlled matters impressively at outside half and Anthony
Cadman gave another eye-catching performance at full back.
Burntwood 3rds were in dominant form away to Handsworth 2nds. The
forwards provided an excellent set piece platform to work off and 3
tries in each half produced 32 unanswered points.
The first came after 5 minutes. A rolling maul off line out possession
was finished by Andy Macey. The second came 10 minutes later, an
individual effort by Pete Reynolds, breaking from the home 22. Chris
Edwards converted.
After good recycling by the forwards, the ball reached Mark Willson for
the 3rd try before half time.
Handsworth strengthened their line up for the second half and went close
to cutting the lead for a 10 minute spell. However, when they found
themselves back in their own half, Mark Bourne snaffled a loose ball
from a home scrum to score.
This was quickly followed by another try from Reynolds – this time going
over from the base of a ruck.
In what proved to be the last play before the full time whistle, the
forwards moved the ball upfield and try scorer Reynolds turned provider
with a popped pass to Edwards who went in under the posts.
With a Handsworth player sustaining a neck injury in the move, the game
was halted immediately whilst he received attention.
This Saturday Burntwood entertain bottom of the table Old Yardleians.
The Development side are away to Stafford 3rds and the 3rds are at
Brinsford.
On Sunday morning the U16s host Newcastle and the U14s are away to
Tamworth.
