With no first team game, attention focused on the seconds at The Sportsway as they drew Sutton out of the Fixture Pool and gave a good account of themselves, but the visitors were sharper in attack and pulled away in the second period.
Sutton had the better of the opening 15 minutes but when Burntwood finally got into Sutton territory Steve Blockley had the chance to open the scoring but his penalty attempt from 40 metres was left of the target.
A good spell of play by the hosts saw Dan Thornton send Anthony Morgan on a run down the left touchline but he was tackled into touch. Then Craig Seedhouse’s chip to the right corner evaded the chasers.
Sutton responded with the first try after 20 minutes. They stretched the home defence right and then left. Despite a missed pass, they recovered the ball to cross wide out. An excellent conversion made it 7-0.
Hal Gozukucuk made his presence felt by featuring twice in Burntwood’s next attack but this move and the next both ended with infringements which cost promising field positions.
Sutton extended their lead with a drop goal on the half hour mark. Blockley was given a second penalty chance right on half time but this time his effort struck a post and was cleared.
The first five minutes of the second half proved very costly for Burntwood as they shipped 14 points to effectively decide the result. First, Nick Peplow tried to keep the ball alive by palming a kick back into play but he only found a Sutton player who scored.
Then a visiting centre cut a good angle to slice through the home defence for a try under the posts.
Undeterred, Burntwood responded with a try just 4 minutes later. Seedhouse and Luke Rookyard combined to put Peplow over in the top corner for a try which was superbly converted by Blockley.
Midway through the half, a sustained attack by Sutton was finished off with a try to make it 24-7. Wingers Thornton and Peplow each went close to tries in the time remaining but inbetween times Sutton completed their tally with another converted try scored under the posts.
There was no joy either for the 3rds who faced a well-drilled Lichfield Vets side at Cooke Fields. The hosts won 43-24.
Tries for Burntwood came from Matt Cummins, Andy Dodd, Craig Addy and skipper Mark Bourne. Addy also landed two conversions but the visitors were second best for much of the contest.
This Saturday (October 1) Burntwood welcome Stafford to The Sportsway for a Midlands 2 West North league game, kick-off 3pm. The 2nds host Tamworth 3rds and the 3rds travel to face Wednesbury 2nds.