It was a case of as you were on Saturday as all three teams behind league leaders Veseyans recorded bonus point wins to remain locked on the same number of league points.

Burntwood RUFC ran in five tries altogether as a stop-start contest at Eccleshall ended 29-10 to the visitors.

On a heavy pitch with a stiff wind from end to end there were frequent handling errors, penalties and a sprinkling of yellow cards but it had its moments of quality rugby to entertain the onlookers.

The visitors, with skipper Ian Jones returning to action at scrum half, had the better of the opening ten minutes against the wind helped by the hosts conceding a couple of early penalties.

A final warning was issued to the home skipper for persistent infringements as a penalty award was advanced ten metres but Will Peach’s attempt at goal fell short from 35 metres.

After just thirteen minutes the Eccleshall number six was yellow carded for a dangerous tackle and their right winger was forced off with a shoulder injury. The resulting penalty was kicked to touch for Jack Neal to win possession.

A rolling maul developed which tied in the home defence and county U20s front row player Luke Rookyard peeled off to run in unopposed inside the 22 for the first try.

It was then Burntwood’s turn to infringe to give the chance for Eccleshall to kick deep into visitors’ territory. A close range line out and scrum tested their defence. They held out to begin with but finally the hosts worked an overlap for a try wide out on the right to level the scores.

The home side then conceded more penalties to help Burntwood’s cause against the wind. With 35 minutes gone Peach found the right touchline with a penalty award. Line out possession was moved left for flankers Josh Bayliss and Dave Yardley to make good ground.

Good handling from the breakdown found Neal back right and he forced his way to the try line for a well deserved try to reward his forceful play in both tight and loose play.

More errors followed from both sides up till half time. One nearly cost the visitors an equalising try when they ran out of support trying to run out of their own half. The home winger kicked ahead but the ball ran over the dead ball line before he could ground it.

With the wind at their backs it didn’t take long for Burntwood to pull away in the second period. Good play by Neal from the restart allowed Brett Taylor to punt deep into the home half.

When Eccleshall tried to kick clear the ball was run back with forwards and backs linking for Rookyard to find Lloyd Shelley with a good pass for a try under the posts. Peach obliged with the conversion.

On 59 minutes Eccleshall were turned over when they tried to run the ball out of their own half. Jones received possession and he turned the last defender inside and out before freeing Ben Holt for a clean run to the line for the bonus point try.

Eccleshall hit back with a sustained spell of pressure in the visitors’ half, perhaps Burntwood feeling that the job was done. The home left winger spilled the ball with the line at his mercy and then Holt was sin binned after 54 minutes for one penalty too many by his side.

Burntwood continued to defend their line without conceding but lost Neal to a yellow card after 70 minutes. Eccleshall were quick to take advantage of more numbers in the scrum for a try in the right corner with seven minutes left.

The hosts’ hopes of gaining a bonus point were extinguished just three minutes later as they tried to run out of defence. An interception by Holt saw him cut between the last two opponents for a try under the posts which Peach converted.

There was only time for an Eccleshall player to receive a yellow card for dissent before the final whistle sounded.

Having put three sides out last week, Burntwood will hope to do the same this Saturday (January 25) with fixtures against Edwardians in the league at home, the AXV (A) and Development Squad (H) facing Willenhall 2nds and 3rds respectively.

The league game will be a good test for Burntwood as they haven’t beaten Edwardians in three encounters since the sides entered this league last season. Their record is two draws and a loss so they will hope to put that right to keep up with their second place rivals.