Josh Canning looks to slip past a tackle. Pic: Joanne Gough

After securing safety at the wrong end of the table last weekend, Burntwood RUFC were unable to halt Tamworth’s charge to the title at the other end of the league.

Josh Canning looks to slip past a tackle. Pic: Joanne Gough
Josh Canning looks to slip past a tackle. Pic: Joanne Gough

The high-flying visitors started the brighter of the two teams. With only three minutes on the clock, the forwards brought play up into the Burntwood 22 before bulldozing over just left of the uprights.

The home side then began to rally through some good forward phase play and direct running from centre Ian Jones, resulting in two quick penalties, both of which were calmly slotted by Aza Dune’t.

Tamworth struck back again with some good interlinking play between the backs and forwards, only to knock on 5m from the line. From the resulting scrum, the ball was turned over allowing the visiting backs to scoot over in the corner.

William Marsh is tackled. Pic: Joanne Gough
William Marsh is tackled. Pic: Joanne Gough

Again, Burntwood refused to lie down and came back at Tamworth with Ant Morgan pulling the strings at fly half. But the only score they could manage was another well struck penalty by Dune’t, bringing the scores to 9-12 at the break.

The hosts began the second half with the worst possible start when, playing up the slope, the Tamworth 10 cut a neat line and outpaced the cover defence to score outwide.

It was deju vu minutes later, as poor inside defence let the same player through, this time scoring under the posts.

A 20 minute period of stalemate was finally broken when poor Burntwood discipline allowed Tamworth to kick to the corner. From the resulting line-out the pack mauled their way to the line.

The game was rounded off when the dominant visiting forwards drove play downfield and finished off a try diving over a pile of bodies to touch down for a final score of 34-9.

This Saturday, Burntwood travel to Wednesbury for their final league game.