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# Brave battle not enough as Burntwood are beaten by high-flying Handsworth
- URL: https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/brave-battle-not-enough-as-burntwood-are-beaten-by-high-flying-handsworth/
- Published: 2015-03-10T10:40:53.000Z
- Updated: 2015-03-10T10:40:53.000Z
- Author: Rob Forsyth
- Tags: #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-07-22 20:48

Burntwood RUFC’s hopes of halting Handsworth’s march to the league title ended in the third quarter of this contest.

Ben Holt’s side led 17-15 at the break but they had been given first use of the slope and wind and a two point lead was simply not enough against a home side which has been in free-scoring mood in recent weeks. The hosts scored three converted tries in that third quarter and added another right at the death for good measure.

Burntwood had started the game well with their first chance of scoring coming from turnover possession on eight minutes. The ball was moved along the line but Holt’s pass was just ahead of Rob Jones and the winger couldn’t take it in his stride.

Four minutes later Will Peach attempted a penalty kick at goal from near halfway. He struck the ball well but it went to the right of the posts.

The hosts worked their way upfield to the Burntwood 22 and to earn a penalty infront of the posts which was goaled to open the scoring on 15 minutes.

Peach was quickly presented with the chance to level the scores with another long range penalty attempt but he was right of the target again.

Handsworth scored the first try of the afternoon five minutes later. They went through the phases up to the visitors’ five metre line before eventually barging their way over for a converted score.

Burntwood got off the mark five minutes later. Peach punted a penalty award to the bottom corner. The line out became a solid scrum which allowed Graham Shelley to feed Ian Jones who spun out of a tackle for the touch down. Peach converted with a well-judged kick from wide out on the left.

A long return kick from the restart put Burntwood in good position and they were ahead in the 29th minute in similar fashion to the first score. A line out became a scrum to the visitors but this time Shelley dummied a pass to Jones and he strolled over the line near the posts for a try converted by Peach.

Handsworth regained the lead in the 39th minute. From a scrum on the Burntwood 22, they moved the ball well to create a free run to the top corner for an unconverted try.

A penalty to Burntwood at the restart near the home 22 allowed Peach to put his side ahead again but only by two points.

The lead lasted just six minutes into the second period. Good handling from a tapped penalty saw wide players accelerating onto the ball resulting in a try behind the posts plus the conversion.

The hosts used the wind effectively to kick long and win constant line out possession virtually unopposed. With 50 minutes gone the home side broke a tackle in midfield to allow the outside half to put a support player in for another try under the posts. The conversion made it 29-17.

It became 36-17 when the scrum half ran along the visitors’ 22 to create an overlap for another converted try.

For much of the rest of the game Burntwood huffed and puffed their way slowly upfield but were met by a solid, well-drilled defence so that probing runs by Ian Jones, Shelley and Luke Rookyard came to nothing.

Even with their scrum half in the sin bin for the closing five minutes, Handsworth had the final say by exploiting a gap to score a converted try under the posts.

The match ended with Burntwood close to the home line but even then they were denied a consolation score.

There is no league fixture for Burntwood this Saturday. Their development squad is due to host Stoke Colts and the thirds are away to Cannock.