BURNTWOOD’S second half fightback wasn’t enough as they were beaten 34-24 by Crewe and Nantwich in the quarter finals of the RFU Community Cup.
A 50-22 kick put the home side under pressure after just two minutes and they crossed for a converted try from a five metre scrum to set the tone for a bright opening period.
The hosts continued to enjoy the opening quarter and went further ahead from a backs’ move started on the visitors’ ten metre line. Possession was swiftly moved left then back right for a tight forward to show his paces with a run to the right corner for an unconverted try.
Burntwood’s best move came shortly afterwards. Kian Carter found a good touch from a penalty award and when the line out was caught and driven, Tom Shorrock stretched over for the try converted by Carter.
Crewe and Nantwich responded with a well-struck penalty goal from 40 metres to make it 15-7.
Both sides were guilty of giving away penalties, but Burntwood infringed once too often which cost Josh Canning a yellow card. The hosts were quick to take advantage with a sweeping move which was well defended to begin with but ended with an unconverted try right on half time.
It was the home side who had a player in the sin bin early in the second period, guilty of a deliberate knock-on as Burntwood pressed for a way back into the game.
Carter missed a penalty goal attempt but the subsequent drop out went directly into touch to leave Jack Johnson’s side with a scrum on the home 22. More penalties followed and once the pick and go proved fruitless, Carter kicked for goal again and this time he was successful.
The tide was turned when the home side kicked to the right corner via a penalty and the home hooker followed his throw in to the line out to collect the tap down and somehow dodge his way through traffic for a try, which was converted.
The two previous league meetings between the two teams have been decided by the last kick of each game and a grandstand finish looked likely again as Burntwood scored two converted tries by the 75th minute. Skipper Jack Johnson burst away to the try line from a ruck 15 metres out for the first on 64 minutes, converted by Carter.
The second followed continued pressure which cost the hosts two yellow cards. A neat backs move from a tap and go ended with Charlie Kirby squeezing over in the corner for the try, superbly converted from the touchline by Carter to make it a three point game.
However, a penalty against them at the restart led to the killer blow for Burntwood’s hopes of reaching the next round. There was some doubt as to whether the kick to touch crossed the dead ball line, but the home pack won the line out and hammered at the try line right across the field before eventually crossing in the right corner. A successful conversion followed to seal the outcome, despite the hosts losing another player to a yellow card at the restart.
