BURNTWOOD failed to capitalise on an early lead as they went down 25-12 to Aston Old Edwardians at the RCI Sportsway.
The visitors took advantage of a slipshod performance by the hosts whose error-strewn display was hindered by two yellow cards and injuries to three of their back division.
After paying tribute to club stalwart Chris Martin who passed away over the Easter weekend, the hosts were 12 points up in as many minutes.
The first try came from Ben Holt’s kick to Aidan Barker out on the right wing. He collected and popped the ball inside for Kian Carter to touch down. Alfie Broadhurst’s conversion attempt rebounded off a post.
Holt set up field position for the second try with a kick to the clubhouse corner. Line out possession was secured to move infield before working the ball back left for Tom Pockson to force his way through the cover for a try in the corner which Broadhurst successfully converted. Unfortunately, Pockson was injured in the act of scoring and was replaced by Santino Liggins for his first team debut.
The visitors hit back after being helped by a couple of penalty awards. Barker was yellow carded for a deliberate knock-on and while he was off, the visitors scored two converted tries to move ahead. Both came from close range – the first from a penalty tap and go and the second from a five metre scrum after a goal line drop out went directly into touch.
Handling errors in contact and missed line outs continued to frustrate Jack Johnson’s men. Then right on half time a scuffle at a set scrum saw them down to 14 again when Luke Rookyard saw yellow.
Five minutes into the second period the visitors seemed to have extended their two point lead following a break downfield. Neat interplay saw the would-be scorer cross the try line, but he also crossed the dead ball line in the act of scoring to have his effort ruled out.
However, it only proved to be a temporary reprieve as a goal line drop out was run back at them in an attack which proved too strong and Aston Old Edwardians scored near the posts, although the conversion was missed.
The injured Carter then left the field to be replaced by Sam Hull, shortly followed by Broadhurst also going off necessitating a back line reshuffle with Tye O’Connor going into the back row, Alex Smail moving to the centre and Liggins to full back.
With Rookyard back, the home side earned scrums and line outs in promising positions, but too often they ended in penalties against them.
The longer the game went on, the more the visitors were determined to secure the win to lift themselves out of the bottom three in the league. They dominated the last 15 minutes as Burntwood struggled to get out of their own 22. One penalty goal attempt slipped left of the posts, but a second on 74 minutes split the uprights to take the hosts out of losing bonus point territory.
Aston Old Edwardians had the final say with a drop goal which went in off a post to end a disappointing contest for the home side. However, with two games to go, Burntwood cannot finish lower than seventh in the table.
There was better news for the 3rds in their first outing for a while. Original opponents Rugeley 2nds cried off, but a trip to face Handsworth 2nds instead saw them return with a 66-12 win.
Try scorers were Harry Heath (4), Mark Fern (2), Owen Allport, Will Farr, Kyle Westwood and Sam Bray. Matt Wenlock-Evans completed the tally with eight conversions.
