Burntwood RUFC edged ahead of their visitors in the league table after this titanic clash between two of the three title contenders.
The hosts may have completed the double over Moseley Oak but in each case they couldn’t stop the Birmingham side adding to their impressive tally of bonus points.
The match was made up of three distinct parts. Graham Shelley’s pack dominated the first half which finished with the hosts 12 points up courtesy of two tries and a conversion.
Within eight minutes of the restart they were 14-12 down but they came back to finish strongly in the final quarter to earn a crucial win.
The visitors started brightly and were close to scoring a try under the posts by the third minute but knocked on at the vital moment. The rest of the half belonged to Burntwood.
A controlled spell of picking and driving involving the forwards and Craig Goodall took play up to the visitors’ 30 metre area. They won a penalty but Matt Wood’s kick, though on target, just dropped short of the bar.
A charged down 22 drop out kept Moseley Oak in trouble and they conceded a second penalty but conditions were not ideal for place kicking and Wood’s attempt slid wide.
Burntwood’s approach play through the forwards was promising but it didn’t pay offuntil the 28th minute. Shelley rounded off a drive close to the line to make it 5-0.
When Moseley Oak tried to break out, a superb tackle by Craig Seedhouse not only stopped them in their tracks but earned a penalty which Wood punted superbly to the corner. Line out possession was fed wide and Seedhouse took a difficult pass to put Wood in for a try which he also converted.
Moseley Oak had impressed in defence during the first half with a fine back row and a solid midfield. Within 10 minutes of the second half kick off, they showed how dangerous they could be in attack.
A fumble by the home defence cost them a scrum in their own 22. The ball was passed out to the backs and they were in for a converted try for 12-7.
Moseley Oak went close again through their back division but were hauled down just in time but it proved only a temporary respite. A scrum offence allowed the visitors to stretch the home defence both ways before forcing their way over for a try under the posts which was comfortably converted.
The turning point came when Moseley Oak lost a flanker to the sin bin on 24 minutes. Wood kicked to the corner and skipper Shelley took the line out to set up a drive for the line finished off by hooker Ash Stanton to put his side back into the lead.
Going into the last ten minutes Burntwood pressed for another try which would not only settle the result but gain a valuable bonus point. Twice they had five metre scrums but were penalised at the first and then knocked on at the second.
In the last minute Moseley Oak broke out and were swiftly up to half way but were eventually forced into touch and that was it.
This Saturday (March 12), Burntwood travel to Newcastle (Staffs) for a league game which could go a long way to deciding the Midlands 3 West North title. The 2nds are TBA and the 3rds host Bloxwich 2nds.
