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# Burntwood RUFC 20 Wolverhampton RUFC 17
- URL: https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/burntwood-rufc-20-wolverhampton-rufc-17/
- Published: 2011-03-29T08:36:05.000Z
- Updated: 2011-03-29T08:36:59.000Z
- Author: Rob Forsyth
- Tags: Sport, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-07-22 19:32

![Burntwood's Ollie Whitehouse makes a break. Pic: Joanne Gough](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e3/90/e390c3da-0866-4d2a-8ffe-ca4999d7ce1c/content/images/lichfieldlive-co-uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/olliewhitehouse.jpg "OllieWhitehouse")

Burntwood's Ollie Whitehouse makes a break. Pic: Joanne Gough

Burntwood fought their way back from a 17 point deficit, conceded after just 21 minutes, to take another important step towards promotion and the league title.

But the hosts left it late to pick up the vital points, Matt Wood’s crucial penalty goal coming two minutes into added time.

The visitors had comprehensively beaten the hosts just a month earlier at Castlecroft and they got off to a flier in this contest, helped largely by the home side’s errors, the first score coming from a penalty after two minutes.

Play was fought out in midfield until the 16th minute when the Woverhampton winger intercepted a Burntwood pass on halfway to race in under the posts for an easily converted try.

Five minutes later, Burntwood’s nightmare start continued when Wood had a kick charged down in his own 22 and the ball bounced up kindly for the visitors to cross for the second try which was also converted.

Wolverhampton maintained their lead until the last five minutes of the half. Burntwood needed a score before the break but apart from a promising run by Ben Holt between the 22s, they had not threatened.

However, the tide turned following Craig Seedhouse’s chip through centre field. Wood took it in full flow and despite being tripped by a defender managed to take play to the visitors’ line. The Wolverhampton defender was sin binned and Burntwood were camped on the five-metre line. Graham Shelley and Ian Mapp went close before a series of scrums ended with Shelley stretching over to get his side off the mark.

The momentum was now with the hosts. Mark Poole’s turnover set Lloyd Shelley on the attack six minutes after the restart. Fellow prop forward Rob Cartwright scooped a pass up off the floor to put Wood in the clear only to be called back for a forward pass.

This was quickly forgotten seven minutes later. Brett Taylor broke wide and this time the pass found its intended target, Wood again, and he crossed near the left corner flag. The difficult conversion was added by the scorer to make it 12-17.

Burntwood remained on the front foot, forcing their opponents to concede penalties. The Shelley brothers, Holt and Mapp all had drives at the line which were held up.

The constant pressure told on Wolverhampton who went through their supply of replacements and scrums became uncontested after 57 minutes.

![Burntwood's Graham Shelley is tackled. Pic: Joanne Gough](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e3/90/e390c3da-0866-4d2a-8ffe-ca4999d7ce1c/content/images/lichfieldlive-co-uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/grahamshelley2.jpg "GrahamShelley2")

Burntwood's Graham Shelley is tackled. Pic: Joanne Gough

From one scrum near the right touchline, skipper Shelley broke on the blind side and fed winger Luke Briggs who stepped inside then out to level the scores with a try.

Seedhouse was keeping Wolverhampton pinned back with some well-angled kicking to the corners but positions were lost due to infringements.

Going into the last five minutes the visitors had the chance to break clear but knocked on at the vital moment. Then Wood came to Burntwood’s rescue as the visitors’ right winger raced away from half way. His cover tackle was a real try-saver.

Holt’s punt put his pack into the Wolverhampton 22 in time added on. Graham Shelley took the line out ball and when the backs were in possession, Ollie Whitehouse was high-tackled to present Wood with a pressure kick for goal. He kept his nerve to split the uprights and give Burntwood the lead.

They played out the last few moments in the visitors’ half. Seedhouse had a drop goal attempt charged down and then Taylor was able to put the ball into touch to seal the win.

[*Click to see more pictures from the game.*](//lichfieldlive.co.uk/2011/03/28/in-pictures-burntwood-rufc-v-wolverhampton-rufc/)

Elsewhere, Burntwood 2nds found the power of the Willenhall 2nds pack difficult to match in their Merit Table game at home. They ran their visitors close but finally went down 24-21\. There were tries for Dan Thornton, Matt Bray and Rob England, 2 conversions by Mark Bourne and one by Smith.

Following their midweek encounter with Uttoxeter in the semi final of the Staffs Intermediate Cup, Burntwood 1sts have next Saturday off. The 2nd team travel to face Stoke Development XV for a Merit Table fixture and the 3rds are away to Cannock 2nds.