With no 1st XV fixture last weekend due to Burntwood receiving a bye in the RFU Midlands Cup competition the 2nd XV took centre stage for a club fixture against Willenhall 2nds at The Sportsway.
It proved to be a close encounter until the last quarter when the visitors managed to pull clear with two converted tries to take the victory.
The opening quarter was fought out between the two 22s with both sides probing for openings but the Willenhall pack was clearly having the better of the set scrums.
The deadlock was broken with a penalty goal to the visitors for a lead which lasted until five minutes before the break. The home scrummage improved and earned a penalty in the Willenhall 22. Hooker Zak Shingler took a quick tap and offloaded to Craig Seedhouse for the first try of the game.
Willenhall had the chance to regain the lead before the turnaround but a long range penalty kick drifted wide of the posts.
The visitors mounted early pressure in the second period which was rewarded with their first try to take them into the lead at 8-5. Five minutes later they blew a real try-scoring opportunity when a player knocked on with the line at his mercy. James Langford relieved the siege with a strong run to halfway.
It was Burntwood’s turn to threaten the try line around the hour mark. A penalty kick to the corner set up a forward drive with Chad Bott leading the way and then when the backs received possession Seedhouse was held up at the base of the posts.
Willenhall’s clearance kick created some indecision between the home winger and full back leading to a penalty being conceded. The visitors opted for a kick to the clubhouse corner which proved the right choice as they caught and drove over the line for a converted try.
With time almost up Willenhall sealed their win with a slickly taken try from a scrum in the hosts’ 22. The conversion made it 22-5 but there was still time for Burntwood to have the last say.
Shingler made the initial break only to be high tackled. The penalty was tapped and fed to the backs for Langford to cross the line and Seedhouse to drop goal the conversion.
