A 21-0 triumph at Yardley & District has left Burntwood on 47 points alongside Shrewsbury and Handsworth in the chase for runners up spot to likely league winners Veseyans.
Ben Holt’s side overcame a tricky assignment on the road to maintain their challenge. The hosts’ pitch, which was heavy and comparatively narrow, does not suit Burntwood’s style of rugby but having established a nine point lead at the break they made the game safe with two second half tries.
It was to the credit of their defence that they kept the home side scoreless although they were helped by the home place kicker missing four penalty attempts either side of half time.
The first opportunity to score went to Will Peach after just two minutes but his long range penalty kick fell short.
Five minutes later Yardley were knocking on the door, camped just five metres out following a good line kick. However they knocked on close to the line and then with the Burntwood scrum under pressure, the ball was scrambled the away and recovered by skipper Holt to move into home territory.
Peach had a second penalty chance on 21 minutes but was right of the target from the left side of the field. However, his third kick just three minutes later, following a good drive by the forwards from a line out, brought his first success to open the scoring.
The visitors began to put some continuity into their play, offloading and recycling possession well but with space out wide limited progress was slow until Craig Seedhouse scraped a drop goal over just past the half hour mark.
The hosts had two opportunities to open their account from the tee before half time but both missed the target despite the kicker striking the ball well.
It was left to Peach to show the way with his second penalty goal, skimming the ball over from long range right on half time.
Yardley responded well to their team talk during the break and had slightly the better of the third quarter albeit assisted by a handling error in defence by Burntwood and a yellow card for Lloyd Shelley. However, their only scoring opportunities were two failed penalty kicks at goal.
The forwards broke the siege by working the ball out of their own 22, with Luke Rookyard prominent, and then Peach put his side in good position with a punt into the home 22. Yardley cleared the danger to touch to begin with but the ensuing line out produced the first try.
Play moved left then right. Zak Shingler put Charlie Liggins away but he was hauled down close to the line. Possession was recycled quickly left for Dave Yardley to feed winger Elliot Woolley and the youngster fought his way through the last defender for the try near the corner flag. Peach’s conversion attempt struck a post and stayed out.
Liggins was almost away again from the restart following good work by Josh Canning but Brett Taylor’s pass to him was adjudged forward.
Liggins then contributed in defence after a clean break by the home outside half. He raced back to intercept and combine with Seedhouse to clear the danger.
Burntwood were lasting the pace better by the last quarter as they stretched the home defence. Scrum half Taylor kept Yardley on the back foot but the killer blow was not landed until the final move of the contest.
By then Seedhouse had gone close in one attack and Peach had seen another penalty attempt slip right of the posts. However, the last score was worth waiting for.
Jack Neal won line out possession on halfway and the forwards drove him at speed deep into Yardley territory. When the ball was fed wide Shelley popped up in the backs to put pace into the attack. Possession was then fed back right for Holt to stretch over under the posts for an excellent try. Peach’s conversion was a formality and heralded the final whistle.
Burntwood have another trip away in the league this Saturday (January 18) when they visit Eccleshall. The A XV and Development Squad each have merit table fixtures versus Telford 2nds (A) and Wednesbury 3rds (H) respectively.
