For all their industry, possession and territory – particularly in the second half – Burntwood lacked the cutting edge to turn promising attacks into points at Newcastle.
The hosts on the other hand, had more spark and pace about them when they had possession to run in six tries compared to Burntwood’s two.
Newcastle were quickly out of the blocks to go 12 points up after just six minutes. In the first minute the home full back sprinted down the left touchline for a converted try. Three minutes later their outside half slid a penalty attempt right of the target but a fluffed kick at the restart kept the hosts on the attack. They drove up to the five metre line and at the third time of asking they drove over from close range.
Burntwood launched their first attack after 13 minutes prompted by a half break from skipper Ben Holt. The ball found winger Rob Jones who got within ten metres of the line. Possession was regained but a crossfield kick missed its target.
From the ensuing line out the visitors’ pack drove close to the line but were penalised for holding on in the tackle. The next Newcastle attack suffered the same fate on 18 minutes.
The hosts seemed to have increased their lead a minute later but a touch down in the right corner went unseen by the referee. However, their disappointment was brief as a neat move from a scrum saw their inside centre cross for a converted try after 23 minutes.
Burntwood needed the next score to stay in contention and it came four minutes later. Two catch and drives from line outs took play deep into the home 22 before Tom O’Brien slipped a pass to Holt for a try.
Promising attacks via Luke Rookyard, Josh Canning and Holt all ended in turnovers or infringements and then to make matters worse the Newcastle scrum half shot through a gap on halfway to race in for a converted try.
Burntwood went close from another line out catch and drive but lost possession and had to scramble back to prevent a breakaway try by the home left winger right on half time.
With Will Peach finding good ground with his touch kicking, Burntwood kept play in home territory for the third quarter. Opting for line outs and set scrums, where they had the upper hand, they found ways to lose possession at the vital moments through infringements and turnovers.
Finally, on the hour mark, they managed to control a catch and drive all the way to the try line for Graham Shelley to touch down.
This score was almost immediately cancelled out when Newcastle collected the restart kick to send the left winger on a crossfield run. He found the scrum half and his darting run was finished off by a support player for the fifth try.
Burntwood hit back with concerted pressure but it only resulted in the home No 5 being sent to the sin bin. There was no scoring while he was off but as soon as he returned, Newcastle completed their tally when the scrum half escaped in midfield to run round for a converted try under the posts two minutes from the end.
In the time remaining a second home player received a yellow card but it made no difference to the outcome.
On Sunday morning a Burntwood XV welcomed Hamburg Exiles to The Sportsway. The home side won 50-17 but the biggest cheers were for the Exiles’ three second half tries, the tourists having trailed 29-0 at half time.
Darryl Organ notched the first two home tries followed by two for Louis Dewsbury, and one each for Martyn Ottey, Matt Bray, Matt Hill and James Holmes. Dewsbury added five conversions for a personal haul of 20 points.
As the tourists worked off the previous day’s excesses in the second half they ran in three tries and added a conversion.
Burntwood have one league game left to play which is at home to Uttoxeter on April 11. The only action scheduled for this Saturday is a 3rd XV match away to Handsworth 3rds. The colts go off on Easter tour to Rotterdam to play two fixtures.
