Burntwood RUFC may have won both league encounters against Newcastle this season but it is the Potteries’ side who will go forward to play Handsworth in the final of the Staffs Intermediate Cup.
Although the contest was closer than the scoreline suggests, Newcastle possessed too much pace in both attack and defence for Burntwood to progress.
In ideal playing conditions, the opening ten minutes provided free flowing rugby with the hosts testing the Burntwood defence on both flanks. Finally, they worked the ball wide left for a try near the corner flag to open the scoring.
The first quarter ended with the visitors mounting their first real threat to the home line. A patient build-up produced a scrum under the posts five metres out. Aza Dunet, Lloyd Shelley and Will Peach drove for the line in turn but each was held up. The resulting scrum to Newcastle was hastily cleared to keep the pressure on but an infringement cost Burntwood their first promising position.
Jack Neal and Dunet took play back into home territory but the ensuing line out was taken by the hosts and they cleared their lines.
The match turned decisively in Newcastle’s favour on the half hour mark when they ran in two long range tries in two minutes. The first came from an overthrown line out. The ball was moved swiftly to the home left winger and he was away behind the posts for a converted try.
From the restart it was a repeat performance as the ball was caught and sent along the line to the same winger for another sprint to the posts. A successful conversion made it 19-0.
Will Peach pulled three points back with a well-struck penalty five minutes from half time. Even then, Newcastle had the chance to cancel this out with a kick of their own but the attempt was off target.
The second period began with Burntwood probing in the opposition half but five minutes in they probably realised it was not going to be their day when the home right winger broke away. His kick ahead looked as though it would be covered by Brett Taylor but a wicked bounce saw the ball go back over his head to the winger who scored in the corner. The conversion attempt struck a post and stayed out.
Just three minutes later the home scrum half took off from a scrum 30 metres out to sprint to the right corner for a try which was excellently converted for 31-3. Two minutes later it was 34-3 courtesy of a penalty goal.
Burntwood tried to hit back but when they freed right winger Tommy Cooper he was well tackled into touch with one man to beat.
However, the visitors built pressure in the home half, testing the Newcastle defence with inside passes until scrum half Taylor burst through to the posts from the 22 for a try converted by Peach with 20 minutes left.
The home left winger made another important contribution on 68 minutes. He followed up a kick behind the visitors’ defence to chip and chase to the corner. From the line out, the Newcastle forwards caught and drove over the line for the try. For the second time, the conversion bounced wide off a post.
Playing for pride, Burntwood launched a concerted attack which saw Dave Ward go close but the ball was eventually turned over.
With time almost up, Burntwood tried to work their way out of their own half with a passing move up to halfway only for the ball to be intercepted for another converted try under the posts.
Burntwood’s other senior sides played Cannock opposition with the seconds losing narrowly away but the 3rds winning comfortably at home.
Burntwood’s final home league match of the season presents them with a stiff test when they welcome leaders Veseyans to The Sportsway. The 2nds play Aldridge 2nds (A) and the 3rds should host Tamworth 3rds.
