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# Burntwood RUFC return to action in style with confident victory at Eccleshall
- URL: https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/burntwood-rufc-return-to-action-in-style-with-confident-victory-at-eccleshall/
- Published: 2013-02-05T08:42:33.000Z
- Updated: 2013-02-05T08:42:33.000Z
- Author: Rob Forsyth
- Tags: #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-07-22 19:24

Burntwood RUFC showed no signs of ring rust as they returned from two weeks without a game to produce one of their best performances of the season to earn a rare bonus point victory in a 34-10 win at Eccleshall.

Their enterprising play only produced one first half try but the rewards came after the turnaround with another four.

Both sides were determined to run the ball in a very entertaining game but the visitors frequently turned possession over in promising positions while Eccleshall’s back play suffered from basic handling errors.

The only try of the first period came just four minutes in. Possession was moved left then right before Brett Taylor made an incisive break to set Az Dune’t away on a run round behind the posts for a score which he also converted.

Eccleshall hit back with a promising backs’ move over half way but the first of several loose passes cost them the chance of a quick reply.

A solid Burntwood scrum on twelve minutes set the back row in motion with Jack Neal and Hal Gozukucuk combining to send Lloyd Shelley on a 20 metre run to the home 22\. Eccleshall infringed but the wind took Dune’t’s kick at goal left of the target.

The hosts severely tested the visitors’ defence five minutes later but they responded well and the home side were eventually penalised.

Back came Burntwood with good interplay between backs and forwards to take play from 22 to 22\. The home side were penalised but Ian Jones’ side lost possession at a tap and go and then when Eccleshall infringed again a “score” from a line out was ruled out for a foot in touch.

The half ended with another promising Burntwood attack with forwards and backs linking to cover half the length of the pitch to reach the home five metre line. A penalty against cost them a score but with the likes of Neal, Mark Poole, Shelley and Ben Holt running on to offloads from Gozukucuk, better reward was expected in the second period.

Sure enough, just five minutes in, the lead was extended to 17 points. First, Shelley returned the favour to set Gozukucuk on a charge to the 22\. Eccleshall infringed and Dune’t kicked the penalty goal.

Then, Matt Sishton and Shelley exchanged passes for the former to show commendable strength in the tackle to break through for a try converted by Dune’t.

The home side continued to run their possession from anywhere on the pitch and threatened the visitors’ line on a couple of occasions up to the hour mark as they tried to get on the scoreboard.

However, they suffered a killer blow when Burntwood turned over possession in the tackle. Taylor hacked downfield, gathered his kick and fed Nick Peplow who spun out of the full back’s tackle for a run in unopposed to the posts. Dune’t converted for 24-0.

Five minutes later Burntwood secured the bonus point try when county U20s hooker Luke Rookyard burst down the blind side of a ruck from 20 metres for a fine individual score.

A missed pass between Shelley and Gozukucuk prevented another try before Eccleshall finally put a sequence of passes together for a slickly taken try from 30 metres with eight minutes left.

Just three minutes later and they were in again following a burst down the left wing before a pass inside left an unopposed run to the line.

With the full time whistle due, Eccleshall were still trying to run the ball out of their 22 but the visitors were determined to end on a high note and did so when Sishton intercepted to go over for his second try of the match. A missed conversion attempt brought proceedings to a very satisfactory conclusion.

This Saturday (February 9) Burntwood travel to Yardley & District to play a re-arranged league fixture which has been postponed twice due to adverse weather. The 2nds and Development Squad are both TBA.

On Sunday afternoon Burntwood host Staffordshire U20s for their final pool game in the County Championship Shield competition against Oxfordshire – kick off 1.30pm. Burntwood and Lichfield have representatives in the squad, admission is free and local support is welcome. The match will conclude in time for spectators to retire to the clubhouse to watch TV coverage of Ireland v England – kick off 3pm.