BURNTWOOD secured the Staffs Intermediate Trophy by defeating Newcastle (Staffs) 37-12 in the final.
It is the fifth time that the club has won the trophy since its inception in 2002, when it was also the winner.
The fixture was also the fourth season in a row that Burntwood have appeared in the final, but they had finished as runners-up in the last two outings.
Going into this fixture – which had been held over from last season due to fixture congestion – both sides had played a series of warm-up games, but this was the first competitive outing of the new campaign so it was difficult to choose a favourite.
However, Burntwood’s forward power dominated proceedings, allowing them to score six tries to two by Newcastle.
Both sides made progress into each other's 22 in the opening half-hour but without reward until a burst of three tries in six minutes got the scoreboard moving.
Burntwood were off the mark first following a penalty kick to the right corner. A catch and drive was finished off by Luke Rookyard in the corner. Alfie Broadhurst’s conversion attempt stalled in the stiff crosswind and fell short.
An error at the restart followed by a penalty award allowed the Potteries’ side to mount pressure deep inside the Burntwood 22. When they spread the ball out left, the try was scored and a fine conversion from near the touchline edged Newcastle ahead 7-5.
The lead was short-lived, though, as Burntwood made progress from the kick-off, helped by two penalty awards, the second of which cost a Newcastle player a yellow card. Harry Heath went close from a tap-and-go penalty before scrum-half Jack Butcher dotted down for the score near the left corner. There was no conversion, but more good work from Heath and Dan Clements set up good field position to earn a penalty which Broadhurst kicked to end the half at 13-7.
Pictures: Clare Arnold
A patient build-up by Burntwood opened the second period, but Newcastle’s dominant tackling in the backs prevented a score. They cleared downfield via a penalty award, but back came the Sportsway outfit with skipper Neil Holden leading the way with a storming run through centre field. Ben Holt found the touchline with a great kick into the Newcastle 22. The forwards won the line-out and then scrummaged strongly for Holden to dive over to make it 18-7.
On the hour mark, another strong scrum effort shoved Newcastle off their own ball and Holt popped the ball to Broadhurst who scored and then converted his own try. However, a brief skirmish in the dead-ball area saw Butcher yellow-carded.
Full-back Aidan Barker was next to feature for Burntwood as he made an electrifying break from his own 22 to the opposition 10-metre line, but his support players infringed when he was finally tackled.
New head coach Dave Kirby made use of his replacements in the final quarter which included four players making their first-team debuts.
Broadhurst was just right of the posts with a penalty goal attempt from near halfway after a scrum offence, but he made no mistake with his conversion of Heath’s first try on 74 minutes. The powerful number eight had done the spadework with a run into the 22 to earn a penalty. The tap-and-go option was taken and he forced his way over near the posts.
Moving into time added on, Heath repeated the act – but this time he dived over from a line-out in the left corner to complete Burntwood’s tally.
There was still time for Newcastle to mount their first attack for some time and they kept possession alive well for an unconverted try in the right corner.
The final whistle sounded with the missed kick as Holden collected the trophy to the delight of the Burntwood camp.
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