Firsts for both sides after this closely fought game – Market Drayton’s first win of the league campaign and Burntwood’s first loss but the outcome was not without some controversy.
With time for one last play, the visitors were awarded a penalty on halfway. Skipper Ian Jones checked the score with the referee and was told that his side was ahead so he asked Will Peach to kick the ball into touch only for the official to re-check the scores and confirm that the hosts had in fact won by a point.
It took some heated discussion to ascertain the result after a contest which saw the lead change three times but there was nothing Burntwood could do about the result apart from accept the apologies offered by the referee later on in the bar.
On a lush pitch, conditions were ideal for running rugby and eight tries resulted, four for each side.
Burntwood will be disappointed with their tackling for a couple of the hosts’ tries but for once they didn’t dominate the set pieces against a big home pack which lasted the pace well.
Market Drayton started the better of the sides and had two early penalty shots at goal but both went wide of the target.
It took nearly ten minutes for the visitors to get into opposition territory with Jack Neal getting to within five metres of the try line with a surge off the back of a scrum.
Peach’s first penalty attempt came after 11 minutes but he too was off target.
However, Burntwood seemed to have weathered the storm and play was confined to the home 22.
With 15 minutes gone, a tap and go penalty tested the home defence and skipper Jones dummied and darted his way over the line to open the scoring. Peach converted.
Just four minutes later Market Drayton were off the mark with a diagonal run to the posts from a three quarter through some non-existent tackling. The conversion brought the scores level.
The hosts then took advantage of a yellow card for hooker Danny Poole.
Luke Rookyard had already rescued his side by dropping on a chip through just ten metres off his own line but in the 27th minute the Market Drayton outside half scored a carbon copy of their first try. The conversion made it 14-7.
It could have been more before the break but for some smart work by Josh Canning to rescue his side by the corner flag.
Just as Poole returned, the hosts lost their scrum half to the sin bin and again it proved costly. Ian Mapp’s line out take was driven on by Poole before Ben Holt received possession. The centre, in fine form all season, side stepped his way through and out paced the cover for a try in the right corner.
The conversion attempt failed but just three minutes after the restart Peach was on target with a penalty goal to put Burntwood back in the lead following a good run by Brett Taylor.
On 48 minutes the visitors extended their lead with their best try of the afternoon. Neal stole possession at a line out to set the backs in motion. Holt fed James Langford who made good ground down the right wing. He passed inside to Taylor who dummied the last defender for a try in the corner.
Just past the hour mark, and despite having a second player in the sin bin, Market Drayton regained the lead. A clearance kick from Burntwood was caught and kicked to the far right side of the pitch for the winger to collect on the bounce and score wide out.
A fine conversion convinced the hosts that this could be their day especially when Dave Yardley was the next player to see yellow with ten minutes of normal time left.
With just two minutes left Market Drayton were in for their fourth try by tapping and running a penalty award from their own half. The left winger made the crucial pass out of a tackle for the outside half to score in the corner.
In the time remaining Langford went close but the only result at first was another yellow card, this time for the home inside centre. Burntwood tapped and ran the ball wide for Matt Sishton to cross in the left corner. The conversion was short of the target to leave the hosts a point ahead.
When the final whistle went there was confusion all round until the actual scoreline was confirmed.
Burntwood turn their attention to cup rugby this Saturday (November 16) with the visit of Rugby St Andrews to The Sportsway for the Third Round of the RFU Senior Vase competition – kick off 2.15pm. The A XV are due to play Leek 2nds (A) and the Development Squad face Cannock 2nds (A).
