In ideal playing conditions at Harborne both sides produced a superb game of rugby which Burntwood RUFC almost clinched at the death.
The first score went to Ben Holt’s side on three minutes. They earned a penalty after a series of phases which Will Peach converted from 25 metres.
Both teams then jousted for an opening with play confined to the area between the two 22s until Peach doubled Burntwood’s lead with an excellent strike for his second penalty goal on 15 minutes.
Momentum then moved markedly to the hosts who rattled in four tries in a ten minute burst from the 17th minute. A couple of errors led to the first with Harborne re-gathering a miscued clearance kick to feed left and score in the corner.
Direct from the restart the home outside centre made an electric break before kicking to the right corner. The winger was adjudged to have grounded he ball before it went dead but it was a very close call.
The next try came from a disrupted Burntwood scrum 30 metres out. The hosts turned over possession which lead to another score in the left corner. The potent home back division then achieved the bonus point try with a slick move to the right for the touch down in the corner.
The only positive for the visitors at this stage was that with all four tries being scored out wide there were no conversion points to add to the deficit.
Burntwood responded well via strong runs from Hal Gozukucuk and Ian Jones. They won a penalty on the home ten metre line which Peach skimmed over for 9-20.
The forwards then drove deep into opposition territory from the restart which cost the hosts their tight head prop for ten minutes for killing the ball. Peach’s subsequent penalty kick at goal was off target.
Harborne, despite being a man down, almost added to their lead with an attack up to the Burntwood five metre line but conceded a penalty at the vital moment.
The visitors were right back in the game with a try before the break. Peach put his side in good position with a penalty kick to the left corner. The line out possession was driven for the try line with Josh Canning going close. However, from the ensuing scrum No.8 Ian Jones was able to squeeze over.
Just three minutes into the second period Burntwood went into the lead. An excellent attack involving forwards and backs linking together saw Gozukucuk threaten the try line before Holt fed Elliot Woolley who squeezed over in the corner. Peach converted superbly from the touchline.
The lead was short –lived however as three minutes later a series of penalties were awarded to the hosts, the last of which was taken quickly to create a try for the lively outside centre.
Again, the visitors responded well but Peach missed the target with two penalty attempts, neither of them easy, and then Aza Dunet was almost away down the left wing only to have the ball dislodged.
Back came Harborne and this time it was Burntwood who lost a player to the sin bin when Luke Rookyard was shown a yellow card for an offence at a ruck. In his absence his side scrambled well in defence but with Gozukucuk lying injured as well the Harborne outside half sliced through a gap from the ten metre line for an unopposed try.
To their credit, the visitors were determined to get something out of the game and with five minutes left they got within bonus point range. Peach’s penalty kick to the corner provided line out ball for Canning. The forwards drove before feeding the backs. Full back Brett Taylor was up in the line to dummy his way over and with Peach’s conversion it was a four point game.
A great attack from the restart took play from their own half to the Harborne five metre line. Not straight in the line out presented a scrum to the hosts at which Burntwood were penalised and the hosts were able to clear and secure the five points.
Third placed Newcastle are the visitors to The Sportsway this Saturday (December 13), kick off 2.15pm. The Patrons’ Dinner preceeds the match with a three course meal for Burntwood Patrons and guests from midday. Contact the clubhouse for more details. The 2nds and 3rds are both away to Newcastle 2nds and 3rds.
