BURNTWOOD suffered their first away loss of the season when they fell to defeat at Spartans.
Early penalty awards went to Jack Johnson’s side and Brett Taylor was able to find the left corner for a catch and dive attempt. It produced another penalty which was tapped, before Tom Shorrock stretched over for the try superbly converted by Taylor from the touchline.
Spartans edged their way upfield as the penalty count mounted against the visitors, but there was little open play for the spectators to cheer. One scrummage took several minutes to complete before possession was eventually moved wide. It didn’t result in a score but it cost Charlie Kirby a trip to the sin bin for a knock-on deemed deliberate.
Burntwood stole the Spartans’ throw in at the subsequent line out, but another penalty against had them back inside their own 22. This time the home outside half broke a tackle to score by the posts and the easy conversion levelled the scores.
It stayed that way at the break, although a kick at goal from yet another penalty award was left of the posts to stop Spartans going ahead.
Luke Rookyard then broke away from a ruck to provide good field position. A penalty award was kicked to the right corner, but a move at the front of the line out was knocked on.
The visitors lost Alfie Dewsbury to injury seven minutes into the second period with Harry Heath replacing him.
Little changed in the way of flowing rugby by either side approaching the hour mark. Then a kick downfield had the Burntwood defence in trouble and Spartans recovered possession to work the ball left for a try in the bottom corner.
Taylor got his side into the opposition half as the visitors had the better of the final quarter. However, promising opportunities to score went begging due to handling errors or penalties against, even when Spartans went down to 14 for not retreating at a penalty tap and go on 66 minutes.
They were held up on the line on 73 minutes from a scrum, then Spartans landed the killer blow from a solid scrum in their own half. They broke away at pace down the left and a kick back inside bounced kindly for a support player to collect and score by the posts for a converted try to make it 19-7.
Burntwood worked hard to salvage a losing bonus point in the closing minutes. Billy Fisher’s twisting run took him close – no try but a yellow card for the hosts due to repeated penalties.
Josh Canning was stopped on the line, but the last action of the match saw replacement Alex Rich score his first try for the first team, finishing off a line out catch and drive following another penalty award. Taylor’s conversion rebounded off a post to end proceedings.
