Burntwood RUFC’s hopes of toppling unbeaten league leaders Handsworth evaporated in the opening ten minutes when they found themselves 17-0 down.
The fact that they shared the rest of the game at 17 points apiece provided some consolation but the damage had already been done.
The hosts made the worst possible start. They fumbled the Handsworth kick off and two passes later the visitors scored a try in the clubhouse corner within ten seconds.
Play remained in the home half from the restart courtesy of a penalty kick to the left corner. A series of drives by the forwards took play infield before good handling by the backs led to a try in the right corner.
They went close again but were denied by a forward pass. However, their third try quickly followed. They won a Burntwood line out on halfway to feed along the backs to the left winger. He beat two cover tacklers for a try which was converted.
The one way traffic was only interrupted by a long range penalty attempt from Will Peach but his effort dropped short. Handsworth went close again only to be penalised right on the try line.
The hosts received some encouragement when they scored on their first visit to the opposition 22. Peach kicked a penalty award to the corner to set up an attack from the line out. Brett Taylor checked the drift defence which allowed Hal Gozukucuk to force his way over the line. Peach converted and then added a fine penalty goal from 40 metres on the half hour mark.
Just as Ben Holt’s side were back in the contest they made another costly error at the kick off. It presented a line out to the visitors, an area of the game they were dominating. They worked the ball right and then left via good handling to create another try in the clubhouse corner.
The conversion made it 24-10 and it stayed that way until half time after a frantic spell of play which saw both sides turning possession over in the loose.
Burntwood clawed back a big deficit to win this fixture last season and it looked as though it could happen again as they took play to the league leaders in the third quarter.
Peach put his side in good position with a kick to the corner. Josh Canning won the line out to set Aza Dunet and Gozukucuk in motion. The last pass went forward but the home pack won the ensuing scrum against the put in. The drive for the line was finished off by Ian Jones. Peach’s conversion made it a seven point deficit again and seemingly game on.
They almost set winger Rob Jones away only to be called back for another forward pass. A try then would have made for a very interesting last quarter but it was Handsworth who scored next to stretch away. A penalty kick to the home 22 led to another try for the left winger on 56 minutes.
The result was decided on 67 minutes with what proved to be the final score of the game. The visitors profited from another line out take in the home 22 which allowed the No. 8 to force his way over for his side’s sixth try.
Burntwood came closest to adding to their tally in time remaining. Taylor’s break set Rob Jones away again only to be tackled just short of the line. Then, with the pack winning a series of scrums on the visitors’ 22, Luke Rookyard threatened the line only to knock-on in the tackle.
Despite the defeat, Burntwood enjoyed their Annual Dinner and Presentation Evening that after the game. Awards went to:
- Player of 2013-14 season – Jack Neal
- Young Player – Aza Dunet
- Most Improved Player – Dave Ward
- Clubman of the Year – Jason Grundy
- Life membership – Mansel Thomas.
