Burntwood RUFC suffered late heartbreak as they attempted to reverse a defeat against Handsworth in November.
A last-gasp try proved to be the difference as the scores finished 24-22 to the home side – a result that keeps Handsworth in the promotion chase, while Burntwood slip a place in the league table but remain well clear of trouble.
In a game of fluctuating fortunes, the lead changed hands five times. While the visitors dominated play in the forwards, particularly in the scrummages, the home back division were more potent, scoring three of their side’s four tries to the one generated by their opponents.
Burntwood paid the price for a slow start by conceding 12 points in the opening 14 minutes. The first try came after just five minutes. The visiting side infringed twice to give the hosts the opportunity to kick for touch into the 22. A scrum followed a line out and a simple two on one saw the left winger score down the blind side.
A superb touchline conversion made it seven points, but a second try went unconverted despite the right winger scoring close to the posts after shrugging off some weak tackling.
Despite their lacklustre start, Burntwood responded superbly to lead 16-12 at the break, beginning the fightback straight from the restart. Elliot Tomlinson re-gathered the kick off to set up a scrum and driving maul. Handsworth infringed and Aza Dune’t landed the penalty on 17 minutes.
The home kicker had a pot at goal four minutes later but was wide left from 40 metres.
On 25 minutes the Shelley brothers led a break out from their own 22 which took play into the home 22 although Luke Rookyard was injured in the process and replaced by Anthony Davies. The first of two five metre line outs was knocked on but at the second, Amrit Derry stole possession to set up a drive for the line finished off by Graham Shelley who was back in the side after a lengthy absence. Dune’t converted.
The Burntwood pack was now on top, taking opposition ball as well as their own, helped by a string of penalty decisions against the hosts. Both Dune’t and Craig Seedhouse were able to put their side into opposition territory with some fine kicking from hand.
Dune’t was also accurate from the tee, kicking another two penalty goals on 34 and 39 minutes, to take his side into a four point lead by half time.
Having fought their way back into the match, Burntwood found themselves behind again just two minutes into the second period. From their own 22 drop out, the home No. 8 broke a couple of tackles before feeding his left winger who beat the last defender with a neat step and then speeding to the posts for a converted try.
Back came the visitors again directly from the restart. The hosts infringed, Dune’t found another good touch and following a catch and drive Seedhouse brought the scores level with a drop goal.
In hindsight, the spell of play up to the hour mark was when Burntwood should have capitalised on their superiority in the scrummages. They had Handsworth in all sorts of trouble deep inside their own 22 but couldn’t find a way of crossing the line.
The home side broke out once when Hal Gozukucuk lay injured but the last pass went astray approaching the last ten minutes.
With just five minutes left the deadlock was finally broken. Brett Taylor found touch with a good kick and skipper Shelley stole possession. Davies peeled round the back of the line out to set up a maul from which Seedhouse kicked his second drop goal.
All they had to do was see out time but a mistake from the kick off gave Handsworth a penalty A quick tap to the No. 8, a thorn in Burntwood’s side all afternoon, took play close to the try line. He was held up but following a series of scrums and five metre penalties, the home side squeezed over for the winning score. The missed conversion was the final kick of the game.
This Saturday (March 9) Burntwood begin a run of three home league games with the visit of Wednesbury – kick off 3pm. The 2nds are TBA and the Development Squad visit Handsworth 3rds.
