In the last minute of their final home league game of the season Burntwood scored their fourth try to earn a vital bonus point win against relegation rivals Dixonians.
Unfortunately, Matt Wood couldn’t add the touchline conversion so the visitors recorded a losing bonus point to stay four league points above Burntwood with two rounds of matches to play.
Graham Shelley’s men were not at their best against a Dixonians side who have suffered a rapid decline recently. Basic handling errors and only one successful kick at goal from six attempts kept the visitors interested until the final whistle. However, on the plus side, two of the four home tries were right out of the top drawer.
The visitors were ahead with a penalty goal after seven minutes awarded for handling on the floor. Burntwood responded well, led by a characteristic charge from skipper Shelley, to take play into opposition territory for the next 15 minutes.
The first possession moved out to the backs was spilled on ten minutes. Four minutes later, after taking a scrum against the put in, Lloyd Shelley did well to feed Ben Holt but the full back was securely tackled to halt the move.
Dixonians turned the tide helped by the award of two penalties but the home side won turnover ball in their own 22 which was the prelude to a fine length of the field try. Skipper Shelley booted the ball upfield for Holt to re-gather and link with his skipper. Ian Jones and Hal Gozukucuk provided more support before putting lock forward Amrit Derry in for the try.
Burntwood barely had time to enjoy the score before they conceded a soft try virtually from the restart. A Dixonians centre found it all too easy to break through midfield to set up a try in the bottom corner which was superbly converted for a 10-5 lead.
On the half hour mark Wood was left of the posts with a penalty attempt from 30 metres. However, Gozukucuk kept his side on the attack with a fine run from 22 to 22. Craig Prosser was up in support to feed Mitch Adams but he was just held as he threatened the right corner flag.
With the half time whistle pending, Burntwood edged ahead. Fielding a Dixonians kick out of defence, Gozukucuk and Holt worked the ball to the left. When it came back to the right, Graham Shelley was on hand to touch down for a try converted by Wood. In the process, a visiting flanker was yellow carded.
There was still time for Dixonians to take a shot at goal when the hosts infringed at the restart. Despite both touch judges flagging for a successful kick, referee Mike Mulroy quite rightly overruled them to leave Burntwood ahead 12-10 at the break.
Burntwood’s only chance of points whilst the visitors were down to 14 men was a penalty attempt by Wood but his effort drifted right of the target.
The Dixonians kicker’s task was made easier after 55 minutes when a midfield penalty award was moved 20 metres upfield for dissent and he successfully kicked it between the posts to edge his side infront by a point.
Burntwood were their own worst enemies for a 20 minute spell by committing a series of handling errors which had them defending close to their own try line. Luckily, Dixonians failed to capitalise fully due to their own fallibilities but they did move further ahead with another penalty goal on 65 minutes.
With ten minutes left the home side finally clicked into action. Mark Poole took a difficult pass from Dan Thornton to set his side in motion. Wood broke over half way and chipped over the last defender. The bounce evaded him but Holt was following up to race in for an excellent try.
Two minutes of added time had been played when Gozukucuk went on another charge from a penalty award. The ball was moved wide and slick passing by Lloyd Shelley and Craig Seedhouse freed Holt for a run to the try line for the bonus point try.
With tough away games to come against Tamworth and Old Saltleians, Burntwood’s league status is still precarious but at least this win gives them a chance of the great escape.
