A penalty and a late converted try proved to be Burntwood RUFC’s undoing as they went out of the RFU Midlands Intermediate Cup against Lutterworth.
Going into the final quarter, the hosts were still well in contention against their visitors from Leicestershire trailing 13-7, but in two rare second half attacks, Lutterworth scored a penalty and then a late converted try to take them into the next round
The scoreline was tough on a home side who dominated the second period but found the visitors’ defence a tough nut to crack. They also had to contend with injuries to two key players in their back division from half time onwards.
Play was evenly fought out between the 22s in the opening 15 minutes before Lutterworth broke the deadlock with a penalty conceded for offside.
Just two minutes later Burntwood lost full back Matt Wood with a knee injury. Dan Thornton came on to the wing and Dan Garrity moved to full back.
Around the half hour mark Lutterworth stepped up a gear. They had a try ruled out for stepping into touch but the hosts had already been caught offside on the other side of the pitch. A catch and drive was held up over the line but from the ensuing scrum the Number 8 broke and drove over for a converted try.
Burntwood hit back almost immediately. A catch and drive led to a sustained attack involving forwards and backs. Mark Poole and Steve Blockley both drove for the line before hooker Tony Davies dotted down for the try. Blockley converted.
Skipper Graham Shelley set up another good drive from the restart but a missed pass ended the move.
Lutterworth counter attacked and won a penalty for not rolling away but the kick was hooked to the left.
Right on half time the home side lost a scrum against the put in to put themselves in trouble. Blockley was yellow carded for handling on the ground and the resulting penalty was easily converted for 13-7 at the break.
During the interval outside half Ben Holt went off with a broken thumb to be replaced by Jack Neale and Rob Cartwright came on for prop Adam Slater.
Despite these assorted setbacks, Burntwood dominated the next 20 minutes. Ollie Whitehouse made a good break into the visitors’ 22 which led to Poole being held up over the line. Then a run by Lloyd Shelley had the visitors back peddling but the makeshift back division fumbled the possession before Blockley returned to the field.
On 51 minutes Burntwood had a kickable penalty but chose to tap and go. The result was a knock on but when they had the chance to kick at goal shortly afterwards, courtesy of Mitch Adams’ promising run, Blockley’s kick was left of the posts.
A little indiscipline by Burntwood allowed Lutterworth into their own half but Thornton made a good mark to turn them back.
However, another Lutterworth steal against the put in saw them progress up to the home 22 where Burntwood infringed. A successful kick made it 16-7 after 64 minutes.
Back came the hosts to mount an attack through the forwards in the clubhouse corner but after threatening to cross the line they lost control of possession and the danger was cleared.
Lutterworth secured their passage into the next round of the competition with a converted try with five minutes to go after the home cover defence couldn’t gather a kick into their 22.
Burntwood tried to score a consolation try but despite the visitors’ No. 8 being sin binned they still couldn’t find a way to the try line.
This Saturday (October 22) Burntwood host Spartans for a MW2N league game, kick-off 3pm. The 2nds welcome Wolverhampton 2nds and the 3rds travel to Warley 2nds.
