A superb defensive effort by the home side earned Burntwood RUFC a bonus point in their first league game of the season.
They found themselves ten points down after 20 minutes but only conceded another three points despite being under the cosh for much of the remaining hour plus.
The early exchanges were fought out between the 22s. Steve Blockley had the chance to put his side ahead after eight minutes with a penalty attempt from the Old Salts 10 metre line but his kick fell short.
The visitors broke the deadlock four minutes later following a penalty award for the Burntwood’s backs being caught offside. A good attack dragged Burntwood’s cover one way then the other for a try near the posts which was converted.
The lead was extended on 20 minutes as the feisty Old Salts forwards made progress assisted by an injury to home full back Dan Garrity back on halfway. They earned a penalty which made it 10-0.
Burntwood finally turned the tide and halved the deficit 10 minutes later. They turned an Old Salts scrum five metres out to win the put in. Skipper Graham Shelley picked up and drove and when he was held, brother Lloyd was there to take possession and dive over.
The home pack continued to assert itself in the set scrums but the visitors were up quickly to pressure the home backs and keep play near halfway. The half ended with a long range penalty attempt from Matt Wood which dipped under the bar.
Old Salts continues to press after the turnaround but met stiff resistance. The tackling was solid and Lloyd Shelley was creating turnovers with his work in the loose. Even so, the visitors landed a penalty goal 6 minutes into the half after skipper Shelley was harshly penalised.
It was not until the final quarter that Burntwood moved play into the visitors’ half helped by a string of penalties conceded by their opponents. They went for a line out catch and drive but the ball missed its target.
However, when Old Salts were caught offside again, Blockley landed a penalty goal with a well-struck kick from 30 metres.
Burntwood again had to weather the storm as Old Salts tried to secure the win. More than once they were within five metres of the home line but couldn’t break through.
As the match went into added time the Shelley brothers hounded the opposition back into their own half. Graham Shelley won possession in the loose to send second half replacement Nick Peplow haring off down the left wing. He reached the visitors’ 22 and earned his side a line out but the ball was underthrown and cleared back to halfway to effectively end the contest.
Elsewhere a youthful Burntwood second team welcomed an experienced Lichfield 3rd XV to The Sportsway and opened their season with a win by 27-12.
There were tries for Dan Thornton, Luke Rookyard and Brett Taylor – all converted by Mitch Carless who also added two penalties. Jason Powell crossed twice for Lichfield.
Burntwood 3rd XV also achieved an opening day win, defeating Essington 2nds 46-26 following an entertaining match played in good spirit by both sides.
The home side got off to a flying start going 3 tries up but by the break Essington had reduced the arrears to just 2 points. The scores remained close until the final quarter then Burntwood pulled clear.
Skipper Matt Cummins led by example in an excellent performance which yielded a hat trick of tries. There were also two tries each for Pete Reynolds and Rob England.
On Sunday morning Burntwood U14s enjoyed a highly promising start to the season when they finished runners-up at the Tamworth festival.
They beat Eccleshall by six tries to nil, did the same to Barton, and then beat the hosts by two tries to nil. Their only defeat was against an impressive Silhillians side by two tries to nil. Burntwood try scorers were Josh Smith (1), Adam Mia (1), Josh Maddox (3), Ben Lewis (1), Dominic Murray (5), Sam Lloyd (1) and Caleb Overton (2).
This Saturday (September 17) Burntwood play their second league match away to Shrewsbury. The seconds are away to Handsworth 2nds and the 3rds are TBA.
Click to see more of Joanne Gough’s photographs from the game against Old Saltleians.
