A disappointing performance by Burntwood’s second string allowed Rugeley to score a decisive penalty goal just three minutes from full time.
It was the only score of the half but it was enough to clinch the win for the home side in this club fixture.
Rugeley worked better as a team against a mixed line-up for Burntwood. The visitors struggled to put a flow to their game and also found the home forwards a handful in the set pieces and in loose play.
The first meaningful attack of the game came through a break by Matt Wood after 5 minutes, taking play from halfway to the hosts’ 22. It went unrewarded and when Rugeley broke out a minute later it took a good tackle by Matt Filer to halt the danger.
Rugeley took the lead on 10 minutes with a penalty awarded for a line out offence. Wood had the chance to level two minutes later but his long range kick fell short.
However, the home defence knocked the ball on in their 22 to put themselves under pressure. Scrum half Mitch Adams probed for an opening but he was well-shackled.
Adams did make good progress after 22 minutes but was injured in the tackle and he went off to be replaced by Brett Taylor.
The visitors were now enjoying the better of the territory but slipshod handling was letting them down. Wood was wide with another penalty attempt and then Hal Gozukucuk and Filer went close but the final pass went astray again.
Finally, Burntwood moved ahead just after half an hour. From a tapped penalty, Gozukucuk went on the charge and just made it over the line for a try converted by Wood.
Straight from the restart the visitors were in again. Mark Thomas collected the kick off to feed Wood at outside half. He chipped over the onrushing Rugeley defence, collected the ball on the run and outstripped the cover for a fine individual try totally out of keeping with what went on before or after.
Close to half time the Rugeley pack drove Burntwood off their own ball to set up a drop goal attempt which was well-struck but just off target. It mattered little as the Rugeley outside centre broke a tackle a minute later to score a good individual try under the posts. The conversion brought the score back to 12-10.
Dan Garrity was injured at this point and while he was receiving attention, Rugeley exploited the gap but were harshly whistled for a forward pass when away down their left wing.
Gareth Wedge replaced Garrity at the break necessitating a re-shuffle with flanker Jack Neale moving into the backs.
Wood missed another penalty from 35 metres and then prop Andy Macey went off injured just six minutes into the second period forcing the scrums to go uncontested.
A nondescript second half contained little of note but the visitors could have made the game safe on two occasions. After 55 minutes the back division threatened but a handling error let them down.
They went even closer with ten minutes remaining. Rugeley missed their jumper at a line out in their own 22 following Wood’s long range touchfinder. Ben Poulton and Gozukucuk both drove for the line. When the ball was worked back for the three quarters to use, another missed pass ended the attack.
This miss proved even more costly when the Rugeley hooker went close at the other end of the field. The attack produced a penalty and the home kicker kept his nerve to split the uprights for the decisive score.
There was better news for the 3rds who had too much fire power at home to a dogged Rugeley 2nds. They won 55-10.
Most of the damage was done in a fast, open and entertaining first half with 36 unanswered points scored by the hosts.
Rob England (3), James Holmes, Dave Ward, Paulius (2), Craig Addy and James Wright went over for tries and Addy kicked 5 conversions.
Rugeley battled until the final whistle to enjoy a fair share of possession after the break and they deserved their two second half tries.
This Saturday (November 12) Burntwood resume league action with the visit of Aston Old Edwardians – kick off 2.15 pm. The seconds host Willenhall 3rds and the 3rds travel to Wolverhampton 3rds.
