Burntwood RUFC earned themselves a lifeline in their bid to avoid the drop by dragging third from bottom Spartans back into the relegation battle.
A nine point gap between the two sides a fortnight ago has now been reduced to just three points. Spartans won the reverse fixture earlier in the season 32-5 so Burntwood were aware that they would have to pull out all the stops to win the game. That was exactly what happened including gaining a vital winning bonus point.
Excellent playing conditions with a sound surface and a light wind provided a good opportunity to play rugby and, winning the toss, Graham Shelley elected to play with the elements in the first half.
A fairly even start allowed for the two teams to measure up to each other and on ten minutes Spartans had the first opportunity to open the scoring with a penalty attempt which failed. This seemed to spur the Burntwood lads into life as they started to put their hosts on the back foot.
Matt Wood converted a penalty and then the visitors worked the blind side which allowed Dan Thornton space to score the first try of the game. With the conversion going over off the upright it was felt that luck might just be going Burntwood’s way for a change. Another Wood penalty just before half time made the score 0-13.
Although not a convincing half time score and against the wind for the second half the half time team talk seemed to spur Burntwood on.
Excellent tackling throughout stopped any Spartans attack at source including the number eight who had caused most of the problems in the previous game and the visitors started to take a keen hold.
Wood scored the second try with a chip over the top of the Spartans backline and chased through to score. With two further penalties converted the best move of the game came from a good charge by Rhys Morgan who slipped a great pass to Thornton. An overlapping run from Dan Garrity resulted in a well timed pass from Thornton to leave the full back clean through to score on sixty minutes.
Spartans scored their only points of the afternoon with a try on 70 minutes from a lineout after Burntwood had sloppily failed to clear their lines but this was the only blemish on the away team’s defence all afternoon.
With the clock running down and the win almost certain, more pressure on the Spartans’ backline caused a handling error which Mitch Adams reacted to quickly to scoop up the ball and score under the posts to secure the valuable bonus point and reduce Spartans lead to three points in the league. Wood’s conversion completed the scoring and the referee’s whistle straight after was music to the ears of the travelling supporters.
Burntwood travel away again this Saturday (March 3) for a league fixture at Aston Old Edwardians. The 2nds XV are TBA and the 3rds are away to St. Leonards 2nds.
On Sunday morning the U17s are away to Shrewsbury in the Midlands quarter final of the National Bowl competition. There is a coach to the game and all support would be much appreciated.
