Stafford scored 12 points in the last two minutes to create a scoreline which was harsh on Burntwood.
The hosts were clearly the better team, particularly before the break, but the visitors drew a blank in the second half despite spending a lot of time in Stafford territory.
Attacking the clubhouse end, Stafford were dominant in the opening quarter. Prolonged phases of play led to their first try after six minutes wide out on the right. It needed a good tackle by Craig Seedhouse to deny a second try nine minutes later. Winger Mitch Adams emerged groggy from another heavy tackle and he was replaced by Dan Thornton.
The Stafford scrum proved strong and it led to their second try on 18 minutes. From 5 metres out an offload down the narrow side created the touchdown. A fine conversion put them 12 points up.
However, Burntwood hit back from the restart to give themselves hope. They forced an error deep in the home 22 which had them scrumaging five metres out. They lost the scrum but won a penalty. Ben Holt worked an opening for Matt Wood and he darted over by the posts for a try which he also converted.
A missed kick to touch at the restart allowed Stafford to make progress to the visitors’ 22. They increased their lead with a penalty goal when Burntwood were guilty of not rolling away in the tackle.
Wood made a good run to put his side in Stafford territory but the ensuing scrum was lost and a long range touch-finder had Burntwood pinned back in their own 22. A drive by the home forwards sucked in the cover to allow a third try midway out to the left.
Another good restart kick by Wood was reclaimed by his pack and a series of drives presented Seedhouse with a well-struck drop goal to make it 20-10.
The half concluded with a missed tackle on halfway which set the hosts driving through the forwards. Burntwood infringed again and the home kicker split the uprights for a 23-10 lead.
Stafford scored a bonus point try five minutes after the restart by working the ball down the backs for a try in the left corner.
Much of the rest of the half was spent in home territory. A good offload by Holt was stopped illegally and the referee awarded a penalty, an extra 10 metres and he also sin binned the home tight head prop.
Wood launched the penalty as an up and under which produced a scrum 5 to his side. Possession was moved to Seedhouse but his chip behind the home defence just evaded Thornton following up.
Stafford repeatedly fell foul of the referee to present a series of penalty awards but Burntwood failed to take advantage due to their own handling errors in attempting to score a try to put themselves back in the game. The nearest they came was a fine break by Ollie Whitehouse from a scrum on halfway. He evaded everybody but the full back who did well to pull him down close to the line.
Then it was Stafford on the break but a good chase and tackle by Wood stopped the home winger as he threatened to escape on halfway.
With the result decided and the game moving into added time, Stafford got close to the visitors’ try line. After a delay for an injury, the home pack drove over from five metres for a try.
Then, straight from the restart, Stafford took possession, moved the ball out to the backs and broke clean through centre field for an excellent try. The successful conversion concluded the match.
A late cry off by Tamworth 3rds denied Burntwood 2nds any match action.
With no league games this weekend, fixtures for Burntwood’s senior sides are all TBA. Their next Midlands 2 West North games are home to Moseley Oak on January 28 and then away to Spartans on February 4.
Click to see more of Joanne Gough’s pictures from the game.
