BURNTWOOD saw three tries in a ten minute spell either side of half-time condemn them to a 47-18 defeat against league leaders Whitchurch.
The Shropshire side had taken the lead as early as the second minute after a neatly executed dummy switch pass opened the way for a converted try under the posts.
Good phases of play by the hosts through midfield earned a penalty which Kian Carter kicked to the left corner. Sam Perrins won the line out to set the pack on a drive finished off by Charles Michael. Carter’s conversion attempt rebounded off a post to make it 5-7 after seven minutes.
However, Carter landed a penalty goal on 16 minutes to edge his side ahead.
The lead lasted for ten minutes until Whitchurch broke away out of their own 22 to set up a sustained attack which ended in a try from close range plus the conversion.
Tom Pockson made a promising run over halfway, but the visitors turned possession over and attacked up to the home 22. They won a penalty, but the goal attempt slipped left of the posts. However, suspect tackling allowed the Whitchurch number five to collect the drop out and carry the ball close to the line before his support players arrived to go over for the try and conversion.
Back came Jack Johnson’s side with a good kick chase which forced the visitors to concede a five-metre scrum when they carried the ball over their own line. After a re-set, Luke Rookyard was held up over the line from a tapped penalty. The clearance kick went direct into touch to present Burntwood with another five metre scrum. This time possession was controlled for the backs to send Dan Clements over in the right corner for an unconverted try.
Clements then stole possession when the visitors threatened from a line out in the clubhouse corner which allowed Ben Holt to clear.
Right on half-time Whitchurch benefitted from more missed tackles to score a converted try to make it 13-28.
If the hosts were to give themselves the chance of repeating their win in the reverse fixture in October they needed the first score of the second period – but the league leaders underlined their title credentials by scoring two tries within six minutes.
A wide pass outflanked the home defence for the first, which was also superbly converted from the touchline, and the second was a backs move from a penalty award to make the score 13-40.
The visitors completed their tally on 55 minutes. A solid scrum provided front-foot ball for the backs and they went in under the posts for a converted try.
It was past the hour mark before Burntwood mounted an attack of their own, but it was not until the last minute that they finally broke the stranglehold. Billy Fisher made a super break over halfway before sending a well-timed pass to Aidan Barker who went in for the try to complete the scoring.
Elsewhere, Burntwood 2nds struggled to adapt to the artificial pitch along with the weather conditions away to Stafford 2nds as they lost out 27-22.
They were two scores down early on as the hosts had the wind advantage for the first half.
Reece Elliott halved the deficit, but a converted try by the hosts made it 17-5 at the break.
Sam Hull ran in a try early in the second period, but Stafford replied in kind.
Elliott crossed for his second try only for the hosts to score again with five minutes left.
In time added on, a try by Ben Finney plus a conversion from Matt Wenlock-Evans earned two consolation bonus points for Dan Black’s side.
