A 12-minute second half spell saw Burntwood RUFC beaten in the Staffs Intermediate Cup.
After 49 minutes the visitors were only a point behind Newcastle (Staffs) at 18-17 – but 12 minutes later the deficit was 20 points as the hosts ran in three tries and added two conversions to effectively seal the tie.
Burntwood contributed to their own downfall during that spell with some threadbare defending down the blind side of two scrums and then, as they tried to respond, a pass was intercepted for a length of the field try under the posts.
The opening minutes of the contest saw the visitors probing in the opposition half but it was the home side who went ahead against the run of play with their first attack on ten minutes. Turnover possession was moved left to the ever dangerous Sam Evans who pivoted his way over the line for the first try.
Ben Holt’s side hit back, helped by a penalty award which was kicked deep into the home half. The ball was moved along the backs and centre Danny Duggan muscled his way over the line to level the scores.
A good break by the Newcastle outside half Dom Ellerton had Burntwood backpeddling and conceding a penalty which the same player goaled for 8-5.
The hosts were now on top territorially and had the advantage of an extra man for ten minutes as Luke Rookyard was yellow carded. Newcastle quickly capitalised with a catch and drive try from a line out but that proved the only score until Rookyard returned.
With 37 minutes gone, winger Rob Jones initiated an attack after fielding a Newcastle clearance kick. A sweeping move left and right involving Tom O’Brien, Rookyard and Duggan allowed Owen Rookyard to pick a good running line to breach the home defence and dot down under the posts for a try which he also converted.
At this point, skipper Holt left the field with a thigh injury and was replaced by Ross Bedworth.
An error at the restart saw Newcastle reclaim possession and move the ball out right. An interchange at pace led to an unconverted try in the corner to complete the first half action.
Burntwood needed the next score to keep their hopes up and it arrived after just three minutes of the second period. Sean Brennan won line out possession to set up a good drive by the forwards. Scrum half Brett Taylor popped the ball to Matt Sishton and the winger took the pass and a would-be tackler over in the corner for a try.
The decisive spell of the match followed just six minutes later. Twice the Burntwood pack put pressure on the home scrum but each time they left the side door open as the scrum half and then winger Evans both exploited the blind side for tries.
Then, as Burntwood attacked superbly from turnover ball with Taylor darting close to the line, a pass out wide was picked off under the home posts for a breakaway try and conversion.
With time almost up Newcastle reached the 40 points mark courtesy of a penalty goal and then four minutes into stoppage time another missed pass was intercepted and Ellerton was away to the corner to complete the scoring.
The visitors went close to a consolation try in the last minute but the home rush defence snuffed out the threat.
Burntwood can have no complaints about the result although the scoreline flattered the hosts.
There was success for the other Burntwood sides which took the field over the weekend. The 2nds improved as the game went on the defeat Essington 36-28 at The Sportsway and on Sunday the colts travelled to Ashby and came back with a win by 36-26.
This Saturday (September 12) Burntwood open their league campaign with the visit of Wednesbury, kick off 3pm, and the 2nds begin merit table fixtures with an away match v Stafford Development.
