Two tries from skipper Ben Holt and 13 points from Will Peach provided the points for Burntwood RUFC – but it was their disciplined defence, particularly in the second half, which earned the win at Bognop Road.
The strong wind favoured the visitors in the first half and they looked to build a healthy lead but it didn’t work out that way. Probing kicks by the hosts pinned the visitors back from the kick off but full back Brett Taylor dealt with them well.
Then Peach had two shots at goal before the 10th minute but one long range effort fell short and the second drifted wide.
At least Willenhall were now back in their own half and when they tried to run the ball out Holt intercepted to race to the line for his first try, converted by Peach.
The hosts hit back, exerting pressure in the set scrums to launch a series of close range attacks. The Burntwood defence did well to hold out but finally a loose pass allowed Willenhall to exploit an overlap on the right for an unconverted try in the corner.
After 25 minutes Burntwood mounted their first real attack. A clever move set Aza Dunet away over halfway. The final defender did just enough to bring him down but the ball was recycled out to the left for what looked like a try in the corner but it was disallowed for crossing.
However, Willenhall had been caught offside earlier in the move and Peach kicked the penalty goal.
He was on target again five minutes later when the hosts pulled a maul down and he was now clearly in the groove with another success in the 35th minute to put his side 16-5 up.
This promising lead was eaten into when Willenhall scored their second try close to the break. A penalty award was kicked to touch. They won the line out, fed the backs and the inside centre cut back against the grain to find a gap and sprint to the line.
They almost reduced the lead further but for a fine tackle on the home right winger as he was in full flight down the touchline.
As expected, much of the second period took part in the Burntwood half. The first score was a penalty goal after 46 minutes to cut the deficit to just three points. A chance to level the scores was short and left on 55 minutes.
Both sides were making mistakes in the windy conditions but the visitors were hanging on to their slender lead and against the run of play they were gifted a second try on the hour mark.
Peach worked his side into the opposition half for the first time with some excellent touch-finders. When Willenhall infringed at a maul he tried a kick at goal. The attempt was long enough but left of the target. However, the home player who fielded the ball attempted a pass to a colleague only for the ball to run loose and Holt was there to apologetically touch down for the score. Peach added an excellent conversion from near the left touchline for good measure.
Willenhall hit back in determined fashion, moving the ball right and left for their outside centre to shrug off a tackle to break through the defensive line but his try-scoring pass missed its target.
The hosts laid siege to the Burntwood try line but the visitors held out until the pressure finally told in the 76th minute. A series of phases created an overlap for a try in the left corner but no conversion.
Burntwood managed to control the last four minutes of normal time and eight minutes of added time courtesy of Holt’s fine tackle at the restart. Peach had a kick at goal and though he was wayward, it kept play deep in the opposition half.
With the final whistle due at the next breakdown, the hosts mounted one last attack. They crossed halfway but the winger was bundled into touch to end the contest.
Burntwood continue their league campaign this Saturday (October 25) with a trip to Clee Hill. A players’ and supporters’ coach leaves The Sportsway at 11am. The 2nds host Stoke 2nds and the 3rds are away to Essington 2nds. The colts host Handsworth on Sunday afternoon.
