Burntwood RUFC almost snatched an unlikely win in stoppage time after a contest littered with penalties, yellow cards and one red.
However, the visitors’ try line proved a metre too far and Willenhall survived to remain on top of the table after a 16-12 win.
The benefits of the drainage work carried out last summer provided a firm surface which allowed both sides to play at a high tempo and they tore into each other from the off.
The league leaders made a particularly strong start to take the ball into home territory. They won a scrum against the put in and were playing advantage from a penalty award when the outside half dropped a goal to put his side three points up after six minutes.
The hosts hit back to level the scores six minutes later. Graham Shelley’s line out take set up Matt Sishton on the burst forcing the visitors to infringe. Aza Dune’t converted the penalty kick.
As the penalty count mounted against Burntwood they needed to defend well following a kick to the corner but another infringement cost them a penalty goal kicked from 35 metres on 19 minutes to put the visitors ahead.
The first yellow card went to Graham Shelley for an incident at a line out after 25 minutes when he took the law into his own hands following his clean catch in the visitors’ 22.
Despite his absence, Burntwood remained in opposition territory. Dune’t was just left of the target with a penalty kick from 35 metres but three minutes later from slightly closer he brought the scores level again.
The Willenhall kicker hit a post with a penalty attempt just as Shelley was about to return but Burntwood were down to 14 again just three minutes later when Hal Gozukucuk was yellow carded for not releasing. The resulting penalty made it 9-6 to the visitors.
With the half time whistle due, Burntwood were fortunate not to fall further behind after the Willenhall outside half made a clean break. His chip over full Ben Holt bounced nicely but he knocked the ball on with the line at his mercy.
A second yellow card for Shelley at the end of the half made Burntwood’s task even harder but worse was to follow within five minutes of the restart.
For a brief spell it became 12 against 14 as Lloyd Shelley and his opposite flanker were both sin binned following a brief flare up in the home 22.
Willenhall blew another try-scoring opportunity via a knock on but the pressure told on 50 minutes. A missed tackle in centre field saw the visitors’ No 4 crash over under the posts for a converted try.
With the earlier sin bins back on the pitch, Willenhall then lost their No 8 to a yellow card and Burntwood turned the tide. Dune’t struck a post with a penalty attempt from 40 metres. Willenhall tried to run the ball out but committed another offence and this time Dune’t was successful.
Another good strike by Dune’t after 75 minutes put the hosts right back in the game just four points behind.
A Willenhall penalty kick from long range was short and right then the hosts created a tense finale by charging a kick down on the visitors’ 22 line. Frantic defence denied Burntwood in stoppage time and then Willenhall managed to hold up the last home attack close to their own try line.
Having played the top two in their last two league games, Burntwood now begin a run of games against the four sides below them in the table beginning with Shrewsbury away this Saturday. The 2nds host Walsall 3rds and the Development squad are away to Brinsford.
