With neither side able to master the small, muddy pitch, a dour game ensued which featured five yellow cards but no tries.
Burntwood’s win came courtesy of five penalty goals by Matt Wood to two by the home kicker.
Wood’s place kicking didn’t begin too promisingly with two attempts off target inside the first six minutes. However, it was third time lucky when he opened the scoring after eight minutes, the first yellow card having gone to a Uttoxeter prop forward for pulling down a maul.
The visitors needlessly gave away a full penalty after kicking the ball away at the award of a free kick and the hosts levelled after 15 minutes.
With neither side able to establish any control over the game, the only event of note prior to the break was a second yellow card, this time for the Uttoxeter No.5, given
for repeated offences at the breakdown.
Five minutes into the second half and two more players, one from each side, took a ten minute breather for an off the ball incident.
Uttoxeter edged ahead with their second penalty but when they were caught offside, Wood equalised within a few minutes.
On the hour mark, with neither try line coming under real threat, Wood landed another penalty given for offside and then the fourth home player was binned as Burntwood at last mounted a spell of pressure.
This presented Wood with a difficult attempt from the touchline but he produced his best kick of the day to make it 12-6. He hit a post with another attempt before
completing the scoring two minutes from time for an important if unspectacular win.
This Saturday (February 26) Burntwood travel to Wolverhampton for a re-arranged league fixture. The 2nds and 3rds are TBA.
