For the third match running, Burntwood RUFC were involved in a nail-biting finish – and this one went to the very last kick of the game, when Will Peach fired over his penalty attempt between the biggest posts on the planet to clinch victory for his side.
It hadn’t looked likely when Ben Holt’s outfit trailed 19-3 after just 17 minutes but that was as good as it got for Wednesbury.
The hosts went ahead after five minutes. Burntwood won a line out on halfway but a missed pass in the backs allowed the Wednesbury inside centre to hack the ball downfield for a converted try.
Three minutes later they kicked a penalty award to the right corner and drove over for their second try from the resulting line out.
Burntwood hit back with a sustained spell of play, going through the phases over halfway. The home side were penalised for not releasing in a tackle on Ian Jones and Peach obliged with the penalty goal from infront of the posts.
Wednesbury completed their points tally following a penalty award which was kicked to the left corner. They drove for the line to win another penalty which they elected to scrum from five metres out. It was re-set twice before the referee punished the visitors by awarding a penalty try.
Burntwood’s first threat to the home try line came five minutes later. Josh Canning won a line out to set the backs in motion. Good handling provided Charlie Liggins with the chance to stretch his legs but he was bundled into touch close to the right corner flag.
The visitors spent much of the rest of the half in Wednesbury territory but could make no impression on the scoreline.
Momentum remained with Burntwood early in the second period. Skipper Holt broke into the home 22 to set up a good attack almost finished off by Hal Gozukucuk and then Aza Dunet but the winger was forced into touch.
However, the pressure was beginning to tell on the hosts. Peach reduced the arrears with his second penalty goal. Then when Wednesbury tried to run the ball out of their own half great defence forced a turnover penalty.
Peach tapped the ball quickly to set Gozukucuk and Holt away. Holt fed Dunet and his inside pass was accepted by Brett Taylor who dummied the last defender for a cracking try in the left corner.
On the hour mark the hosts went for a repeat of one of their first half scores with a catch and drive from line out but this time they stumbled and the chance was gone.
With 68 minutes gone Peach worked his side into a good position with a series of penalty kicks to touch. Dunet went close but though the score was denied it cost the home full back ten minutes in the sin bin.
Immediately Burntwood capitalised through Taylor again. Canning won a line out which saw Graham Shelley go close before the ball was moved wide for the full back to take a pass off his toes for his second try, converted by Peach.
The visitors went in search of the win with an impressive attack from the restart to take play from their own 22 to the home 22. However, a win looked less likely when Luke Rookyard’s over eagerness saw him yellow carded for the rest of the contest and the home full back returned.
In time added on, one last determined attack produced a penalty attempt for Peach wide on the right. The ball rebounded into play from the left post and was gathered by Shelley to keep play alive. Dunet was foiled again but the home No.6 was yellow carded for an illegal tackle. Peach held his nerve to split the uprights from the ensuing penalty to put Burntwood ahead for the only time in the match but it proved decisive as there was no time left for a restart.
Burntwood resume action in the New Year with a rearranged league game away to Uttoxeter on January 3, while the 2nds travel to face St Leonards.
