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# Youthful Burntwood RUFC side beaten 45-15 by Newcastle
- URL: https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/youthful-burntwood-rufc-side-beaten-45-15-by-newcastle/
- Published: 2013-04-16T08:12:43.000Z
- Updated: 2013-04-16T08:12:43.000Z
- Author: Rob Forsyth
- Tags: #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-07-22 19:24

These sides had met twice before earlier in the season in cup and league fixtures and each side had a narrow victory to their credit – but on this occasion Newcastle, pushing for promotion, made their experience tell against an ever youthful Burntwood RUFC line up.

Much of the damage came in the first half as the hosts scored five tries, four of them from turnovers in open play.

It was Burntwood’s first fixture for five weeks which may have contributed to their inability to protect their own possession.

The first turnover came after eight minutes following a promising drive into home territory. The home right winger broke away across field, evading tackles, to take play deep into the visitors’ 22\. A line out catch and drive from 10 metres was touched down for a converted try.

Three minutes later and Zak Shingler and Jack Neal linked to drive into the home half but the support was not quick enough. Newcastle seized possession and streaked away down the left touchline for an unconverted try in the corner.

Another promising position was lost on 16 minutes when Graham Shelley set up a drive from a line out but this time the support players were penalised for falling on the wrong side and Newcastle cleared.

The hosts went further ahead from a cleverly won line out on 21 minutes. Two passes infield and the try was scored. The conversion went in off the post for a 19 point lead.

Burntwood gained some encouragement from the restart. Shelley collected Ben Holt’s kick off and took the ball on. The Newcastle backs were caught offside and Aza Dune’t kicked the penalty goal.

From the next restart the visitors took the ball into contact but lost it again which allowed Newcastle to take play up to the visitors’ five metre line. A penalty attempt struck a post and Neal was alert to the rebound to put in a try saving tackle.

However, the hosts kept the pressure on for a pushover try under the posts, the conversion making the scoreline 26-3.

It became 31-3 after 34 minutes following yet another turnover. The home backs showed their paces again, breaking right then left before a long pass from the outside half was perfectly taken by the left wing for a try in the corner.

To their credit, Burntwood hit back. First, Rob Jones sent Matt Sishton away down the left wing but he was well tackled close to the line. Then from a scrum Holt went close before the ball was popped out to Shelley who drove over for the touch down. Dune’t converted for 31-10 at the break.

If this was the start of a fightback it was short lived as Newcastle added 14 points to their tally within 10 second half minutes. Their scrum half darted over from a close range scrum for a converted try and then a series of handling errors conceded a soft try and conversion.

Although it was too late to affect the result, the rest of the game belonged to Burntwood, aided by a sin binning for a home player. Shelley, Ian Jones, Jordan Douglas and Dune’t all threatened as pressure mounted on the home line.

Approaching the final ten minutes, a burst by Neal through centre field took play close to the posts. The ball was moved left then right for Dune’t to time his pass perfectly for Douglas to scoot over the line.  
The contest ended with the hosts on the attack for the first time in half an hour but the ball ran loose and was cleared without further score.

Burntwood welcome Edwardians to The Sportsway on Saturday (April 20) for their penultimate league game of the season, kick-off 3pm. Following the game there is a Gentlemen’s Evening in the clubhouse with the acts provided by Jukes Entertainment. Tickets at £10 each are available at the clubhouse.

On Sunday Burntwood host the county U8s Rugby Festival beginning at 11am.