Rank #341Powered By
Back
Match report - 16th May.
Robert Forsyth18 May - 14:43
Burntwood through to final.
Burntwood reached the final of the Staffs Intermediate Trophy for the fourth season running by defeating trophy holders Willenhall 38-22.
With skipper Jack Johnson absent, vice captain Billy Fisher took hold of the reigns and his side seemed to have everything under control after half an hour having established a 22-0 lead. However, the hosts’ determination to retain the trophy saw them narrow the deficit to 28-22 by the hour mark but ten points in the final ten minutes sealed Burntwood’s progress.
Willenhall tested the visitors’ defence for the first ten minutes but without reward. In Burntwood’s first attack they came away with seven points. Ben Holt kicked a penalty award to the right corner for a line out which Josh Canning won. Luke Rookyard received possession and he popped a pass out to Jack Butcher on the blind side to score in the corner. Alfie Broadhurst added a fine touchline conversion in difficult weather conditions.
From the restart, Aidan Barker was sent clear on halfway following a great break by Sam Perrins from his own 22. The home full back chased him down to deny his score but the ball was recycled out left and Rookyard was the provider again with an over the top pass to Ben Finney for a try in the corner to make it 12-0 in even time.
WIllenhall enjoyed the better of possession and territory for the next 20 minutes or so but with the rain intensifying, handling errors proved costly for them on more than one occasion in threatening positions.
Holt moved his side upfield via a couple of penalty awards, the second of which provided a line out near the right corner. After the forwards had pressured the try line, smooth passing by the backs allowed Fisher to give a well-timed pass to Barker to dot down in the corner. Broadhurst’s conversion attempt rebounded off a post.
Direct from the restart, Rookyard received the kick off and from the ensuing maul, Neil Holden burst clear on halfway before steamrollering the full back for a spectacular individual try in the corner.
In the time remaining in the first half, Willenhall hit back with two tries, both from close range through their forwards plus a conversion to make it 22-12 at the break.
Momentum stayed with the hosts early in the second period, assisted by a couple of penalty awards, one of which they goaled from 35 metres but this was cancelled out by one from Broadhurst who was now operating at outside half after Holt went off injured.
Broadhurst’s long kick downfield put the pressure back on the hosts and following a dart by Holden, another penalty was awarded and Broadhurst made it 28-15 from 25 metres out.
Willenhall hit back again on the hour mark. Burntwood disrupted their set scrum but they managed to work the ball over the line from close range and the successful conversion left them with a six point deficit.
Tough defence was needed by Fisher’s side highlighted by a crucial tackle made by Sam Hull. Even so, the hosts seemed to have scored but the “try” was ruled out and tempers started to fray. Referee Adam Carpenter warned both skippers about their sides’ conduct.
Burntwood managed to regain control in the final ten minutes. A strong scrum on halfway earned the chance for Broadhurst to settle their nerves with a penalty goal from 35 meters.
A final thrust by Willenhall was ended by a solid tackle from Perrins and in the next move the ball ran loose for Fisher to hack downfield from his own 22 to force the last defender to hack the ball over his own dead ball line. Burntwood went for the pushover at the ensuing scrum and it proved the correct option as man-of-the-match Perrins stretched over for the try. Broadhurst’s easy conversion ended proceedings.
This proved to be the final action in Burntwood’s 2025-26 campaign. With no dates available to play the final this season they will have to wait until the end of August or even the first Saturday in September to face Newcastle (Staffs) in the final.
With skipper Jack Johnson absent, vice captain Billy Fisher took hold of the reigns and his side seemed to have everything under control after half an hour having established a 22-0 lead. However, the hosts’ determination to retain the trophy saw them narrow the deficit to 28-22 by the hour mark but ten points in the final ten minutes sealed Burntwood’s progress.
Willenhall tested the visitors’ defence for the first ten minutes but without reward. In Burntwood’s first attack they came away with seven points. Ben Holt kicked a penalty award to the right corner for a line out which Josh Canning won. Luke Rookyard received possession and he popped a pass out to Jack Butcher on the blind side to score in the corner. Alfie Broadhurst added a fine touchline conversion in difficult weather conditions.
From the restart, Aidan Barker was sent clear on halfway following a great break by Sam Perrins from his own 22. The home full back chased him down to deny his score but the ball was recycled out left and Rookyard was the provider again with an over the top pass to Ben Finney for a try in the corner to make it 12-0 in even time.
WIllenhall enjoyed the better of possession and territory for the next 20 minutes or so but with the rain intensifying, handling errors proved costly for them on more than one occasion in threatening positions.
Holt moved his side upfield via a couple of penalty awards, the second of which provided a line out near the right corner. After the forwards had pressured the try line, smooth passing by the backs allowed Fisher to give a well-timed pass to Barker to dot down in the corner. Broadhurst’s conversion attempt rebounded off a post.
Direct from the restart, Rookyard received the kick off and from the ensuing maul, Neil Holden burst clear on halfway before steamrollering the full back for a spectacular individual try in the corner.
In the time remaining in the first half, Willenhall hit back with two tries, both from close range through their forwards plus a conversion to make it 22-12 at the break.
Momentum stayed with the hosts early in the second period, assisted by a couple of penalty awards, one of which they goaled from 35 metres but this was cancelled out by one from Broadhurst who was now operating at outside half after Holt went off injured.
Broadhurst’s long kick downfield put the pressure back on the hosts and following a dart by Holden, another penalty was awarded and Broadhurst made it 28-15 from 25 metres out.
Willenhall hit back again on the hour mark. Burntwood disrupted their set scrum but they managed to work the ball over the line from close range and the successful conversion left them with a six point deficit.
Tough defence was needed by Fisher’s side highlighted by a crucial tackle made by Sam Hull. Even so, the hosts seemed to have scored but the “try” was ruled out and tempers started to fray. Referee Adam Carpenter warned both skippers about their sides’ conduct.
Burntwood managed to regain control in the final ten minutes. A strong scrum on halfway earned the chance for Broadhurst to settle their nerves with a penalty goal from 35 meters.
A final thrust by Willenhall was ended by a solid tackle from Perrins and in the next move the ball ran loose for Fisher to hack downfield from his own 22 to force the last defender to hack the ball over his own dead ball line. Burntwood went for the pushover at the ensuing scrum and it proved the correct option as man-of-the-match Perrins stretched over for the try. Broadhurst’s easy conversion ended proceedings.
This proved to be the final action in Burntwood’s 2025-26 campaign. With no dates available to play the final this season they will have to wait until the end of August or even the first Saturday in September to face Newcastle (Staffs) in the final.
Further reading