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Match reports - 18th April.
Robert Forsyth20 Apr - 09:19
Improved performance goes unrewarded.
Burntwood had more than their fair share of possession and territory but lacked the accuracy and guile to break down a resolute Shrewsbury defence and went down 28-7 at the RCI Sportsway on the club’s Patrons’ Day.
For the second week running they also suffered from injuries to their back line which included losing Tom Pockson in the pre-match warm-up which left them with just two replacements.
A couple of errors at the kick off allowed the visitors to test the home defence but they were up to the task and moved play upfield. Kian Carter made a break but his pass wide to Dan Clement missed its target
However, a series of close range line outs and set scrums followed and on 14 minutes Carter’s break for the line ended in a high tackle and the award of a penalty try plus a yellow card for the offender.
Shrewsbury hit back in determined fashion and were kept out but it came at cost as Carter was forced off with a knee injury to be replaced by Tye O’Connor with Alfie Broadhurst moving to the outside half slot.
Broadhurst’s first contribution was a clearance kick which was fumbled to allow Clement to make good ground following up. It earned a penalty which was kicked to the left corner but Burntwood’s line out struggled all afternoon against the competitive opposition jumpers and the danger was cleared.
It was a line out which led to Shrewsbury levelling the scores. It was overthrown by them but the loose ball was snapped up for a converted try under the posts.
Two minutes later and the visitors went ahead in rather fortunate circumstances. Broadhurst’s kick bounced kindly for the Shrewsbury backs to break away and although the ball carrier was illegally tackled it was out near the 22 line but the referee deemed it worthy of another penalty try.
The scores remained unaltered up to half time but during the break Clement was forced off to be replaced by Amrit Derry and the back line re-shuffled.
Broadhurst’s penalty attempt two minutes into the second period was just left of the posts and then Sam Hull had a leg in touch as he chased Billy Fisher’s grub kick over the try line.
The visitors broke out on 53 minutes and caught the home defence napping when the scrum half spotted a gap close to a midfield ruck to sprint away to the posts for a converted try.
Alex Smail, who found himself on the wing following the reshuffle, was close to a kick and chase in the clubhouse corner and then another close range series of set pieces saw play camped in the visitors’ 22 for the best part of 20 minutes. However, the nearest they got to a score was when Luke Rookyard went close but the opposition survived in determined fashion.
With time almost up, Shrewsbury finally worked their way upfield. Rookyard received a yellow card for slowing down possession close to his own line and the visiting pack went over from the tap and go penalty for a bonus point try which sees them go level on points in the league table with second placed Crewe and Nantwich. The successful conversion was the last act of another frustrating afternoon for the hosts.
Burntwood 2nds secured 4th place in their league table with a 36-19 home win against Essington. Try scorers were Harry Heath, Dan Garrity, man of the match Sean Brennan, Tom Dawson, Liam Robins and Kyle Westwood. Matt Wenlock-Evans kicked three conversions as Mack Johnson’s side gained revenge for defeat in the reverse fixture earlier in the season.
Burntwood round off their league season this Saturday with the 1sts away at Tamworth, the 2nds at home to second placed Bloxwich and the 3rds scheduled to play away to Eccleshall 2nds.
For the second week running they also suffered from injuries to their back line which included losing Tom Pockson in the pre-match warm-up which left them with just two replacements.
A couple of errors at the kick off allowed the visitors to test the home defence but they were up to the task and moved play upfield. Kian Carter made a break but his pass wide to Dan Clement missed its target
However, a series of close range line outs and set scrums followed and on 14 minutes Carter’s break for the line ended in a high tackle and the award of a penalty try plus a yellow card for the offender.
Shrewsbury hit back in determined fashion and were kept out but it came at cost as Carter was forced off with a knee injury to be replaced by Tye O’Connor with Alfie Broadhurst moving to the outside half slot.
Broadhurst’s first contribution was a clearance kick which was fumbled to allow Clement to make good ground following up. It earned a penalty which was kicked to the left corner but Burntwood’s line out struggled all afternoon against the competitive opposition jumpers and the danger was cleared.
It was a line out which led to Shrewsbury levelling the scores. It was overthrown by them but the loose ball was snapped up for a converted try under the posts.
Two minutes later and the visitors went ahead in rather fortunate circumstances. Broadhurst’s kick bounced kindly for the Shrewsbury backs to break away and although the ball carrier was illegally tackled it was out near the 22 line but the referee deemed it worthy of another penalty try.
The scores remained unaltered up to half time but during the break Clement was forced off to be replaced by Amrit Derry and the back line re-shuffled.
Broadhurst’s penalty attempt two minutes into the second period was just left of the posts and then Sam Hull had a leg in touch as he chased Billy Fisher’s grub kick over the try line.
The visitors broke out on 53 minutes and caught the home defence napping when the scrum half spotted a gap close to a midfield ruck to sprint away to the posts for a converted try.
Alex Smail, who found himself on the wing following the reshuffle, was close to a kick and chase in the clubhouse corner and then another close range series of set pieces saw play camped in the visitors’ 22 for the best part of 20 minutes. However, the nearest they got to a score was when Luke Rookyard went close but the opposition survived in determined fashion.
With time almost up, Shrewsbury finally worked their way upfield. Rookyard received a yellow card for slowing down possession close to his own line and the visiting pack went over from the tap and go penalty for a bonus point try which sees them go level on points in the league table with second placed Crewe and Nantwich. The successful conversion was the last act of another frustrating afternoon for the hosts.
Burntwood 2nds secured 4th place in their league table with a 36-19 home win against Essington. Try scorers were Harry Heath, Dan Garrity, man of the match Sean Brennan, Tom Dawson, Liam Robins and Kyle Westwood. Matt Wenlock-Evans kicked three conversions as Mack Johnson’s side gained revenge for defeat in the reverse fixture earlier in the season.
Burntwood round off their league season this Saturday with the 1sts away at Tamworth, the 2nds at home to second placed Bloxwich and the 3rds scheduled to play away to Eccleshall 2nds.
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