An improved performance by Burntwood was not quite enough to take the win against Spartans. By the 38th minute they led 26-7 but failed to trouble the scoreboard after that as the visitors to the RCI Sportsway came back to add 20 points to their tally.
Playing towards the by-pass end, the hosts were ahead in the 5th minute. Josh Canning secured possession from a close range line out and fellow lock forward Alfie Dewsbury finished off the drive for the line. Kian Carter added the extras from the touchline.
Spartans stripped possession at the restart to set them on the attack. It resulted in a penalty kick to the left corner which paved the way for a catch and drive try followed by a good conversion on 11 minutes.
Seven minutes later and Jack Johnson’s side went ahead again in similar fashion to the first score. A neat front of the line out move in the clubhouse corner saw Luke Rookyard score and Carter made it 14-7 with another fine conversion.
On 26 minutes Rookyard went in for his second try when he burst away from a driving maul in the Spartans 22.
Spartans came close to reducing the deficit with another line out catch and drive but their forwards were driven into touch. In their next attack, they were moving the ball through their backs up to the home 22 only for Carter to intercept and race the full length of the pitch to the posts for a try which he converted on 38 minutes.
Crucially, the visitors hit back before the break when they stretched the Burntwood defence right and then back left before crafting a well-worked try in the corner to make the half time score 26-12.
Spartans opened the second period with another well-worked try in the clubhouse corner and then put the outcome back in the balance with an even better try which began in their own 22. Neat inter-passing took them the length of the pitch for a converted try on 48 minutes. It was 26-24 and Burntwood were down to 14 with Carter sin-binned for a late tackle.
Burntwood went through the phases but without reward before the visitors went ahead on 62 minutes with a penalty goal from the home 22.
In the time remaining the home side camped in the Spartans 22. Carter, back on the field, attempted a penalty goal on 68 minutes but his effort slid right of the posts.
The visitors defended desperately and were penalised several times close to their own line. They lost a player to a yellow card but repeated tapped penalty drives came up short according to the match official.
It all came down to the last kick of the game. Carter, midway out on the left, was presented with another penalty goal attempt but his kick, into the wind, stayed right of the posts again so his side had to settle for two bonus points whilst Spartans took all five.
There was no joy either for Burntwood 2nds at home to a strong Trentham 2nds. A try in each half by Adam Evans, both converted by Matt Wenlock-Evans who also added a first half penalty, were not enough as the opposition’s Fijian back division made the difference. They ran in seven tries to win 43-17.
The only fixture for Burntwood this Saturday is the twice postponed 1st team league fixture at home to Telford Hornets – kick off 3 pm.