The league leaders ran in 14 tries, four of them from Brett Taylor who also converted all but one of the team tally for a personal haul of 46 points.
Josh Canning’s side made a lightning start to the match and had the try bonus point wrapped up by the 12th minute.

Taylor opened his account in the 2nd minute from a well-worked move which sent Billy Fisher clear to draw the full back and provide the scoring pass. Four minutes later and skipper Canning forced his way over the line after a series of close range drives by his pack of forwards. Kian Carter added the next three minutes later, a fine individual effort after the forwards provided quick ruck possession.

The bonus point try followed good work by Charles Michael and Taylor from a scrum near halfway. Taylor’s kick ahead bounced nicely for winger Josh Shepherd to collect in his stride and cross the try line. Bridgnorth made their first excursion into home territory from the restart but the home defence proved solid and then a series of offloads had the visitors backtracking. Taylor went in for his second try after Carter had gone close to make it 35-0 on 17 minutes.

Bridgnorth got off the mark with a dubious try on 20 minutes. The left winger appeared to step into touch near the halfway line but went unflagged to race away round behind the posts for a converted try as the home defence stood still. The hosts drove well from the restart with Carter prominent again. They set up a close range ruck near the left corner from which Jack Johnson stole away to cross unopposed. Taylor’s conversion from the touchline was his best thus far to make it 42-7.

Things got even worse for the visitors after 26 minutes. A quick tapped penalty by Luke Rookyard saw him score unopposed from close range. The match official took exception to a comment made by the visiting touch judge/coach about the penalty award and red carded him. Rookyard made it a try double when he forced his way over near half time under the posts and Taylor’s perfect conversion rate made it 56-7 at the break. By comparison, in the reverse fixture at the end of October it had been 59-7 to Burntwood at the end of full time.

To their credit, the visitors hit back early in the second period. Scrum possession near halfway found the left winger who shrugged off a tackle to add his second try although the conversion attempt from infront went astray. Taylor, Carter and Shepherd combined well at the restart to take play the length of the field but Rookyard was held up over the line to deny his hat trick. However, Bridgnorth’s goal line drop out went directly into touch to present the hosts with a 5 metre line out. Swift passing allowed Ed Smith to score in the clubhouse corner for the only try which went unconverted.

On 50 minutes Rookyard turned provider for fellow front rower Ethan Turner to score under the posts. Taylor completed his hat trick chasing his own chip ahead and then added his fourth on 57 minutes after Carter had made good ground with another electrifying run.
The home defence was tested for a ten minute period as Bridgnorth sought a consolation score but eventually the hosts broke away down the right wing for Fisher to pass inside for Rob Jones to score.

The final try came from Carter, a fine individual effort again in a jinking run from the halfway line with two minutes left.

Despite Burntwood’s big win, they still have close company in the league table as they, Veseyans and Harborne pull clear of the rest. It makes this Saturday’s clash with Veseyans at the CCE Sportsway a key game in the race for the title.

Burntwood 2nds faced a reinforced Tamworth 3rds away in a Staffs League Division 2 East fixture and went down 45-15. They gave a good account of themselves but couldn’t recover from an early burst of scoring by the hosts. There were tries for Sam Hull, man of the match Daz Parry and skipper Craig Seedhouse.

The 2nds have no league game this Saturday but are hoping to arrange a club fixture.