Burton battle past strong Burntwood side

Burton Under 17’s hosted BURNTWOOD RFC in their first Staffordshire County League Fixture of the 2013/14 Season

SQUAD LIST

Cole, Dolman, Finney, Furner, Gorman, Higginson, Hulland, Marshall, Mason, McKendrick, Millington, Mycock, Roden, Sharpe, C. Shaw, J. Shaw, Spray, Sturgess, Valentine, Welsford, Williams.

STARTING LINE-UP

1. Loose Head Prop – Abe Furner
2. Hooker – Max McKendrick (Captain)
3. Tight Head Prop – Josh Shaw
4. 2nd Row – Ben Hulland
5. 2nd Row – Joe Mycock
6. Blind Side Flanker – Lewis Sturgess
7. Open Side Flanker – Joe Gorman
8. Number 8 – Max Williams
9. Scrum Half – Alex Finney
10. Fly Half – Taylor Millington
11. Left Wing – Alex Finney
12. Inside Centre – Sam Valentine
13. Outside Centre – Ryan Sharpe
14. Right Wing – Sheridan Cole
15. Full Back – Lewis Mason

MATCH REPORT

Burton commenced their league campaign with a home fixture against Burntwood. It was just over 4 months ago & 2 competitive fixtures that the 2 sides met to contest a Staffordshire County Semi-final. Burton were jubilant & Burntwood returned looking for revenge.

The match was again played on The Croft with Burton kicking off into the warm, sunny conditions with a slight cross field breeze that would make it hard to catch the high ball. The game started at a furious pace with Burntwood keeping the ball at close quarters. The visitors were showing greater intensity around the breakdown with Burton slower to react.

On 5 mins, came the first telling offensive from the Crofter’s when Captain Max Mckendrick broke the gain line to take the ball to within the 22. Geroge Roden dug the ball out whilst Taylor Millington bossed the line by calling the play. Josh Shaw linked up with Abe Furner to take it on but the play again fizzled out. Just as the visitors started to put some phases together, Joe Gorman made the first of several telling tackles, driving his older opponents back several metres.
After using their battering rams to try to break through a strong defensive Burton line, the visitors resulted to kicking the ball down field, Lewis Mason was safely assured under the high ball, running it back before setting up a ruck in midfield. Lewis Sturgess was always first to the breakdown using his giant frame to clear out setting a plat form for his team. Ryan Sharpe made a couple of telling runs but the game remained scoreless.

The game for being played upfront with all facets going well for the crofters but it was going to take something different to open the scoring. After another raid, Burntwood kicked the ball downfield. It bounced once & Sheridan Cole picked it up, went on a mazy run before a high tackle took him out. A penalty was awarded 30 metres out. Sam Valentine coolly stepped up & slotted the penalty straight through the uprights to give Burton a deserved lead on 17 mins.

Burntwood came straight back but they found no way past the ever-present Curtis Marshall. With time running down, Burntwood had phase after phase attacking Burton on their goal line but Burton held firm. All 15 players laid their bodies on the line holding up the ball & driving Burntwood back to ensure that the score remained Burton 3 – 0 Burntwood at half time.

The 2nd half begun with Burton’s Mckendrick returning the kick off. The Crofter’s got their passing game going with Alex Finney releasing his back line but time & time again, the final option was missed by players electing to go alone. Ben Higginson made his 2nd home debut & made a telling contribution up front. Burton’s lineout was working well with Sturgess’s arrows constantly hitting the mark. It was from a lineout within The Visitors 22 when Burton set-up a ruck, On 51 mins, Joe Mycock managed to get his hands on ball, peel off the back & ran in with at least 3 players hanging off him before scoring a try beside the post. Valentine slotted the extras to leave the score Burton 10 – 0 Burntwood.

Burntwood came roaring back & took play within the Burton half. They kicked the ball over & Mason tried to clear. The kick was charged down & Ben Hulland raced back, touched the ball down over the try line preventing a certain score. With fresh legs on from Ryan Welsford, Adam Dolman & Callum Shaw, Burton were starting to seal the ball. Will Spray came on the wing & was making some great tackles.

With time running down, Burntwood threw everything at Burton & kicked the ball high downfield. Sheridan Cole took the catch & ran the ball back beating 2 players before again being high tackled. Burton took a quick tap & go, Max Williams, celebrating his birthday & being brilliant in the lineout all game, got the ball in hand down the left & outpaced the defence to score a deserved try. Valentine missed the conversion with the last kick of the game to leave the final score, Burton 15 – 0 Burntwood.

A great start to the league campaign & a good win against a battling Burntwood side.

The Coaching Team would like to thank Joe Gorman who played the whole 70 mins of rugby against his older counterparts & never looked out of place. Equally Callum Shaw came on, making a telling contribution & the standard of play never dropped. Well done fellas.