Burntwood 6 - 5 Old Yardleians 1st XV
Old Yards 1st XV slumped to their third successive defeat in a low scoring, high intensity game, with their bitter rivals Burntwood. On a cold and windy day, Yards scored the only try of the match through Peter Butler, with Burntwood scoring a penalty and a drop goal in the first half. Yards started strongly, the pack dominating at the scrummage, with Rich Withey, Billy Bucknall and Peter Butler holding firm against a strong Burntwood tight five. The engine room of Dave Langley and Mick Brennen gave good support in both defensive and offensive scrums. Yards started the first half playing into the wind, needing difficult kicks to clear their lines and making hard yardage up the middle. Last minute tackles from Dave Hansen, Dean Brain and Jo Patrick gave Yards a great defensive display. Yards only try came within the first 10 minutes, with a scrum 5 metres from the Burntwood line. The Yards pack crept closer to the line, then Ben Honey picked up, supported by Captain Steve Cunningham and Steve Grainger we were held up just short. The ball was recycled and Peter Butler took it on and drove over the line with many defenders around him. The conversion was missed. Yards continued to make some efficient running against the wind through Dave Rimmer and Seymour Seaton, driving forward gaining ground at each sequence of back play. The defence was again tested when Burntwood broke through the middle only for the ball to be determined as killed in front of the posts. The penalty was converted. The first half remained a strong battle between both packs of forwards, with Yards taking two scrums against the head and maintaining their own scrummage ball. Great lines of running from Grainger and Honey kept Yards going forward, only for lack of support at the ruck resulting in turn over ball. As the last few minutes approached, Yards were again pegged back into their 22 from a penalty kick to touch. A quick lineout was taken and through two phases of play, the Burntwood number 10 drop kicked three points. The half time whistle came with Burntwood leading 6-5. The second half started with both teams trying to score the try to win the game. Lee Purdy continually gave some good passes to Rimmer, Patrick and Brain, only for them to be tackled with no real gain. Into the last 30 minutes and we saw Yards frustration boil over when Dave Rimmer was yellow carded for killing the ball. Ian Walker promptly followed by questioning the referee, taking Yards down to 13 players. However, they rose to the challenge and scrummaged and defended well. Into the last 10 minutes, the returned Ian Walker was sent off for again questioning the ref, followed by Ben Honey, so again Yards were down to 13 men. The final whistle sounded and Yards defeat was met with disappointment for those left on the field of play.