Burntwood run in 14 tries as impressive run of form continues

League leaders Burntwood ran in 14 tries against Bridgnorth 2nds to continue their impressive form.

Four of the scores came courtesy of Brett Taylor, who also accounted for all but one of the team’s 46 points.

Josh Canning’s men made a blistering start to the game and the three bonus points were wrapped up by the 12th minute.

Taylor opened his account in the second minute from a well-worked move which saw Billy Fisher slip past the full-back to provide the scoring assist.

Four minutes later, captain Canning forced his way over the line after a series of short drives by his pack of forwards. Kian Carter added the next three minutes later, a fine individual effort after the forwards provided quick ransom possession.

The bonus point try followed good work by Charles Michael and Taylor from a scrum near halfway. Taylor’s header bounced nicely for winger Josh Shepherd to gather in his stride and cross the try line.

Bridgnorth made their first foray into home territory from the restart but the home defense held firm and then a series of offloads saw the visitors pull away.

Taylor went in for his second try after Carter went 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 make contact near the halfway line but went unflagged to race behind the posts for a deflected try as the home defense stood still.

The hosts rode well from the restart with Carter again prominent. They set up a short-range gap near the left corner from which Jack Johnson stole to cross unchallenged. Taylor’s conversion from the sideline was his best yet to make it 42-7.

Things went even worse for the visitors after 26 minutes. Luke Rookyard scored a quick penalty. The match official took exception to a comment made by the visiting touch judge about the penalty and red carded him.

Rookyard made it a try when he almost forced 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 was 59-7 against Burntwood at the end of full-time.

To their credit, the visitors hit back early in the second period. Scrum possession almost found the left winger who shook off a tackle to add his second try, although the conversion effort went wide.

Taylor, Carter and Shepherd combined well on the restart to play the length of the field, but Rookyard was held over the line to deny him his hat-trick. However, Bridgnorth’s goal-line scrum went straight into touch to present the hosts with a five-metre lineout. Quick pass sent Ed Smith into the corner of the clubhouse for the only three that went unintended.

On 50 minutes, Rookyard turned provider for fellow front row man Ethan Turner to score under the posts. Taylor completed his hat-trick by driving his own chip forward and then added his fourth on 57 minutes after Carter made good ground with another exciting run.

The home defense was tested for a ten minute period as Bridgnorth looked for a consolation but eventually the hosts broke down the right wing for Fisher to pass inside for Rob Jones to score.

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

Despite Burntwood’s big win, they still have good company in the league table as they, Veseyans and Harborne take out the rest. This makes this weekend’s clash with Veseyans at the CCE Sportsway a key game in the race for the title.

Burntwood 2nds faced a strengthened Tamworth 3rds away in a Staffs League Division 2 East match and lost 45-15.

They gave a good account of themselves but could not recover from an early burst of scoring by the hosts. There were tries for Sam Hull, man of the match Daz Parry and captain Craig Seedhouse.

The 2nds have no league game this Saturday but hope to arrange a club game.