Burntwood 5-39 Moseley Oak

[Communications Team]

An outstanding performance at Burntwood demonstrated the progress made this season by Oak - winning today 5-39 at a venue they lost at last season.

Bridgnorth 31 - 3 Aston Old Edwardians
Burntwood 5 - 39 Moseley Oak
Lordswood Dixonians 3 - 23 Spartans (Midlands)
Old Saltleians 20 - 11 Stafford
Shrewsbury 21 - 30 Tamworth
Stoke on Trent 26 - 13 Leek

The win moves them to 5th place
clubs.rfu.com/Fixtures/MatchByDivision.aspx?DivID=126926920

[Communications Team]

Moseley Oak win well at Burntwood

Moseley Oak went up to Burntwood, a ground they had never won on, and beat the home team 39-5.

It was arguably the best performance of the season and sent the side spinning into the upper reaches of Midlands Two West North.

Burntwood always have a pride in their pack but Moseley Oak fronted up from the off.

The Burntwood forwards used to be able to keep the ball for long periods – the Moseley Oak front eight kept winning it back time after time.

The tackling – forwards and three quarters – was immense.

Burntwood were never allowed to gain any momentum and eventually ran out of ideas, albeit to their credit they refused to give up.

With plenty of ball the Moseley Oak backs were incisive, taking all but a couple of opportunities.

Burntwood, promoted above Moseley Oak last year, appear to have gone back a touch while Moseley Oak have adapted to the higher division and, after a poor start, are in forward gear.

At the outset, with close to a full squad to choose from, there was a confidence that the game would at least be close. Perhaps a bonus point loss – a win would be a bonus for sure.

And for 30 minutes, with Moseley Oak playing down slope, there wasn’t much in it.

Moseley Oak had to be patient, Burntwood were on their own turf in front of a decent crowd of maybe a couple of hundred and determined to do well.

Early doors Moseley Oak only had two Dan Pons penalties to show for their efforts as the backs found it hard going in the mud.

Then, five minutes before half time, a lovely piece of classic Matt Durber straight running sliced threw the Burntwood defence. The full back got enough on him to knock him down but not hold him, and before Burntwood could re-group, Durber was up and had enough to get to the line.

Pons converted.

Was 13-0 ahead going to be sufficient once Burntwood had the slope? It hadn’t been in the past.

But Moseley Oak had a magic second period which they dominated.

First Durber made another super break to put full back Jonathan Perks in at the corner. It went unconverted.

Then a charge by prop Jim Goulding was capitalised on as the pack muscled second row Duncan White over. Pons provided the extras.

The fourth try and a bonus point followed – captain Jack Richards put in a thumping tackle, wing Antonio Solomon turned defence into attack and, after calm and intelligent inter-passing, in Mastermind parlance he started so he finished – under the posts.

Seven minutes before the end Burntwood got a consolation, with Luke Briggs crossing.

But it was Solomon who had the last play of the match, sneaking through for his second and Moseley Oak’s fifth score. Pons again converted.

There were a host of standout candidates for player of the day.

In the backs Durber and Solomon were always a threat, Richards tackled everything and fly half Oliver Harrison orchestrated the line with composure.

In the forwards White was immense, Goulding grafted for all he was worth and wing forward Luke Hickey was tremendous.

Second placed Old Salts at home next – which will be a real test of how far Moseley Oak have come.



End