After a promising beginning in the first 30mins. of the game Longton collapsed in the second half to finally go down by 41-12pts. to an impressive Burntwood team at Trentham Fields.
Longton took the lead after only 90secs. With a try from a 5m. scrum when their pack drove over the line for Pete Wilshaw to get the touchdown. Grant Hallam converted to put Longton ahead by 7pts. to nil. However, only 2mins. later Burntwood scored a try of their own from a ruck pick-up to go over on the blindside. The conversion missed leaving Longton ahead by 7-5pts. The next score went to the visitors who won ball on the Longton 22 to cut through the centre to score a good try. The conversion was good putting Burntwood ahead by 12-7pts. It was the 28th. min. before the next score with a fine try from Longton in the corner. The conversion missed and it was now 12pts. all. In the 34th. minute the visitors scored a try through the middle of a poor Longton defence by their hard-running centre. The conversion was good to put the visitors in front by 19-12pts. As half-time approached the visitors scored again to go 24-12pts. in front at the break.
The second half was 20mins. old before another score came and again it went to the visitors. The conversion was good taking the lead to 31-12pts. The Longton pack was by now beginning to wilt and Burntwood capitalised. With 23mins. of the half gone the next try came and it was now 36-12pts. In the closing minutes Longton lost scrum-half, Lee Brogan, to a red card for verbal abuse. Then, in the 76th. minute the visitors scored their final try which was unconverted making the final score 41-12pts.
M. Wheat.