Tamworth got their 25/26 season underway with a visit to Burntwood. After a torrid season last term the players had been working hard over the summer under the guidance of new head coach John Smith and his team.
Tamworth were handing debuts to two young players Luke Potts and Elliot Rawlings both products of the successful junior section at the club.
Burntwood could count themselves unlucky last term missing out on promotion despite finishing in a very credible second place in the league.
With this in mind Tamworth were under no illusion that this was going to be anything but a tough place to visit and so it proved.
The first 20 minutes remained scoreless as the teams sounded each other out but it would be the home team that broke the deadlock when they secured the ball from a 5 metre lineout and the hooker peeled of the back of the maul to score. The extra 2 points were added from the tee giving the hosts a 7-0 lead.
They increased their lead when some neat passing on the touchline saw them cross the whitewash for the second time giving them a deserved 12-0 half time lead.
Tamworth got back into the game early in the second period when some great hands from both forward and backs saw winger Olly Cole break free he was hauled up inches short but Lock Liam McGreevy was on hand to stretch for the line. Jack Dalton added the extras 12-7.
The mini comeback was short lived however when Tamworth’s miss firing lineout gave the ball away and were punished when the Burntwood winger ghosted through some indifferent tackling to dot down under the posts. 19-7.
Things got worse for the visitors when Burntwood scored again with the winger crossing in the corner finishing off a slick move. 24-7
Tamworth would score again when Captain Jamie Lawrence crossed after a quick tap penalty caught Burntwood off guard. 24-12.
It would be the hosts though that wrapped up the points with the final points of the game when they crossed after a period of sustained pressure.
Final Score
Burntwood 29
Tamworth 12