IT may still be early in the league campaign but a familiar pattern is emerging for Jack Johnson’s Burntwood side – how to turn possession and territory into points and wins.

They dominated the second half but without reward before conceding a last-minute try to deny them even a losing bonus point at home to Newcastle (Staffs) as they went down 26-17.

Having beaten their opponents in the Staffs Intermediate Cup Final at the start of the season, Burntwood looked set to repeat the feat by taking an early lead in the seventh minute when skipper Johnson won a lineout to set up a drive which was finished off by Luke Rookyard. Alfie Broadhurst made it 7-0 with the conversion.

The visitors replied with a penalty goal four minutes later although the hosts stayed on top with several promising attacks, but momentum was lost by repeated infringements.

To make matters worse, their best attack resulted in a try for Newcastle. Billy Fisher made a break to the visitors’ 22 but his potential scoring pass wide was picked off for an interception try from 80 metres on 24 minutes.

Burntwood regained the lead three minutes later in similar fashion to the first try. Holt found the right corner with his penalty kick, Johnson won the lineout and though the catch wasn’t taken cleanly, Rookyard picked up the loose ball to cross wide out. Broadhurst’s conversion attempt rebounded off a post.

Three minutes later and Newcastle went ahead when they caught the hosts out with a quickly taken lineout for a try in the right corner which was superbly converted.

A great response from the restart with Dan Clements claiming the ball sent Alfie Dewsbury and Rookyard charging into opposition territory. When the ball was slipped to Tom Shorrock he carried two defenders over the line with him from 10 yards out.

Back came Newcastle to edge ahead 18-17 with a penalty goal. Then right on half-time they added another after they had pressured the home line.

The second half was a tale of lost opportunities from promising positions for the hosts. They lost Mason Tyler to a yellow card early on, but dominated play during his absence with Rookyard closest to scoring but held up over the line.

Approaching the hour mark, Dewsbury stole a Newcastle throw-in to set Tye O’Connor charging for the line, only for him to be brought down short. They were awarded a series of penalties but scrum and lineout options proved fruitless.

It was Newcastle’s turn to lose a player to a yellow card on 65 minutes – and he was quickly followed by a player from each side after a brief fracas.

Moving into added time, the visitors had a penalty goal attempt which fell just short and then they received their third yellow card for their scrum half.

Well into the additional minutes, a final opportunity for Burntwood was lost when they fumbled a lineout. The loose ball was kicked downfield. Fisher chased back to prevent the initial score but Newcastle won the ball back to seal their victory with an unconverted try.

Elsewhere, Burntwood 2nds welcomed Tamworth 2nds and they were victorious after a contest which was as close as the scoreline suggests. Tom Dawson’s try provided the only score of the game to see his side through to a 5-0 win.