Burton ‘A’ team played host to local rivals Derby but were guilty of initially showing too much respect to their visitors and paid the price by quickly conceding 12 points, thanks to two tries and one conversion. But after this poor start the Burton team began to play with more control and passion. Player shortages saw Burton with a makeshift back line containing two forwards, Tom Gregory in the centre and Jez Gibbs on the wing plus Tristan Gill having to revert to full back where he only ever played there once before. So Burton struggled to have an impact and found it hard to contain the quick Derby backs that ran in a further 3 tries before the break. A penalty to Burton on the stroke of half-time saw Adrian Varney put the ball between the posts to leave the home side facing an uphill battle in the second period as they now trailed 3-31.

Burton rallied in the second half and good individual displays by Stu Saunders, Pete Burchell and Will Forrester saw the pack begin to gain some control, but lack of team training meant that all too often these individual flurries were to no avail. Sean Green replaced Will Brookes in the second row and showed a great deal of potential following last season’s injury enforced absence. A great piece of forward play saw Burton surge down field and take play to the visitors 22 and be rewarded with a penalty, but instead of taking the three points on offer Burton elected to take a scrum. A powerful scrum saw that drive the Derby eight backwards and Will Forrester picked up to score a well-deserved try, and Varney added the extra points. The resolve and commitment shown in the second have by Burton should have been rewarded with more points and had the first half been played with as much spirit and passion the score line would have read better than this 10-45 defeat.