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Malvern 36 Burton 0 on Mar 31st 2007

Burton Development XV took to the field against Malvern with a side that was a mixture of regular players plus seven ‘B’ team players and after the long journey took time to get used to this new combination. Playing against the elements, a strong wind and driving rain, Burton were soon under pressure with Malvern making use of the pace in their back line to run in two quick tries following two speculative long kicks. As the wind and rain turned into thunder and lighting it was no good Burton looking to the heavens for any help as the better organised hosts began to control the game more and more. A further try for the home side put the score at 19-0 with less than twenty minutes played. But the Burton tackling was good with Ian Baker leading the way well supported by Mark Topliss and Jez Gibbs and this stemmed the flow of points as the visiting forwards also became more organised and started to win some set piece ball. Having held the opposition Burton began to drive forward in the last ten minutes of the half as the forwards picked and drove gaining plenty of ground. These tactics paid dividends as Richard Paupe and Gary Potts both got to within five metres of the home line only to be denied a score by the referee’s whistle for a previous offside decision.

As the second half started the wind and rain stopped denying Burton the benefit of any help from the elements, but without this extra help Burton battled on with John Collett and Baker gaining some good lineout ball that Ben Peach was able to distribute to the Burton back line.

But despite Ben Stone going on several of his typical barnstorming runs and Karl English creating some half chances Burton just lacked the pace to finish off the moves. Although make shift winger Scott Waddell’s sudden and unexpected burst of pace on one occasion nearly fooled everyone including his own players. After this initial burst Burton began to flag and Malvern upped the tempo to score three more tries and put the score at 36-0, and while Burton made a late revival with some more picking and driving it was too little too late. This inexperienced Burton side stuck at its task well and tried to play rugby all the time despite some intimidatory tactics by the opposition and deserved the well earned applause as they left the field defeated but not belittled to enjoy their journey home.