Late cry-offs and players not turning up meant that Burton ‘A’ team visited Newbold with a re-arranged front-row with Sean Green filling in at hooker and with one car arriving late the customary warm-up was missed. In addition the absence of other key players resulted in the threequarters being reorganised with Ben Simpson moving to out-half and James Kirkpatrick coming in at centre. So it was a very unprepared team that took the kick-off and played down the slope and it did not take long for the hosts to realise this and put pressure on the Burton side. The hastily re-aligned Burton back division looked static and were put under continual pressure from the hosts backs, while the Newbold forwards attempted to intimidate Burton’s front row but the Burton front three stood up to this task very well and gave as good as they got. Burton’s forwards made plenty of ground with some good rolling mauls, but unfortunately the ball was lost at the vital moments and Newbold cleared the danger. With play moving from end to end neither side could claim to be in control and although a penalty to Newbold gave them the lead Burton had done enough to suggest that the longer the game went on the bigger the threat they would pose. So with the score at 3-0 Burton, now playing with more composure had it all to do as the first half ended.

Burton’s pack began the second half with a series of mauls that gained plenty of yards for the visiting team and soon saw play move into the Newbold 22. A kick through saw the host’s full back attempted clearance fail to find touch and Tristan Gill returned the ball with a neat kick that saw him follow up and score. Burton were now camped in the Newbold half and exerted extreme pressure on the home line and Lee English, possibly playing his best game yet, was a constant threat to the Newbold defence. But no points were forth coming and the home side cleared to move up field where a penalty put them back in the lead at 6-5. But with 15 minutes left Burton’s fitness told and Dave Viles who had come on for Will Brookes made some strong surging runs at the Newbold defence. One such run saw him make twenty metres before he passed to Gareth Sutton who raced in for a try that he converted himself. So now leading 6-12 Burton began to through the ball around and Gavin Worth raced forward and after throwing a dummy to outwit the defence touched down for a try to increase Burton’s lead to 6-17. So Burton left the field worthy victors after a good all round team performance that said much for the versatility, spirit and fitness of the Burton side.