1st XV match reports 2004/05

Peel Croft opened its doors to welcome in a new term on Saturday with consecutive games on the main pitch against visitors Newark due to the unavailability of the Ox Hay. A splendid day’s rugby whetted the appetite for a new season. Two senior squads were given the opportunity to make a claim for a place in next week’s first league game of the season after last year’s championship promotion to in Midland 2 West.

Opponents Newark play at a similar level in Midlands 2 East and they soon put the Crofters under pressure as they took time to get used to some positional changes. John Philliskirk was first to impress with a fine tackle on his opposite number as the visitors threatened. Newark took a 3-0 lead in the first five minutes through a penalty.

The Crofters began to find their form. The pack began to dominate and gain possession and Rob Barrie and Will Forrester made early forays into the visitors 22. After 10 minutes Forrester made good ground to release Philliskirk who was tackled into touch close to the try line.

The forward’s growing dominance allowed the backs more freedom. Tom Bartram at stand off was receiving good, accurate and quick ball from an impressive Ben Peach. Bartram’s sleight of hand allowed lines of running that put real pressure on the Newark defence whose safety kicking was met too often by Alex Gray taking every opportunity to return at speed and draw in the support of the pack.

After 20 minutes Richard Lewis won the ball and released the ball to Bartram who held the ball long enough to give a fine pass to Forrester who burst over for a try, converted by Bartram for a 7-3 lead.

From the restart Philliskirk again broke to gain good ground and release Forrester again for a 12-3 lead.

As the Crofter’s confidence grew the backs began to flourish and only two intercepted passes stopped Burton going further ahead. Newark put pressure on the Burton defence in the last moments of the half. Danny Elliott put in a strong tackle to thwart one break and the defence seemed to be holding well. It was broken in the last minute when the Newark pack drove over for a converted try and a half time score of 12-10.

The Crofters started the second on the offensive with good breaks from Gray and Bartram. It was Newark that had the best early chance. Burton conceded a penalty that the visitors kicked to touch. Their drive was held but they gained another penalty. A second attempt was also held by the Crofter’s pack.

Burton responded well. Good positional kicking from Bartram saw Burton win a lineout. Bartram’s inside pass to Matt Tivey who had come into the centre at half time saw him weave across and through the Newark defence for a fine, but unconverted try and a 23 –10 lead.

Burton continued to impress as the back row of Barrie, Spencer and Lewis harried and carried supported by the busy Forrester. The lineout was benefiting from good positional kicks from Bartram and Peach and saw Lewis, Forrester and Rob Scragg dominant. The second half centre partnership of Bownds and Tivey gained good ground and good support from Elliott, Gray and Philliskirk kept the Crofters continue to threaten.

The Crofters went further ahead with 10 minutes to go. Another sold lineout saw Bartram feed Alex Gray who went over in the corner for a converted try and a 30—10 lead.

Friendlies are combative affairs and the last phase of the game saw both sides trying to wrestle control in a feisty finish. Burton held on for a deserved win with firm defence and good organisation.

The Crofters play Aston Old Eds next Saturday on the first league game of the season at the Croft. Friendlies also give the coaches the chance to experiment and Jon Widdowson was able to see a number of players performing well in both senior squad games. In the other squad match Ross Ward and Stuart Hutton performed well in the back row, Sutton kicked very well and winger Duncan’s speed gave him two tries. With these performances and players returning from holiday there should be fierce competition for places in what promises to be another good season.

If this game is to be a sign of what is to come, then promoted Burton will experience a competitive and combative season. That they came away with a victory in this first league game in Midlands 2 West may be credited to the confidence and team ethos drawn from last year’s championship season.

The Crofters started brightly. The pack looked tight from the start. After a good early drive Burton were awarded a penalty that Tom Bartram kicked for touch. Rob Scragg won the lineout and the ball was fed to full back Alex Gray on the break who burst through the home defence before dropping the ball when he looked likely to score.

On 12 minutes Burton deservedly took the lead when Rob Barrie won the ball at a lineout and released Rob Wakelin on the break who drew a penalty. Alex Gray took over kicking duties from the soon to depart Bartram and slotted home for a 3-0 lead.

Nuneaton tried to come into the game from the restart but the Crofters pack was unflinching. Burton continued to maintain possession and from a lineout formed a driving maul that took the ball 25 metres. With Nuneaton pulled across the pitch centre Charlie Maunder stormed through the middle to release Dave Bownds whose pass found John Philliskirk at full speed to touch down in the corner for an 8-0 lead.

As Nuneaton began at last to look dangerous the home scrum half and stand off began to spin good long passes to stretch the Crofter’s back line. Burton’s defence was not found wanting. First John Philliskirk crunching tackle stopped the home winger. Then when a Bartram kick was charged down, Gray showed great composure under pressure from three attackers and was first to a wickedly bouncing ball over the try line. Then Gareth Sutton fly kicked a chip kick to safety.

Bartram’s huge drop kick put the ball into touch in the home 22. Burton’s lineout was again in perfect order. Bartram’s grubber kick saw Gray second to the ball under the posts. From the resulting scrum Darryl Banton sniped through before releasing Phiiliskirk for his second impressive try that Gray converted for a 15 – 0 lead that they held until half time.

The Crofters spent much of the second half pinned in their own half. This was rugby for the traditionalist and not the faint hearted. Burton showed remarkable cohesion and teamwork as they smothered and covered every move. The front row held firm under intense pressure, the pack would not be pushed back and the one on one tackles were crisp and firm.

An early penalty for offside saw Nuneaton kick for the corner. Their drive was well held. The Crofters new tactic against a five-metre penalty of performing an offside version of a Haka worked sufficiently well to unsettle the set play. Then Nuneaton thought they had grounded the ball after a drive, a view not shared by the referee who was becoming unpopular with the home supporters.

As the pressure grew handbags came to the fore in a number of skirmishes in this very physical game. Nuneaton suffered first when awarded a penalty in front of the posts was immediately reversed for stamping.

The Crofters opportunities to break were limited by their tactic of a smothering defence and tight formation with the occasional relieving kick for touch. When they did break they looked dangerous. A strong break by Maunder looked to release Gray who was free but he withheld the pass and was penalised for crossing. Then on 65 minutes the pack broke free and drove forward into the opposition half to win a penalty that Gray missed.

Nuneaton were soon back and again were unlucky when the referee called for a knock on when both sides tried to hack the ball only for it to release the home winger.

Burton went further ahead from another rare venture into the Nuneaton half. The home scrum half was put under pressure under his own posts from a Banton chip. His kick did not reach touch and Sutton recovered well before releasing Maunder who powered over from 20 metres and a 20-0 lead

Nuneaton did eventually break the Crofters defence with a driving maul on 75 minutes that was converted to reduce the deficit to 20-7.

There were further tense moments before the end but Burton’s defence was again admirable and the Crofters came a way with a well deserved win.

Clenched fists punched the air as the final whistle blew to bring this tense and exciting game to a close. Burton came away with a second consecutive victory in Midlands West 2 against a team who missed promotion to Midlands 1 last year in the last moments of the season. Hinckley will be disappointed not to have fared better especially as they had the strong wind behind their backs in the second half. After last season points feast from attacking rugby, Burton again showed that how well they can defend.

The Crofters stormed into a lead from the kick off. The pack drove forward and Jon Edwards, thriving at No 8, used the blindside to gain ground before releasing Darryl Banton and Charlie Maunder who was held up five metres out. The ball was recycled and Edwards again drove forward before Gilmour slipped an inside pass to Alex Gray to score and convert for a 7-0 lead inside two minutes.

The home side began to respond and its powerful forward unit began to put on the pressure. Burton were penalised on 10 minutes but Hinckley's penalty was held in the wind.

Ian Gilmour was sinbinned after 18 minutes for flailing his arm, but this Crofter’s side has a well organised defence that held firm. Their speed to the tackle and quick support continued to thwart the home teams best efforts. Hinckley were making too many mistakes as the spilled the ball in good possession while trying to take advantage of their numerical superiority..

A clever kick over the defence was collected by Maunder who broke and delayed his pass to Adie Hayles who had an overlap deep in his own half but dropped the ball.

The Hinckley pack were causing the Crofters problems with its lineout and scrummage as the Crofters went on the back foot. Burton’s back line weas equal to the pressure and good kicking from Gray and some good possession gained through the hard working back row of Edward, Simon Spencer and Will Forrester saw the game move from end to end.

Burton went further ahead on 34 minutes. From a scrum on halfway Edwards again drove through allowing Banton to release John Philliskirk who had just switched wings. He burst down the line before releasing the ball in the tackle to Banton who scurried over. Gray again converted for a 14-0 lead.

Burton held this lead to half time but there was doubt as to whether this lead would be enough against a strong home team and strong wind in the second half.

Burton were soon being tested as the half began. A poor defensive kick from Gilmour saw Hinckley's full back collect and begin a mazy run that took him past a number of Crofters players, but gaining little ground. Burton responded. Gray caught a long kick inside his own 22 and chose to run when others would have kicked. The Burton backs expansive move and sound ball handling was held but home centre was sinbinned for arguing.

Hinckley again came back. Maunder was penalised and the home team chose to kick for touch as they began to pin Burton back. Charl Neethling’s first touch as a replacement was to be penalised for not releasing and Hinckley made the score 14-3 from the penalty kick.

Hinckley were beginning to run the ball more as the Crofters continued to frustrate the home attack. Phiiliskirk strong tackle on 5 metres stopped the home wing but he was penalised for a high tackle. Hinckley again chose to kick for touch and made little progress from the lineout soothe No 10 dropped a goal to put the score at 14-6 after 60 minutes.

As the pressure intensified the Crofters upped the tempo of their tackling and support. They were caught out after 70 minutes. Burton’s scrum was turned over on half way and Hinckley span the ball out to the left wing who was well tackled by Hayles who had tracked to the other wing as the Crofters were pulled across the field. The home side Stand off saw the resulting gap and kicked the ball across field for the winger to catch the ball unopposed and score for an unconverted try and a 14-11 score.

Burton were hanging on now and their task was not made easier when Matt Tivey was sinbinned after a brawl. That they did hang on for a win is a tribute their organisation and team commitment as they covered and smothered everything that the enterprising Hinckley team could throw at them.

Saturday’s supporters turned up to watch a first round Powergen Cup match but whenever Burton play Old Yardleians there is always some sort of upset or unexpected happening, three years ago Burton played them at a similar stage of the Powergen Intermediate Cup and won only to be expelled from the competition for playing a cup-tied player. But this time even worse was to happen as at 12.45 pm Old Yardleians rang to say they could not honour the fixture, so with supporters already in the ground the ‘A’ XV’s fixture against Longton was pushed backed to 2.15 pm kick off to at least allow supporters a game to watch, then a chance phone call from Tamworth to say their 1st XV would be travelling to play our club’s ‘A’ XV all was saved and even though no fixture had been arranged with Tamworth they agreed to play the first team. So, having regrouped most of the players, a near, full strength 1st team ended up playing Tamworth 1st XV, albeit the late kick-off kicked off of 3.45 pm meant that supporters had to wait a little longer to see their team in action.

Burton started this friendly fixture against Tamworth by kicking-off towards the Lichfield Road end and events soon showed that the players did not intend taking this game lightly. Some good work by Tim Barker and Chris Ariss saw quick ball being fed to Ian Gilmour, who made a half break before feeding Dave Bownds and his long pass to Adrian Hayles saw the winger scorched down the line to score after just three minutes. John Leason’s conversion gave Burton a 7-0 lead. Then just two minutes later some more clever play by the backs saw Gilmour feed Leason to score under the posts and add the extra points by converting his own try. BY now Tamworth must have been regretting the phone call as no sooner had Leason’s conversion cleared the posts then from the kick-off Richard Lewis took good clean ball and swiftly passed to Hayles who raced 75 metres down the touchline to score in the corner. With the conversion being missed Burton now had a 19-0 lead after some ten minutes play.

Burton were now dominating play in all areas but scores were being missed by players failing to control the ball and either it being spilled or dropped at vital moments and against better opposition these errors could prove to be costly. The Burton back-row, Will Forrester, Simon Spencer and Graham Fryer, were all around the park first at every breakdown and not allowing Tamworth to start attacks. In addition the backs nullified any attempts at breakouts with sound tackling and never gave their opposite numbers any breathing space. On the half hour a scrum on the Tamworth 22 metre line saw Burton produce good, quick ball and Bownds crashed over from two metres out, once again Leason added the extra points to take Burton into a 33-0 at half-time.

Burton made three changes bringing on Charlie Maunder in place of Leason, Pete Mason for Nick Page and Mark Tweddle for Rob Wakelin. Maunder was soon in action as he took an attempted clearance by the Tamworth full back and fed Hayles who in turn fed the overlapping Gilmour who dummied the full back and raced over for a score. A break by Bownds saw John Pritchard in support and take a pass to score in the corner, so with both these tries being unconverted Burton now had a 43-0 lead and began to take their foot off the gas a little, however, at no time did they allow Tamworth into the game and kept playing some good controlled rugby. A short tap penalty by Darryl Banton saw him race through the opposition to score under the posts with Maunder adding the extra points. The final try of the game saw good, quick ball from a scrum being fed to Gilmour who sliced through the Tamworth defence like a hot knife through butter to score a try, which he converted himself to take the score to 57-0.

At the end of a very eventful day Burton thoroughly deserved their victory and it proved a good exercise and workout allowing some of the fringe players the chance to show their worth a first team level, and full credit for their performances should be given to Graham Fryer, Pete Mason, James Kirkpatrick and Nick Page.

With Newbold winning the toss and selecting the Lichfield Road end Burton kicked-off to see the opposition let the ball bounce amongst their pack as the Burton pack surged onto the loose ball and set up good quick ball only for Newbold to be caught off-side, but unfortunately Alex Gray had yet to find his kicking boots and the chance was wasted. From the 22 restart Jon Edwards took the ball and surge forward supported by the rest of the pack and once again Newbold were penalised for a high tackle and at his second attempt Gray made no mistake and Burton had a 3-0 lead after just 5 minutes. A dropped restart by Burton saw Newbold storm up field from the kick-off and a period of heavy pressure by Newbold ended with them being awarded a penalty for Burton using hands in a ruck and Newbold’s Pope kicked this to level the scores. Burton responded immediately with Darryl Banton following up his own kick tackled his opposite number, who did not release the ball, and Gray kicked another penalty to put Burton ahead by 6-3 after 15 minutes.

Banton was soon back in action as from the restart he made a scything break to race 50 metres before moving the ball through Ian Gilmour and Charlie Maunder to John Philliskirk who was forced into touch some 20 metres out. From the line-out Nick Thurman stole the ball which was fed out wide to Adie Hayles but he was stopped and with Newbold slowing the ball down the referee had no hesitation in yellow carding the Newbold No 8. So with a man advantage Burton’s pack surged forward and from a lineout drove over the opposition line where Rob Scragg got the touch down to take the score to 11-3. This score seemed to put life into Newbold as they pushed into the Burton half with a series of rolling mauls but resolute defence by the Burton team saw them force the ball into touch. Here, another superb take by Thurman saw Banton kick the ball into the Newbold 22 where Ian Gilmour just failed to touch down his own little grubber kick. The visitors then took play back to the Burton 10 metre where Will Forrester snapped up a loose ball and set off on one of his many surging runs that took play back to the Newbold 22 and from the ruck Burton moved the ball out wide to Alex Gray who fed the ball back inside to Ian Gilmour and Charlie Maunder before Matt Tivey made 10 metres and passed back to Maunder who in turn fed Darryl Banton to score nearly under the posts. As befits such a splendid try Gray made no mistake with the conversion and took Burton’s lead to 18-3. Just on halftime Newbold pulled back 3 points when Burton were penalised on their own 22 for handling in a ruck, so Burton went into the break with a commanding 18-6 lead.

A good take by Rob Scragg from the restart saw runs by Tim Barker, Sam Whitworth and Mark Tweddle take play to the visitors 22, and once again quick ball was fed out to Maunder who took on two Newbold defenders but stood up well allowing the Burton pack to secure more quick ball for Darryl Banton to break pass the ball via the supporting Barker and Scragg to Adie Hayles to cut inside his winger and score halfway out. Once again Gray added the extra two points only to see these cancelled by Newbold converting another penalty to take the score to 25-9. Burton were now completely in control of the game and even had lady luck shining on them as an attempted clearance by Alex Gray dropped straight into the Newbold’s wingers hands on their 22 only to see him pass it inside to no-one, but the ever alert Gilmour was on hand to dibble the ball on and pick up to score under the posts for Gray to convert and take the score to 32-9.
But now Burton relaxed and fifteen-minute period of loose play saw them let Newbold’s fullback score a simple converted try. Also lady luck appear to desert the Burton cause as the referee first yellow carded Philliskirk for a dubious trip and then awarded Newbold a even more dubious penalty try for Burton’s ‘deliberate’ wheeling. So with the score now 32-23 Burton also lost the services of Maunder (cut hand) who was replaced by John Leason. However, Burton rallied under the pressure from Newbold and on his return Philliskirk picked up a loose ball and raced over for a score some 5 metres out, Gray missed the difficult conversion and would have much preferred the easier kick that Philliskirk’s unnecessary dive prevented.

The 37-23 victory by Burton was thoroughly deserved and never in doubt but they must learn not to let the opposition off the hook by relaxing as against better teams this could result in defeat instead of victory. The fifteen minute spell in the second half could well have proved very costly and the players must remember that a game last for eighty minutes and nothing less.

The Crofters left Leamington with two more points and maintained their unbeaten start to the season. But the team and coaching staff will be disappointed in the manner of victory. This was game littered with errors from both sides and in the end Burton had to dig deep to rescue a victory.

The initial phase saw Burton gradually begin to dominate. A poor scrum release saw Alex Gray receive the ball. He possesses a side step and his break over 50 yards saw him beat five players before his poor pass to John Philliskirk saw the ball dropped 10 metres out.

The strike runners Gray, Philliskirk and Aidy Hayles were looking menacing. From another good Gray break the home team were punished for killing the ball but Gray’s penalty was just wide.

Burton went ahead on 13 minutes in dramatic fashion. Hayles received the ball just in from his left wing near his own 22 metre line. His mazy run saw him cross to the opposite wing at pace before cutting inside and beating the full back with an extravagant side step to place the ball under the posts. His run must have been over 80 metres and he seemed to run through or round the entire home 15 before Gray converted for a 7-0 lead.

Leamington came straight back and were awarded a penalty that Grimes converted to make the score 7-3.

There is an expectation in this squad that seems to demand the risky rather than the cautious and Burton’s decision making began to falter. The ball was passed and lost in the tackle too often when possession should have been maintained. The opposition were worse and failed to register a threat on the Burton line.

The Crofters continued to work hard and another break from Gray saw him resist the better option of a pass to Philliskirk in the open before being tackled.

A multi-phase move by the Crofters saw them drag the home team across the field before a clever pass from Ian Gilmour released Will Forrester whose touch down was denied for crossing. Philliskirk was then held up 5 metres out from a break by Darryl Banton.

The home flanker was sin binned for killing the ball as the Crofters pinned Leamington back. The extra man in the pack told but Burton could not increase their lead as handling errors and an over fussy referee prevented any momentum and the half ended with Burton holding a 7-3 lead.

The opportunity to return to basics in the second half was missed as the game continued to be fragmented. Grimes missed a penalty in the 43rd minute following a good drive. Burton again responded and Banton’s break and chip kick saw Philliskirk again trouble the defence. From the lineout the home No 8 was sinbinned and Burton’s strength and numerical advantage saw them continue to dominate.

The lineout began to struggle and the scrum spluttered as the Crofters struggled to involve the back line that always looked dangerous when in possession. As Leamington were returned to full strength they eventually began to pose problems.

The defence overcomplicated the receipt of a punt on their own 22 metre line and Hales was held then penalised for not releasing. Grimes reduced the arrears to 7-6.

The Crofters began to look uncomfortable as Leamington pushed forward but their defence held firm until a mistake put them in arrears.

Simon Spencer who was trying to make an impression as he came on as replacement. First his touch down was harshly denied for a knock on from a drive. Then he was penalised for handling in the scrum on 67 minutes and Grimes put Leamington in the lead for the first time at 9-7.

The Crofters seemed stung by this reverse and retaliated immediately. The pack’s drive had been in good order throughout the match and was put to good effect from the restart. Successive attempts to drive over the line were withheld by a struggling defence before the ball was released to Gilmour. He shimmied through the defence to touch down under the posts and for Gray to convert for a 14-9 lead.

Grimes did have another chance to reduce the arrears as the Crofters were penalised from another poor scrum, but failed. The Crofters finished the game off by maintaining sensible possession, even allowing a last break from Gilmour to Hayles before Jon Leason was held up just short.

Burton moved into the next round of the Powergen Intermediate cup with another performance of pace and power that saw the Crofters score 7 tries in a most entertaining match.

The game started briskly. Dave Bownds early break released Ady Hayles who was held up 10 metres out. As Burton continued to press Ampthill stand off Offer’s tactic of kicking long to make use of winger Bell’s pace was comfortably thwarted by Alex Gray.

Burton’s pressure told on 10 minutes. Another Bownds break saw Hayles gain ground before support from Charl Neethling saw Hayles again release Gray. Hayles caught his chip kick and Gray crossed for a 5-0 lead.

The pack were beginning to dominate and turned over Ampthill’s scrum on 12 minutes but Jon Edwards was penalised for holding and Offer reduced the arrears to 5-3.

The Crofters came straight back. A strong drive saw Ian Gilmour involved twice in a flowing move before winger John Pritchard fumbled. Then Darryl Banton and Matt Tivey carved out a chance from another powerful scrum but Gilmour was beaten to his grubber kick.

Burton went further ahead on 24 minutes from another Gilmour break that released Bownds before Gray took his pass to score his second try that he converted for a 12-3 lead.

Offer again responded quickly with a penalty for foul play and reduced the arrears to 12-6.
By this time the Crofters were disrupting almost all of Ampthill’s forward possession. Rob Scragg took advantage of a turnover in the ruck to power over for an unconverted try and a 17-6 lead.

As half time approached the score reflected Burton’s superiority. But in the last minute Ampthill scored again. The Crofters again disrupted the scrum but Offer retrieved the ball and repeated the tactic of kicking for his winger to chase. Pritchard was first to the ball but held on and was penalised. They kicked for touch, won the lineout and half back Lewis scampered over for a try that was converted for a 17-13 lead.

Whatever the half time team talk contained the result was that Burton stepped up the pace in the second half. Hayles set off on what is becoming a trademark run over 50 metres before just failing to reach his chip kick.

In a game where there were many good performances, Gilmour was heavily involved and his distribution allowed Bownds to flourish at inside centre. It was this combination that put the Crofters further in the lead on 45 minutes. Bownds broke before handing off to Gilmour who dummied through the defence to cross from 25 metres. Banton took on kicking duties and he converted for a 24-13.lead.

Just as the supporters were thinking that Burton were deservedly pulling clear Ampthill again responded with a slick back line move. Despite fine tackles from Tivey and Gilmour to hold the ball up No 8 Addy was in support for another converted try to put the score at 24-20.

This score only resulted in Burton again moving through the gears. From the restart another powerful drive from the pack over 25 metres saw the now dispirited visiting pack concede a penalty. Banton ran it and drew another penalty for not being allowed 10 yards. From the kick to touch the pack again drove on before Banton passed inside for Simon Spencer to score but was injured in scoring and left the field. Banton put the score at 31-20.

Gray’s break on 65 minutes released Pritchard who just failed to ground the ball, but a penalty had been awarded and Banton moved the score to 34-20.

There was a niggling battle between Banton and his opposite number Lewis as Ampthill tried to get back in the game that Banton won.

Richard Lewis came on as replacement and had an influential last 20 minutes. His first touch was a 30-metre break from defence. Then he peeled off another turned over scrum on 70 minutes to burst over and score for Banton to again convert for a 41-20 lead.

Alex Gray was cruelly robbed of his hat trick as the game ended. Charlie Maunder’s return from injury with 10 minutes to go gave him the chance to burst through the defence from deep in his own half and gain 40 metres. As he passed to Gray who was clear, centre Steel deliberately knocked on and the referee gave a penalty try from 30 metres that Banton converted for a thoroughly deserved and entertaining 48-20 win.

The exhausted looks on the faces of the players as they trudged from the field after a titanic forward battle said everything. This was especially so for the home team who for 60 minutes had been camped for much of the time inside Burton ’s 22 metre line. But then the Crofters turned the game with a display of broken field running that delivered four stunning tries and gave Burton the points to stay top of Powergen Midlands West 2.

The pre-match advice of not taking the O.C’s lightly despite their lowly league position was accurate. The Crofters forward’s power and the team’s obdurate defence held sway in appalling conditions with incessant and at times storm force rain.

Burton started brightly. From the first move of the match the Crofters won a lineout that delivered a good drive from Rob Wakelin to find Ian Gilmour, who knocked on his grubber kick on the try line.

Coventry came back but the Burton pack looked immovable. The Crofters won a penalty, the ball was kicked into touch and the pack drove on. Gilmour again tried the grubber kick but home stand off Carl Rogers introduced himself in a way that would have surely given a penalty try had Bownds not been at hand to put the score at 5-0 after 7 minutes.

Jon Leason took on kicking duties and missed from in front of the posts.

This bright start soon ended as the home team began to play a 10-man game that Burton were happy to accommodate. The ball was rarely seen as the forwards strove to dominate. The only time the Crofters attack saw the ball was in retrieving Brook’s tactical kicking that thwarted Burton ’s attempts to break out and tried to find the home wingers at pace. Hayles. Tivey and Pritchard coped well.

Coventry drew level on 18 minutes. Home pressure was delivering penalties and on one of the rare occasions that the Crofters pack took a backward step O.C’s drove over for a try from a lineout move to level the score at 5-5.

Both lineouts were functioning well in difficult conditions but the Crofters were often first to the push limiting the home attacks that were having to start on the back foot. When the centres did get the ball both teams sought the comfort of their pack in an attempt to keep possession.

The Crofters broke out of defence as the half ended. The back row were quick to the ball and Darryl Banton, who was at the heart of the Crofter’s play, broke well. The Crofters turned over the scrum and were awarded a penalty. Leason hit the post and a scrum followed. Burton again turned over the scrum and Jon Edwards powered over for a 10-5 half time lead.

The second half started mirroring the first with Burton ’s defence limiting the home pack with the ball rarely seen. Then the game turned in a 10 minute spell. A drive by Edwards on halfway, support from Banton on the break and Ian Gilmour burst through the defence over 25 metres. He released Tivey on an inside run to score. Banton took over kicking duties and made it 17-5.

Banton then put the Crofters further ahead. He again broke through from the base of the pack before setting off on a mazy run. Gilmour’s presence drew the defence before Banton dummied inside for a fine individual try and a 22-5 lead.

Burton recovered the ball from the kick off and fed the ball to Hayles on halfway. Hayles at full flight is a sight to see and he left the home defence trailing in his wake as he scorched over for Banton to convert for a 29-5 lead.

There was a communal scratching of heads for the home team who seemed unable to comprehend how they had moved from a position of strength to be losing touch.

Things only got worse from them. The restart did not go 10 yards and the Crofters powered through from the scrum. Edwards again released Banton who was causing mayhem whenever in possession. As ever Gilmour was in support and when Banton released him he danced through the defence to score. Banton made the conversion and put Crofters untouchable at 36-5.

Coventry had one last chance to get some reward for their efforts. A mistake in the Crofters defence saw the home centre hack the ball forward but failed to put downward pressure on the ball.

Burton responded in the best possible way to the criticism last week’s winning display at Leamington with their best performance of the season with this win over County neighbours Stafford. With Malvern only drawing with a last minute equaliser at Aston Burton now top Midlands 2 West.

This performance saw the forwards turn in an excellent display of power and possession that released the backs in rampant mood to score six tries. The game started tentatively as both teams strove for domination. The Crofters struck first with Jon Edwards releasing Rob Scragg from a ruck who in turn fired a long pass to Will Forrester to gain ground before Ian Gilmour was tackled offside. Alex Gray missed the penalty.

Stafford retaliated and Burton were penalised but Mottishead missed the penalty. Burton were penalised for being offside and Mottishead converted the penalty to put Stafford into a 3-0 lead.

Burton responded again and Gray missed another penalty. The Crofters were soon in the lead. Dave Bownds made an interception in his own half and released Ady Hayles who scorched past four cover defenders over 55 metres to score in the corner. Gray’s conversion from the touchline put Burton into a 7-3 lead after 17 minutes

The Crofters pack was well on top with the back row of Forrester, Simon Spencer and Edwards dominating the loose. The work at the base of the scrum by Edwards and Darryl Banton began to create openings and opportunities. Banton especially was cutting holes in the defence and released Hayles for another break that was held up 10 metres out. Stafford’s petulant response drew rebuke from the referee that should have resulted in stronger punishment than positional gain.

Alex Gray was having a torrid time with his kicking and missed from in front of the posts. He more than compensated by his outfield play that almost always sees him gain significant ground to release the attack.

The Crofters should have been further ahead at half time. First a Banton break saw Gilmour, whose distribution was excellent all day, release Spencer to cross the line but fail to ground the ball. Then Edwards crossed from a good forward drive but spilled the ball as he grounded.

They did score with the last move of the half. A blindside move from a scrum from Edwards and Banton gained 20 metres before the ball was passed along the width of the pitch in a flowing move that saw Hayles tap tackled before stumbling over the line for a thrilling try and a 12-3 half time lead.

The Crofters defence resisted Stafford’s early efforts as the second half began. A good positional kick from Banton saw the defence troubled by the bounce as Matt Tivey, looking more comfortable back on the wing, closed full back Woolman down at pace and the support from Gilmour allowed Tivey to pick the ball up and touch down. Gray converted his most difficult kick and Burton were 19-3 in the lead.

Burton’s efficient lineout and drive then saw Banton scurry through the defence to score from 22 metres and a 24-3 lead on 55 mins.

The Crofters confidence had grown through the game and Stafford were made to defend. The backs were cutting loose and Gray again made good ground to set up a ruck from which Banton released Tivey with a long pass but was held up. The next phases saw Spencer and Rob Wakelin batter the defence before being awarded a penalty. The kick for touch saw another drive from a lineout for Spencer to score the try that his performance deserved. Leason converted for a 31-3 lead on 65 minutes.

Stafford did retaliate but were frustrated by Burton’s defence. A handling mistake from Leason allowed stand off Mottishead to chase his own fly kick. He looked certain to score but Hayles speed and confidence saw him ground the ball.

Stafford were not taking defeat well and the referee had further opportunities to instil some discipline after Mottishead reacted badly to Burton’s pressure and blanket defence that denied Stafford’s late attempts to score.

The Crofters scored their sixth try in the 78th minute. Another good kick from Banton again saw Tivey’s pace trouble the defender who was tackled into touch. A slick line out move saw Mark Tweddle throw to Edwards in the lineout who returned the ball for Tweddle to break down the line from 10 metres and score to give Burton an eventual comfortable 36-3 win.

With almost a third of the season now gone Burton remain unbeaten and lead Midlands 2 West by three points as second place Malvern lost at Stafford. The Crofters also continue to improve and despite a slow start to the season have returned to their old habit of scoring five tries. There have been no easy games this season and OL’s posed probably the greatest threat so far in this prickly but exciting match that enthralled the large crowd.

Burton started well but it was the visitors who could have taken the lead. Stand off Kerrigan missed one penalty and chose touch with another in the first 10 minutes.

As the front five began to wrestle control the Crofters put OL’s under severe pressure when they turned over a scrum on half way. Jon Edwards broke from the base and Ady Hayles made the first attempt to cross the line. Then the ball was passed across the pitch before Tivey was held. Darryl Banton then recycled to Ian Gilmour whose cross-field kick drew a penalty. The Crofters kicked for touch and from the lineout and drive the ball again reached Hayles who made the defence look pedestrian as he passed four players to score from 30 metres. Burton led 5-0 after 10 minutes.

OL’s responded quickly. Kerrigan fluffed a drop kick but then released a flowing move that allowed full back Evans to draw the defence before releasing winger Betts to bring the scores level at 5-5 after 22 minutes.

The game ebbed and flowed. Whether or not the visitors had prior information on the Crofter’s game plan was debatable. They were ready on three occasions when Gilmour tried his grubber kick and the half-back pairing of Murray and Kerrigan tried to impose themselves on their opposite numbers.

But a good break from Banton supported by Gilmour ended when John Pritchard was held up just out when ignoring Matt Tivey on the overlap. Then Banton hit the post from a penalty. The pack were putting the visiting eight under ever more pressure. The Crofters were awarded a penalty for handling in the ruck and Gilmour kicked for touch. Another good lineout and drive saw Edwards break being quickly supported. Charl Neethling was in the back line and he drove over after 34 minutes for a 10- 5 lead.

Again the visitors responded. A well placed kick saw Hayles under pressure and was forced to deliberately knock the ball into touch. Kerrigan’s penalty brought the score to 10-8

Referee Trengrove sensibly brought the half to an end when a serious disagreement between a number of players saw Sam Whitworth and visiting prop King sinbinned.

Kerrigan missed another penalty three minutes into the half that stung the Crofters into action. The back row were bossing the breakdown and Simon Spencer’s burst allowed another good attack that ended with a poor pass to Tivey when free. Then the Crofters lost the ball at a lineout but Rob Scragg blocked the kick out and passed to Gilmour who side stepped through the defence to score a try that Banton converted for a 17-8 lead.

OL’s came back and Kerrigan missed another drop kick. Then Pritchard put in a great tackle to halt winger Wallis who had been released by Evans.

The Crofter’s fitness this season sees them finish strongly and this match was no different. Tivey and Hayles’ speed put the visitors under pressure from good positional kicks to keep OL’s in their own half.

Burton went further ahead after 65 minutes after a period of sustained pressure. From another strong drive from a lineout the pack drove over the try line twice but were unable to ground the ball. From the third scrum Edwards broke on the blind side to release Banton to score.

Richard Lewis’ cameo appearance as replacement for Whitworth resulted in him being off the pitch more than on it when he was sinbinned after an altercation with King who received his second yellow card and was sent off. Had common sense not prevailed he might have received a third card following a disagreement with an elderly patron on his way off.

When Lewis returned to the pitch he was involved in the flowing move that resulted in the final try. The pack gained ground and Gareth Sutton released Lewis who kept possession before Gilmour was twice involved in the backs move that saw Sutton score and put the final score at 27-8.

Burton progressed to the fourth round of the Powergen Intermediate cup with a comfortable win over a struggling Sutton team that showed little resemblance to the unit that challenged the Crofters for last year’s league title. They certainly could not contain the Crofter’s rampant pack whose superiority set up the platform that allowed the backs to run riot with Ady Hayles scoring four tries, including a first half hat trick, and Darryl Banton three.

The pattern of the game started early. The pack’s early control of set play and maul let the half-back pairing of Banton and Ian Gilmour to probe. Gilmour had enough space to launch a number of good positional kicks aimed at exploiting Hayles pace.

The Crofters went ahead on 7 minutes. A rolling maul over 30 metres saw skipper Mark Tweddle and Chris Arriss both make good ground to allow Gilmour to float a long pass to Hayles to score, for him, a relatively simple try and a 5-0 lead.

Six minutes later they went further ahead after Hayles pressure on winger Spires from Gilmour’s kick saw full back O’Hare forced into touch. From the lineout the pack drove forward before Jon Edwards broke, followed by Charl Neethling to score. Banton converted for a 12-0 lead.

Sutton were struggling to gain any possession, forced into error by the Crofter’s close attention. Another long kick from Gilmour was fielded by O’Hare whose kick failed to find touch. Three long passes across the field saw Hayles receive the ball in his own half on the other wing with four Sutton players in his path. He scythed through the defence at pace to score a stunning try for a 17-0 lead on 25 minutes.

The Crofters continued to dominate. Banton’s intuitive eye for a space kept the visitors on the back foot, Gilmour’s distribution and Dave Bownds storming breaks through the centre were well supported by the back row’s speed to the broken play. It was Bownds who released Hayles for his third try after the pack had turned over the ball in its own half. Sutton were more prepared for Hayles this time with a wall of six players defence on half way. He stormed after his own chip kick and touched down after O’Hare failed to get downward pressure in defence. Burton now led 22-0.

Banton got on the score sheet on 37 minutes thanks to strong 20-metre break from Edwards from the base of a scrum. Banton juggled his flick pass but held on to score. Gilmour took on the kicking duties and put the score at 29-0.

On half time Sutton had their first real attack that earned them three penalties, the last of which O’Hare converted for a half time score of 29-3.

Half time offered little respite for the visitors and Hayles soon scored his fourth following a slick back’s move that saw Gilmour’s loop create the overlap for the winger to scorch over for a 34-3 lead.

The Crofters then made four changes five minutes into the half. There was little negative impact and the pack continued to cause panic in Sutton’s defence. Their drive from a lineout saw Edwards and Tivey break and win a penalty. Banton simply picked the ball up and sniped through the defence from 10 metres and a 39-3 lead on 60 minutes.

Charlie Maunders was one of the replacements who seemed to want to make an impression with strong breaks through the middle. From such a break Burton won a scrum, Edwards again broke and released Banton who completed his hat trick with a jinking 20-metre run.

Maunders scored the ninth try in impressive fashion. He used his bulk and strength as he seemed to carry two players clinging to his shoulders over 10 metres. He broke free to score a fine try from 50 metres.

If the Crofters have a weakness it is their inability to take the extra points, some very simple, with some disappointing kicking. Gareth Sutton was the third kicker of the day and he converted for a 51-3 lead.

The game finished with Sutton’s first real threat to the home line. Three penalties and a lineout set up the drive that saw the pack drive over but were thwarted by the Crofters defence who denied them room to ground the ball.

Burton now look forward eagerly to the next round when the Midlands and North merge for the latter stages of the competition.

Burton remain unbeaten in Midlands West 2 but dropped their first point of the season in this well earned draw at Kenilworth. In a tense finish both teams could have clinched victory in the dying minutes of this full-blooded encounter.

Burton found themselves on the back foot in the early stages as the well organised home team stretched the Crofter’s defence. But this is a resilient defence and the Crofters held on until the 8 th minute. Burton had conceded two penalties and centre Roberts converted the second for a 3-0 lead.

Burton’s pack then started to function in uncompromising fashion. The home pack were going to be outplayed in the maul all afternoon.

Burton went ahead on 17 minutes from their set piece lineout move. Jon Edwards, who is thriving at No 8, released Banton who broke on the blindside to be held up yards out. Jon Philliskirk was in support and Banton handed the ball to him to score in the corner for an unconverted try and a 5-3 lead.

Play continued to move from end to end as Kenilworth’s back line continued to test the Crofter’s. It was Burton who looked more dangerous in possession. Philliskirk and Chris Arriss were just beaten to a kick over the defence before Arriss put the Crofters further ahead with another trademark move.

Dave Bownds' break through the centre drew a penalty that Ian Gilmour kicked for touch 10 metres out. Richard Lewis won the lineout and Arriss came through the maul for the try. Leason converted for a 10-3 lead on 25 minutes.

Kenilworth were un-phased and stuck to their game plan releasing their half backs and three quarters at the Crofter’s defence. They reduced the arrears on 32 minutes. Burton were penalised for handling in the ruck and Roberts kick gave them a lineout 5 metres out. The drive from the lineout released Roberts in the centre who broke through to score and convert to bring the score to 12-10.

Again it was end to end but Burton created two more chances as the half ended. Another Banton blindside break released Lewis who fed Gilmour whose grubber kick was defended by full back White. From the scrum the Crofter’s pack drove over but Rob Wakelin failed to ground the ball. The ball was then passed across the line to Hayles on the overlap but he knocked on. Then Philliskirk chased a kick from Banton and blocked the kick out but was unable to ground the ball.

The second half started in frenetic fashion with both teams losing possession in good position. It was the Crofters who struck first.

Life can be lonely for wingers and Hayles had rarely touched the ball before he chased Simon Spencer’s kick. Full back White knocked on in Burton’s half. Hayles hacked the ball forward, picked it up and outstripped the defence from halfway to put the Crofters 17-10 in the lead.

Kenilworth responded by putting Burton under a period of severe pressure not helped by referee Hayward making a couple of basic mistakes. Kenilworth brought the score to 17-15 on 60 minutes after dragging the Burton defence across the field and back again before No 8 Givens drove over. Roberts hit the post.

Kenilworth’s backs continued to pound the Crofter’s defence. The defence continued to win the ball for the pack to drive huge holes in the home eight as the rolling and driving maul put the Crofters back on the offensive.

The Crofters thought they had pulled away again on 70 minutes after Hayles made the break from halfway that allowed the backs to storm over the line in a thrilling move. Touch judge John Edwards’ integrity remained intact as he pulled play back after the referee had awarded the try to point out that Hayles’ foot was in touch.

Tension began to creep in as both sides went for the kill. Leason’s penalty put the Crofters further ahead at 20-15 on 75 minutes. The Crofters failed to kill off the game as they began to give away possession when a team of this experience should know better. Banton was sinbinned for deliberately killing play and Kenilworth threw everything at the Crofter’s defence. Burton managed to disrupt the home lineout twice as they pressed forward but Kenilworth brought the scores level with a late try. Roberts missed the conversion.

Burton stormed back and Leason shaved the post with a penalty and the game ended with probably a fair result.

Burton’s proud and long unbeaten home run came to an end when second place Malvern beat the Crofters in this Midlands 2 West match. Unbeaten at home in the league all of last season, and so far all of this, the Crofter’s pack were for once bettered. Burton’s attacking options were therefore limited but Burton remain joint top but with an inferior points difference

Nonetheless the game could have gone either way with the Crofters mounting a spirited late surge that Malvern only just resisted. The game was heavily influenced by the comparative kicking success of the teams with the visitors full back Andy Longley living up to his pre-match reputation.

One of the quickest ever scores saw Burton take the lead from a penalty awarded in the first 10 seconds. From the kick off Malvern’s take was penalised for crossing and Darryl Banton put the penalty over for a 3-0 lead.

Malvern soon responded and began to pin back the Crofters with good positional kicking from stand off Dave King. Burton were harshly penalised for a high tackle from Rob Wakelin and Longley pulled the score back to 3-3.

Burton had little possession in the first 15 minutes but were awarded a penalty that Banton missed. Longley then put Malvern 6-3 in the lead after Burton were found offside.

The Crofters began to gain some momentum after 15 minutes. From Burton’s first lineout in the opposition half the pack’s maul gained good ground before Malvern were penalised but the penalty was missed.

Burton remained in the ascendancy and Charlie Maunder just failed to reach Gilmour’s grubber kick. The referee was playing advantage and Banton brought the scores level at 6-6 on 20 minutes.

Malvern responded well and a slick back’s move failed as the last pass found touch. Burton were again penalised and Longley put the visitors ahead at 9-6.

Malvern’s eight were causing problems in the scrum and Banton was having to deliver from the back foot limiting the three quarters ability to progress. However the maul was still in good order. An Ian Gilmour loop was just held up with what looked like a deliberate knock on.

Maunder then made a strong break after good work from Alex Gray and drew a penalty when he was held in the tackle. Gilmour kicked for touch, Jon Edward took the ball and fed Chris Arriss on the blindside but was held up a yard out. The ball was recycled but a rushed pass was fluffed with a two-man overlap.

The Crofters continued to press and Banton’s sniping run drew another penalty that he converted to bring the score level at 9-9 on 38 minutes.

Malvern were under pressure and lost stand off King to the sinbin as the half ended for killing the ball once too often. The penalty was again missed.

Despite being a man short a sthe half started it was Malvern who took the game to the Crofters. Inside centre Mark Eastwood had been outstanding in the first half but it was his partner Nick Major who began to push the Crofters defence. He drew a penalty for offside and Longley put the visitors in the lead at 12-9 on 45 minutes.

Malvern began a long period of control and the returning King began to run the game with a series of kicks and releases to his centres. Burton’s defence was again solid and they rarely threatened the Crofter’s line. The Malvern pack continued to cause the Crofter’s scrum problems rarely allowing the back row space to break. Malvern’s man of the match, flanker Alex Thomas, gained the benefit of the doubt from the referee too often as he continued to flirt with the offside line.

Longley proved he was fallible with two missed drop kicks but put Malvern further ahead with a penalty on 65 minutes and a 15-9 lead.

The Crofters at last responded on 70 minutes. The pack rolled a maul over 30 metres. Richard Lewis drove on and the Maunder powered through to win another penalty that Banton converted for a 15-12 deficit.

Malvern again responded and Longley put the score at 18-12.

The Crofters went for broke in the last 5 minutes. The pack drove forward over 20 metres but Gilmour’s faltering grubber kick was easily read. The referee’s advantage gave the Crofters another penalty that they had to run. Arriss was released but was held and Malvern punched the air as they went to the top of the table.

On a dark, cool afternoon at Peel Croft Burton played and defeated a spirited Leigh side in round 4 of the Powergen Intermediate Cup and continued their progress into the last sixteen and the next round of the competition.

Burton kicked off towards the Lichfield Road end and when a defensive clearance by the Leigh full back was gathered by John Philliskirk and with Darryl Banton the pair made thirty metres down the flank before Philliskirk was forced into touch on the visitors 22. But after five minutes of pressure Burton lost the ball and Leigh true to their pre-match boast produced a vicious counter attack that, with the help of badly missed tackle by Burton in midfield, saw their ‘one man scoring machine’ Paul Wilcock burst through to show his pace and leave defenders floundering as he scored under the posts. Within two minutes, having also converted his try, he then punished Burton even further when he converted a penalty for offside to give Leigh a 10-point lead after just seven minutes played.

Things were starting to look ominous for Burton and it looked as though they had not heeded the warning about this points scoring machine from Leigh. But to the Crofters credit they hit back in gritty fashion and after three catch and drives inside the Leigh 22 had not produced any points, the next line out saw Nick Thurman feed the ball off the top to Banton who spun the ball out to the backs where Matt Tivey showed his pace and determination as he sped through the Leigh defence to score half way out. Although the conversion was missed Burton now upped the pace of the game and realised that they had the ability and belief to score more points. From the restart Sam Whitworth stood like a rock to take the ball under intense pressure from the Leigh forwards and the ensuing maul saw the ball fed to Philliskirk who kicked ahead only to be obstructed. The penalty saw Burton kick to the corner and with Thurman taking another clean catch the backs were released again as Ian Gilmour put his little grubber through and past the Leigh back’s for Alex Gray to burst onto and touch down. This time Banton made no mistake with the conversion and Burton were now in front 12-10 after twenty-five minutes play.

The Burton dominance was now beginning to gain momentum as their pack got more possession from set pieces and produced some quality loose ball. From one such piece of possession the ball was fed out to Ian Gilmour whose kick up field was returned by his opposite number Sinclair straight to Charlie Maunder who made 30 metres before feeding Adie Hayles, who tore down the left wing before feeding inside to Jon Edwards who was only stopped by a high tackle. The resulting penalty saw Banton tap and go feeding the ball to Rob Wakelin and then Rich Lewis before Jon Edwards got his retribution by diving over for a try to take the score to 17-10. Burton were now playing with much more zest and power with quickly taken tap penalties from a string of Leigh infringements. A Burton scrum on their 10 metre line saw Banton put in a fine high kick that was chased by Hayles who narrowly missed catching it but the ever supporting Gilmour was on hand to take the bouncing ball one handed and then race in from thirty metres out sprinting the Leigh defence. Banton’s conversion now gave Burton a 24-10 lead before each side added a penalty to their scores and at 27-13 things looked rosy for Burton. But loose play and lack of ball retention saw Leigh’s Wilcock race clear again to score and convert another try just on half time to put the score at 27-20.

The restart again saw Whitworth assisted by Tim Barker and Chris Ariss take the ball and set up a solid base for the Burton pack to continue rolling forward. But Leigh were penalised for pulling down this maul and Burton put the ball into touch down in the Leigh half. This pattern continued for the next 15 minutes as Leigh continually were penalised for either slowing the ball down or dropping mauls with the end result being a yellow card for their flanker Grainey. Banton added three points to Burton’s total for this offence taking the score to 30-20. However, this tactic did manage to stop any flow to the game and also resulted in no points being scored although the defences of both sides were on top stopping any try threatening moves. During this time credit must be given to the excellent defensive work Simon Spencer, Jon Edwards, John Philliskirk, Matt Tivey and Rich Lewis had helped keep the Burton line intact and to the tenacity of the Burton front row of Tim Barker, Chris Ariss and Rob Wakelin who scrummaged superbly and were always on hand to make those extra hard yards. A silly late challenge on the Leigh fullback Bentham gave Wilcock the chance to add another three points to his personal total but Banton kicking a penalty from in front of the posts to keep 13 points in front at 36-23 soon cancelled this out.

Despite a spirited last five minutes from Leigh when they camped in the Burton 22 this marked the end of the scoring and gave Burton a well earned and deserved 36-23 victory that sees Burton enter the draw as one of the last sixteen for the next step to Twickenham.

Burton deservedly took the points in this scrappy encounter with Stoke but will be disappointed that the score count was not higher, especially with results elsewhere. Malvern lost at home to Hinckley and Kenilworth came to grief at Newbold. Burton now share top spot with Malvern and Hinckley but lie in third place due to their inferior points difference, but still have a game in hand. Next week's game at Malvern becomes ever more important as the season reaches half way.

The game started brightly with both teams seeking dominance. It was the Crofters who struck first. Burton won two early penalties. The first found touch but Stoke held the drive from the lineout. The second saw Darryl Banton tap and run and jink almost 30 metres through the visiting defence. He was unsupported and lost the ball. However the relieving kick came to Ady Hayles on the right wing. Hayles stormed across the field outflanking the Stoke back line and passed to Banton on the overlap who returned the ball inside for Hayles to score an excellent try. Jon Leason converted for a 7-0 lead on 7 minutes.

Banton was heavily involved in most of Burton's work as he chose to work with the back row to gain ground. He harried Stoke scrum half Bore at a scrum who was penalised for holding on, but the penalty was missed.

However from the restart Nick Thurman took the ball who then released Jon Edwards to gain ground. He found Alex Gray on the break who released Charlie Maunder to score on 18 minutes. Leason converted for a 14-0 lead.

The Crofters were well on top but failed to take the opportunity to add to their score in the first half. Thurman and impressive debutant and fellow prop Stuart Saunders dominated their own lineout and disrupted and turned over the visitor's. But the Stoke front five were limiting the Crofters maul. When Stoke did venture forward excellent home tackling pushed them back. Burton were becoming guilty of overcomplicating their running play.

Stoke winger Thomas benefited from a breakdown and must have expected to score as he burst through from halfway. However Hayles' pace saw him catch and haul down his opposite number. Hayles then chased Banton's kick and flicked the ball inside for Chris Arriss to release Gray on another good break. John Philliskirk's overlap on the right wing was stopped by a fine tackle from Stoke No 8 Brown.

Stoke were awarded a penalty as the half ended that full back Wilson missed and Burton looked comfortable with a modest 14 point lead after their first half pressure.

Burton moved up a gear at the start of the second half. Philliskirk just failed to capitalise on a Leason kick. Then Thurman's lineout catch and drive saw Maunder held up on the break. The ball was recycled and Gray's long pass found Hayles on the wing where he was unstoppable from 15 metres to put Burton into a 19-0 lead on 43 minutes.

The Crofters maul started to dominate and Edwards strong break saw Banton held. Stoke were beginning to leak penalties as they denied the Crofter's pressure. Leason put Burton further ahead at 22-0 with a penalty on 60 minutes.

Burton continued to press but again were seeking the difficult options. Maunder, Matt Tivey and Gray all tested the Stoke defence, but the Crofter's back three were given little opportunity to use their pace and power.

Leason kicked another penalty for a 25-0 lead as Stoke again transgressed as Burton pushed forward.

The Crofters seem to take their foot off the pedal as the game came to a close. Stoke prop Goddfrey began to push his pack forward as Burton had to defend deep for the first time. Scrum half Bore sniped through the home defence to score on 77 minutes and Wilson converted to bring the score to 25-7.

While the result was never in doubt Stoke continued to push and only a last ditch tackle by John Pritchard prevented another try as the game ended.

A cool and breezy afternoon saw Burton face Malvern at Spring Lane in a repeat of the contest three weeks earlier at Peel Croft that had seen Malvern end Burton’s two year unbeaten home run. From the kick-off it was obvious that with one exception, who was still wiping the sleep from his eyes, the Burton team could only see one result as they went all out to reverse that earlier defeat and were in no mood to be intimidated into leaving without a victory and the two league points. With Burton’s loyal band of supporters, having travelled by car, coach and train, outnumbering and out cheering the Malvern ones the atmosphere for the Burton side was more like a home fixture, what a help this support was to the Burton team as every play they made resulted in a cacophony of noise while Malvern’s efforts received only meek applause. The whole Burton team played with a spirit that didn’t know the meaning of defeat and produced a victory that must rank as one of their finest of the season and will certainly send shivers down other contenders for the league title.

With Malvern kicking off a good take by Mark Tweddle saw the hosts penalised and Ian Gilmour’s boot took play up to the Malvern 10 metre line, however Burton lost the line-out and Malvern set up a rolling maul that took them 10 metre forward. From here their halfback put in a high kick that was caught by John Philliskirk who made ground before setting up a ruck, from which the ball was spun out along the Burton back line to Adie Hayles who raced 60 metres before flat footing the Malvern full back Longley with a side step inside that took him to within 10 metres of the post as he grounded the ball for a try. John Leason coolly slotted over the conversion to give Burton a 7-0 lead after just five minutes. From the restart Malvern were again penalised but Burton let them off the hook as they then were penalised for stupid use of the boot and Longley’s boot put Malvern into the Burton 22 for the first time in the game. Good tackling by Matt Tivey and John Leason was cancelled out by Burton being penalised for handling in the ruck and Longley stepped up to put three points on the board for Malvern after 15 minutes. A passage of play then saw some aimless kicking by Burton that did little to relieve pressure and gave Malvern the chance to counter attack and from one such attack a penalty for a high tackle saw Longley again add points to the Malvern score line. Minutes later another penalty on the Burton 10 metre line saw Longley add another penalty and put Malvern in front 7-9.

The Burton restart saw Will Forrester leap high into the air to catch the ball and feed to James Hamilton, who set up the maul and quick ball to Gilmour saw him feed inside to Alex Gray who weaved past three defenders before being stopped by the fullback but he deftly fed the ball to Matt Tivey, who moving like an express train raced to touch down under the posts. The sure boot of John Leason added the extra points to re-establish Burton’s lead at 14-9. The restart saw Nick Thurman take the ball and feed to Gray who cleared the ball to the Burton 10 metre line. A great steal by Thurman at this lineout saw the ball put into touch on the Malvern 22. But Burton could not sustain the pressure, and despite Malvern having a man sin-binned, allowed Malvern to came back into the game with some surging runs into the Burton half and while the Burton defence held firm with excellent tackles by Simon Spencer, Jon Edwards and John Philliskirk once again the referee adjudged Burton to be guilty of two misdemeanours that gave Longley the chance to stoke home two more penalties and put Malvern into a 14-15 lead as the half-time whistle sounded.

The second half saw Burton start with Will Forrester again getting up to the ball and tapping it to Stuart Saunders who charged forward supported by Chris Ariss and Jamie Hamilton and as they finished Ian Gilmour broke through only to be stopped in his track as the referee, for some unknown reason, awarded Burton a penalty and so Burton had to settle for three points from Leason’s boot to retake the lead at 17-15. After this score the second period of play saw each team struggling to obtain superiority and no quarter was asked or given by either side, but Burton’s defence was superb and at no time was the line threatened. In fact when a Malvern player broke through the first line he would be immediately caught by not one but two or three Burton players as they battled with a spirit and belief that nothing would ever pass them. During this time Simon Spencer was sin-binned, but the deadly boot of Longley was off target, although a second sin-binning, this time for Jon Edwards, saw Burton reduced to 13 men and also saw Longley add 3 points to take Malvern into an undeserved lead. But Burton’s thirteen men did not know when to give up and even a scrum on the Burton line saw then pushed back the full strength Malvern pack and relieve pressure by putting the ball out on the halfway line. With five minutes remaining Burton got back to full strength and soon started to surge forward into the Malvern ranks with Saunders, Tweddle, Forrester, Hayles, Philliskirk and Edwards all making good yards as the whole team battled to get that vital score. A powerful run by Tivey took play deep into the Malvern 22 and this time the referee penalised a Malvern player and John Leason stepped up to slot home a penalty to keep his 100% target for the day and give Burton a deserved lead of 20-18. The restart saw Malvern surge into the Burton pack but it held firm and with Thurman and Saunders stealing Malvern lineout ball plus the srummage disrupting Malvern’s effort’s Burton were content to play possession rugby and run down the last five minutes confident that the game was theirs.

The final whistle signalled an end to this fantastic contest that had seen Burton show their true character as they battled back time and again from being behind to overcome and ground down opposition, whose only response was the boot of the fullback. The whole Burton squad must be congratulated on their resolve and on this form other teams will now know that Burton can take on and beat anyone from their own league, particularly with the fantastic support whose travelling exploits were rewarded by this superb victory and thoroughly enjoyed witnessing a performance like this one.