Derby 3rds/4ths 12 Burton 'B' 6 on 26th April 2008

Playing a somewhat better quality side to that expected the Burton ‘B’ XV took on a Derby 2nd/3rd XV for their final game and although losing 12-6 on paper this end to a truly fabulous season was actually a moral victory that showed the spirit of this side.

Despite the many second team players in the opposition ranks Burton took the play to their hosts and proceeded to astound an over confident Derby team as time and again they swarmed all over the opposition. Ian Fitzgerald played like a blood starved vampire to completely outplay and destroy his opposite number. While Martin ‘Sheep’ Bird gave his first team opposition a lesson in front row play. But despite all this pressure the only points Burton could muster was two extremely well struck penalty goals from Pat ‘Wilko’ Winter to give them a 6-0 lead. Just before the break and totally against the run of play Derby got an unconverted try from a breakaway to narrow Burton’s lead to just one point at the break.

With the opposition fitter and younger than the Burton side the second period of play proved to be a tough battle for Burton’s ageing legs at the end of this long season. Some great tackling by Ben Stone, Lee Gilleland, Chris Lycett and Simon ‘Fingers’ Collier made the opposition feel like they had been hit by exploding shells and kept the Burton line intact. But with victory within their grasps and only two minutes remaining Burton’s limbs ran out of power and another breakaway saw Derby grad a last minute winning try.

The 12-6 score line was not what Burton had wanted but in the end it was a great game to end a great season and credit should go to all the Burton players