The last 20 minutes prove to be the telling factor in an otherwise even but often hostile encounter with Longton. With Ian Gibson, Gary Potts and ‘Titch’ McHardy more than holding their own against an immense Longton front row some aggressive scrummaging and lineout play produced an evenly contested first half until John Collett surged through the opposition ranks supported by Ian Mellor and Lee Carter. The breakdown produced a Burton penalty and Pat Winter stepped up to bisect the uprights from some forty metres out to give Burton a 3-0 lead at the break.

Unfortunately the second half saw both Mellor and Ben Waldron leave the field injured and although heroic defence by Phil MacFarlane and Lee Cooper was helped by some astute kicking by Sam Large Burton were unable to keep their line intact. The home side rallied on by some vociferous touchline support and strange refereeing decisions made their greater size and numbers tell to score four tries in the last quarter and run out winners 26-3.