Burton U14's  on 17th February 2008

Ashby 10    Burton Lions 22

On a sunny frosty morning Burton Lions travelled to Ashby hoping to improve on two recent narrow defeats. Early on a fast pace and good handling from both teams set the standard. Ashby were awarded a penalty and a large forward ran through without being touched until Matt Prince tackled him on the line, but couldn’t prevent him grounding the ball giving Ashby the lead.  Ashby went 10 – 0 up after their winger rounded off some fine passing to score their second try. In the past Burton heads would have dropped but from a high drop kick restart by Seb Chesterman, Sam Wardega was able to catch the ball and burst through to score Burtons first try (10 – 5 at half time).

In the second half Ashby almost scored a third but Prince did another brave tackle to knock the player into touch. Burton though played some excellent rugby and Jack Champney picked up the ball after good forward pressure and stormed over to level the score, in fact Champney, who was making his debut had a great game with some powerful runs and making numerous tackles. Both Burton and Ashby had played throughout in an evenly contested hard fought clean game. Burton pack, led by Will Lord, started to take control. They were winning scrums against the head.

Burtons hard work paid off when Wardega went on a surging run out of defence beating several players, and when stopped offloaded to James Walker running at pace in support, Seb Chesterman was then able to take the ball and weaved his way past the defenders to score Burtons third try giving Burton the lead 15 – 10. This lifted Burton even more and a fine move with the ball passed between Tom Bunting, Owen Farrington, Connor Clare and Chesterman (twice), saw Chesterman score his second try which he converted to give Burton a well deserved 22 – 10 win. Well done to all the Lions, all had been totally committed.

Burton Stags 39     Tamworth 14

This was the third time Burton had played Tamworth this season. Burton had won the first matches , the most recent quite convincingly .However any thoughts that this was going to be an easy victory were dispelled as Tamworth scored an excellent try in the early minutes of the game. As the conversion went over Burton realised it was game on. Burton responded well but found Tamworth very committed in defence. However from a powerful run from Alex Bowen, Sam Day collected the ball from the ruck and drove over for Burton's first try . Burton's forwards were starting to play much better and some good rucking from the Burton lads produced the ball for Marcus Armitage who powered through several tackles to score a try converted by Gibbons. As halftime approached  Day found Armitage who crashed through for his second try. And so at half time Burton had a 17 - 7 lead.

After the break Burton started to play some better rugby . They extended their lead with Armitage's third try of the day and this capped an excellent display from the Burton forward. Tamworth continued to play some good rugby but Burton were tackling well Callam Sandeman put in an excellent tackle on the Tamworth flyhalf as he attempted to break from his own 22. Burton's next try came from a scrum and this time the ball was played well down the line and ended with Edwin Runagle going over for a try. Again Burton put the pressure onto Tamworth, Ashley Allum made a great run and set the ball superbly allowing quick ball out to Henry Whitfield. The quick thinking flyhalf saw Tom Hunt in space on the wing and played an excellent cross field kick . Hunt collected the ball and ran over for a try . Tamworth never dropped their heads and put in a period of real pressure. Burton defended their line well with great tackles from James Gibbons and Armitage but eventually the pressure told as Tamworth scored a converted try. However Burton scored the final points. Sandeman made a great run down the wing making lots of ground . He was put into touch but from the lineout Whitfield again tried the cross field kick. This one had a slightly fortunate bounce but found Henry Andrew who kept his cool to collect the ball and then charge over the try line for a try excellently converted by Gibbons.