On Sunday with a number of players either injured or unavailable Burton under 14’s were still able to field two sides for fixtures against Stoke and Coalville.

Stoke 17  Burton 0 on   Nov 18th 2007

Burton under 14s travelled to Stoke to face comparable opposition. In terrible weather conditions Burton started poorly and conceded two early tries with the first being converted. Poor tackling was the main course.  Burton started to settle down mid way through the first half and started to play rugby and started competing for the ball. Sam Wardega set the standard for the Burton players with some big strong runs.

This team again had to adapt with players moving to new positions in the pack. Billy Holdsworth did well playing at 8 and leading with responsibility, and Connor Clare filled in well at prop playing an all important role.

In the second half Burton looked most like scoring from breakaways from movement from the backs. Centre Callum Sanderman looked likely to score but was stopped by Stoke who counter attacked due to Burton unable to ruck them off the ball. The game was end and to end with both sets of supporters enjoying the match in freezing rain.

Adam Cooke moved from wing to full back and showed confidence in attack, picking up from deep and fighting through the Stoke defence. Burton almost scored when Tom Bunting, who had an outstanding game, kicked on a loose ball and the follow up kick went over the try line but he was unable to ground the ball before Stoke touched it down.

Burton were desperate to score and get something from the game their effort and commitment deserved .They frustrated Stoke and themselves at times. Danny Stringer seemed to be everywhere on the pitch making tackle after tackle.

Stoke scored again in the last few minutes of the game with the final score ending Stoke 17 Burton 0.

Burton's positives were 50 minutes game experience for all the players giving them an opportunity to practise what they learn at training.

Coalville 10 Burton 24

In Burton’s other fixture they faced a huge and well organised Coalville side. The players from both sides should be commended for putting on an exciting game with some excellent rugby in horrible wet and freezing conditions. Coalville started strongly and for the first 15 minutes they were camped in the Burton 22. Valiant defence from Burton held them out but eventually Coalville scored. At this point as the wind whistled round, Burton could be forgiven for dropping their heads. But not this side. From the restart Burton just upped their game. Twice Burton looked to have scored but both were given as held up. But eventually Henry Whitfield scored the try that the side deserved to make the half time score Coalville 5 Burton 5.

If the Burton lads weren’t cold enough the second half was played into the wind. The whole of the Burton side started to play some outstanding rugby. Winning a scrum against the head there was some great interplay to set up Alistair Weedon to score. Coalville scored next with a solo effort from their immense number 8. Again though, a Coalville try only served to spur Burton on. With no feeling in any of the backs fingers due to the cold, the superb handling skills from each of the Burton backs were hard to believe. The forwards were all over the park supporting each other ,and their effort resulted in a 25m rolling maul. With Burton on the ascendancy a try looked certain to come. The ball was passed down the line and Joe Bird put a great pass in to set up Ross Burrows to power through the defensive line to score a try well converted by James Gibbons. The match was sealed when Henry Whitfield used a dummy pass to create a gap and score his second try also converted by Gibbons. This was an all round team performance, from a team full of character. When the final whistle came the spectators were not sure if the cheer from the Burton lads was celebrating a hard fought victory or the fact they could finally get a warm shower.