This weekend, Burton Cougars travelled to Tamworth RFC for their second Staffordshire County pool fixture.  With both teams improving from season to season and both vying for the top spot in the pool, this was destined to be a war of attrition.

Tamworth kicked off, putting the young ‘Crofters under immediate pressure.  As the Cougars gathered the ball, possession was turned over enabling Tamworth to run in a converted try.  Burton Cougars gathered themselves and put in some good teamwork in attack and defence.   Soaking up the pressure Burton seemed to be getting their teeth into the game when Tamworth were awarded a penalty, the resulting kick at goal extending their lead.  Burton continued to play good heads-up rugby and were rewarded when they put Matty Davies into space.  Despite being deep in his own half he realised his team mates had given him a clear run at the line  and dashed the 60m plus to put Burtons first points on the board. Tamworth put the pressure on once again and were held back by some terrific defensive work from the Cougars on the line.  Tamworth crossed once but were held up, unfortunately for the Cougars, they scored from the resulting 5m scrum.    The first half finished with the Cougars trailing 17-5.

Burton Cougars kicked off the second half knowing that there was little between the teams and ready to work hard to close the gap.  After 5 minutes of dominating the game the Cougars once again found themselves defending their own line holding up a try attempt, the Cougars worked hard when their hosts came back at them from the 5m scrum.  Tamworth were awarded a try despite a Burton player being underneath the player with the ball.  Burton used this opportunity to field their reserves, including several novice players.  To their credit, the Cougars continued to play good hard rugby in attack and defence, their team work was such that there was little difference in the standard of play.  Tom Cooper finished the hard work with a try, with 20 minutes to go, to keep Burton in the shouting.  As team confidence was mounting, Tamworth were given the opportunity to deal a savage blow when they were awarded a penalty, their strong runner crossing the whitewash despite the best efforts of Steve McRobbie who was literally carried 5m.  This passage of play was repeated  just minutes later when the same player scored from another penalty.  Burton kept their heads up and worked hard to close the gap, but were denied by the match officials whistle.

The match finished 36-10 in favour of the hosts.  Unfortunately, this was not a true reflection of the skills and effort deployed by the Cougars but a result of the many refereeing decisions that did not go their way.  Consistently one sided decisions in favour of the hosts cheapened the efforts of a good Tamworth side.

Full credit goes to all Burton players, but not least Adam Tooth who made his rugby debut under difficult circumstances,  Chris Sale, Garreth Chinnock, newcomers to rugby at the start of the season  and Nathan Nixon who all raised their game considerably to keep up the standard of play.