Loughborough 0 Burton 19 on January 13th 2008

Playing with a driving wind at their backs, Burton started strongly straight from the kick-off, allowing the home side little time on the ball. Fierce tackling from the pack kept Loughborough on the back foot, and the pressure soon resulted in the first try for the visitors, the first of a brace from Taylor, converted by Smith. His second was the conclusion of a lovely passage of play, seeing the ball passed from side to side with great interplay from Tattersall and Manning. In spite of a determined effort from the home side they were unable to find a way out of their half, and continued Burton pressure was rewarded with a try by Watkins, converted by Smith, ending the half at 19-0.

The team talk at half time warned the players of their challenge of now playing against the wind, and so the second half began with Loughborough piling on the pressure. All attempts at breaching the Burton try line were repulsed, Smith and Martin throwing themselves bravely against bigger opponents. In spite of Loughborough bringing on several pairs of fresh legs their efforts were in vain and the result stayed unchanged at 19-0 to Burton.