Burton 17 Stafford 12 on   Feb 9th 2008

On a bright sunny day with underfoot conditions perfect for rugby Burton under 16’s faced Stafford in their final pool game in the season’s county cup competition.

Stafford took the kick off with Burton facing into the sun, Burton picked up the ball and the forwards drove back towards the Stafford half. The Burton forwards controlled several phases of play before releasing the backs who ran the ball over through Dewi Williams for their first score, the conversion was missed giving the home team an early 5-0 lead. There followed a long period of scrappy and at time irritable midfield play with neither team’s forwards  able to dominate  in open play sufficiently well  to move gain clean ball. Burton were awarded a penalty 15 yards in front of the posts after Stafford were pulled up for playing the man without the ball. Burton opted to kick for points but unfortunately missed. 

They continued to fight for dominance and their perseverance was rewarded when they put together an excellent move along the back line with Minns breaking through the defence and passing out to Wainman on the wing to run the ball home, the conversion was mossed to leave Burton 10-0 ahead. Stafford replied immediately from the restart with virtually the final move of the half running the ball quickly through an inattentive Burton defense, they missed their conversion making it 10-5 at the turn around.

Burton kicked off the second half and were quickly driving forward into the Stafford 22, following some strong rucking and quick movement of the ball Tattersall run through a try under the Stafford post. The conversion was kicked by Smith, 17-5. A good spell for Burton followed the Stafford constantly under pressure, a great run through after in the fifth minute of the half saw a Burton touch down disallowed for a forward pass on the final ball.

The pressure continued with Stafford continually kicking away o clear their lines and Burton called for holding the ball several times within 10 metre of the line. Unable to clear their lines Stafford changed tactics and tried to run the ball from defence, Burton though, continued to come straight back. A kick through the defence saw Burton attacking the line in numbers. Stafford were forced to touch the ball again denying points t the home team. With little time to go Stockbridge was given a head start to the showers with a yellow card for an off the ball incident, Burton were making substitutions when Stafford took the penalty and ran the ball three quarters the length of the pitch to score and convert with the final move of the game.