Stoke 7 Burton 17 on February 2nd 2008

Under 16s cup matches are rarely dull, but this was one was impressive to watch.
Rumours of a strong Stoke team, a first half against a strong wind, and a weight disadvantage in the pack did not bode well for Burton.

Burton’s task for the first half was to pin Stoke back and wait the second half wind advantage. From the first Burton move they won a free kick and for the next 30 minutes clever play kept Stoke back in their own half.

Both packs took even honours as Stoke dominated at the scrum and Burton continually stole the ball at lineouts.

During the last 10 minutes of the half Stoke had several hard drives sometimes just short of the try line but failed to puncture an impenetrable Burton defence. The first half ended with no score, just after Ed Watkins ran most of the pitch only to be stopped yards from scoring by a last ditch Stoke tackle.

From the start of the second half Burton used the wind to their tactical advantage as Briggs kicked to touch deep into Stoke territory. Ed Watkins broke from the subsequent lineout and Charlie Wainman was there in support to score in the corner within five minutes of the kick-off.

As Stoke tried to reply Jake Manning again pushed them back into their own half with a long kick to touch. The Burton pack then followed with a period of controlled play from which Nathan Taylor broke out to score Burton’s second try.

Losing ten points in ten minutes seemed to galvanise Stoke as they countered with a try and conversion to remind Burton that they still had work to do.

Despite seemingly well-disciplined Burton play, Stoke were awarded the vast majority of referees decisions. It was from a Stoke free kick that failed to reach touch that Tom Worthy made a blistering 30 yard dash to put Burton within 15 yards of the Stoke line. The Burton forwards again took control, “sucked” in Stokes defence and created the hole through which Nathan Taylor accelerated to score the final try near to the posts. John Briggs duly converted to make the score 17:7.

A final rally by Stoke was again stemmed by excellent Burton defence and a well-contested game ended with Burton the deserved victors.

A last mention goes to Andrew Tattersall for the greatest distance travelled with his face in the ground and a Stoke player on his head.