Today is
Under 12's v Syston @ Loughborough on October 28th 2007
From the start of this match it was apparent that the Syston forwards would be a real handful for Burton. The physical superiority of the opposition up front was demonstrated early on with the Burton scrum being dominated from the outset.
Syston took advantage of the efforts of their forwards and were on the attack for most of the first half with Burton seldom able to break out of their own territory. However, skilful and determined defence by the whole team thwarted the onslaught and suddenly a counter attacking opportunity opened up when Elliot Minns, Dan Shaw and Eddy Nichols ran the ball three quarters of the length of the pitch before being stopped just short by the Syston rear guard.
Half Time was reached with the score at 0-0.
The second half started with much more promise as Liam Collett snatched the ball out of the hands of the unwary player receiving the kick-off. In contrast to the first half there was plenty of end-to-end play and the heightened competitive edge lead to a string of infringements from both sides which severely tested the match referee at times.
Burton were extremely unfortunate not to be awarded a try following a sustained attacking move when Tom Winter when over in the corner. With the referee unsighted and unable to adjudge whether a foot was in touch he awarded a 5 metre scrum (with echoes of a recent incident in a certain high profile international).
A short time later a try was awarded to Burton following a period of play where they had completely turned the tables and were controlling the play with a fine display of flowing open rugby. Ben Ward was the try scorer.
Unfortunately a few minutes later a penalty awarded against Burton was severely punished as Syston scored the equalising try.
The balance of both sides looked very different in the second contest although Burton were unable to capitalise on what appeared to be a much stronger forward line up as the scrums were uncontested due to Syston being unable to field two specialist props and a hooker. Even so in the rucking and mauls Burton were generally in clear ascendancy and a string of turn overs and attacking moves sprung from good work by the forwards.
Some superb team work and crisp accurate passing combined with an excellent run by Tom Hamlet lead to the first Burton try.
Syston might have considered themselves fortunate to be only 5-0 down at Half-Time.
Syston beefed up their squad for the second half by substituting a number of their players with their strongest players from the first game. Even so, Burton came flying out of the traps and were stopped agonising close to the try line by some desperate Syston defending.
This half, however, was now more of an even contest and made for an absorbing display with both sides attacking and being repulsed by spirited and courageous defenders.
Burton benefited from Syston nerves as the pressure mounted and a risky pass behind their own try line was fumbled and then pounced on by the quick thinking Jack Rollings.
Syston then counter attacked with a penetrating run down the left hand wing to score. Worse was to come when a late rolling maul by the strengthened Syston forward pack in the dying moments of the game resulted in an equaliser.