At last the Staffordshire Festival, the pinnacle of the 2008 rugby season was to take place, the postponement caused by the extreme weather had only suspended the suspense a couple of weeks.  The players gathered before 10am for drill and the coaches were called in for the draw for the pool matches. 

From the moment drill started one suspected that this might be a good day of Burton rugby.  The lads drove hard at the mats and seemed determined to please the coaches during rooking and passing drills.  The nervous parents looked on and huddled together to keep warm, this was the calm before the storm of competitive festival rugby.

The pool draw saw Burton pitched against two teams they had not met during the season Tamworth and new boys to contact rugby Linley and Kidsgrove.  This heightened the pre-game tension as the lads were facing unknown opposition and the question asked was were they up for it.  With the words ‘this is the day for big plays and big hearts’ (Adam) ringing in their ears, the competition began.

 Pool A Match 1: Burton 15 (10) v Tamworth (0) 0

Tries: Joshua Hart 2, James North

The game started with both teams losing the ball in early rooks and both teams took a few minutes to calm their early nerves.  The break through came from a Burton line out, as Charlie Quarterman and combined with James North to run the ball at the Tamworth defensive line. Great support play by Alex Dutoy and Joshua Wright cleared the first daylight for the Burton offence and Joshua Hart took full advantage as he split their line from close range and opened the scoring for Burton.  This settled the Burton nerves and the second came after a big tackle from Jacob Abrahams gave Burton the put in at scrum.  The ball was switched from Sam Willets to Joshua Hart and the direct line at full gas saw Joshua score his second try. 

The second half saw Tamworth fight for a response, however, Burton would not yield in the tackle and no headway was made.  Dominic Phillips snuffed out a good passing move when he drove the Tamworth wing into touch.  James North, Joshua Hart and Sam Willets tackled hard in the centre and no quarter was given.  Jonathon Kingston replaced  Alex Dutoy (injured tackling) and was soon in the thick of the action as he drove the ball forward supported by Dominic Phillips and Oliver Corbett.  The ball was presented to James North close to the try line and he obliged with the third Burton try.  The whistle went and Burton had passed their first test by scoring three tries and conceding none.   

Man of the Match : Dominic Phillips (always seemed to be  wherever needed).

 

Pool A Match 2: Burton 30 (20) v Linley and Kidsgrove 0 (0)

Tries: Jonathon Kingston, Dominic Phillips, Oliver Corbett, Joshua Wright, Cameron Scobie, William Hulbert

L and K were unknown quantity and surprisingly chose the Staffordshire Festival to record their first competitive game.  However, you have to play what is in front of you and Burton certainly obliged.  L and K were tentative at first and the first Burton possession saw Jonathon Kingston receive a pass from Charlie Quarterman and he drove straight through the L and K line for a try.  A hard tackle from Oliver Corbett turned ball over straight from the re-start and Dominic Phillips picked up and drove over for the second.  A few moments later Burton forced another turn over and from the resulting scrum Oliver Corbett weaved himself through two tackles to score the third.  Just before half time Calum Launchbury and Cameron Scobie combined to maul the ball forward and Joshua Wright was presented the ball and scored from close range. 

The second half saw replacements Nadan Cox, William Hulbert and John Robson soon in the thick of the action as Burton made tackle after tackle.  L and K never gave up (to their credit) and Burton had too play more hard rugby.  Jonathon Kingston drove forward and passed to Calum launchbury who ran the ball at the L and K defence before setting ball up for Cameron Scobie to show pure determination to register the fifth Burton try.  In the final minute a good running passing move involving Nadan Cox, John Robson and Jacab Abrahams allowed William Hulbert the momentum to get over the line in the corner.  Burton 30 points Linely and Kidsgrove 0.  Another great defensive display and another clean sheet.        

Man of the Match: Oliver Corbett (worked hard throughout and a great try)

Burton finished top of their pool and still to concede a try.  However, everyone there knew this was just the beginning and tougher games were to follow, as Burton were pitched against the other two Pool Group winners Stoke and Stafford for the ultimate trophy and resulting title ‘best team in Staffordshire 2008’.

Staffordshire Festival 2008 Trophy Group A.

Match 1: Burton 5 (0) v Stoke 0 (0)

Try: Joshua Hart

This was recognized by the coaches as the toughest test for the Burton lads.  Stoke were a big physical side and had won the Staffordshire Festival for the past two years. 

The game started as predicted no quarter given and none expected.  Both teams put in big tackle after big tackle and the ball moved slowly up and down the middle of the pitch.  The early pressure came from Stoke, however, the hard work by James North, Charlie Quarterman and Oliver Corbett gave them little room to run ball.  Once more Dominic Phillips as last man drove the ball carrier in to touch.  On the other wing Joshua Wright and Sam Willetts combined to foil another promising Stoke forward move.  Burton weathered the storm and as the half time whistle approached began to assert themselves upon Stoke.  Jacob Abrahams and Oliver Corbett combined and for a moment it looked like James North was through before Stoke stopped Burton just short of the line.  The half time whistle went and although the scores were level, Burton were just edging closer and closer to opening the scores.

The second half was once more a bruising affair as tackle followed tackle, this was a game for big hearts and most of all big tackles.  Jonathon Kingston supported by James North and Sam Willets drove the ball forward.  Stoke handled the ball in the rook and Burton received a penalty on the half way line.  From the penalty Dominic Phillips ran at the Stoke line, a missed tackle and Burton made ground.  Alex Dutoy was on hand to pick up from the rook and he ran hard at Stoke and passed to Oliver Corbett who passed to Joshua Hart.  Joshua collected the pass with forward momentum on an angled run, one, two tackles broke and gaining speed he went through the Stoke line and scored an excellent try.  Stoke are not a team to give up and for the last two minutes they drove time and time again at Burton.  Burton were in no mood to surrender the advantage and stood firm and to a man defended to the end.  The whistle blew, Burton had won, we all now believe we can do it.

Man of the Match: Alex Dutoy (never flinched in the tackle and drove the ball forward to set up the try)

Match 2: Stoke 0 (0) v Stafford 0 (0)

The result between Stoke and Stafford left Burton in poll position.  If Burton could avoid defeat they would be Staffordshire Festival champions.

Match 3: Burton 15 (0) v Stafford 0 (0)

Tries: Joshua Hart 2, Oliver Corbett

Stafford were another very big and physical side and Burton would have to be big and disciplined if they were to get the result required.  The directions from the coaches was get low in the tackle and be big in the heart. 

The game started as the Stoke game did with both teams giving their all.  Jacob Abrahams and Sam Willetts showed the way to bring down those bigger with good low binding tackles.  The Stafford tactic was to maul the ball forward and at first gained ground by using their big centres too carry the ball forward.  Again Burton showed defensive steel and big tackles from James North and Joshua Wright foiled Stafford as they ran from the maul.  The half was closing but once more Burton were finishing the stronger team and were gaining ground coming forward.  Half time finished scoreless but expectations were growing. 

Burton came out of the half time huddle and were ready to finish the job.  Unfortunately for Stafford
they were not switched on and were very soon punished.  From the off Sam Willetts passed to Joshua Hart and his awareness gave him the momentum to burst through the Stafford line and leave them trailing as he registered the first try of the game.  This was the turning point and Stafford never recovered.  A minute later Oliver Corbett and Charlie Quarterman combined to drive the ball forward.  From the rook Jacob Abrahams fed Joshua Hart who broke two tackles before scoring his and Burton’s second try.  The momentum was with Burton; however, for the first time Stafford broke a couple of tackles and closed in on the Burton line.  Once more Burton kept them out and Dominic Phillips and Alex Dutoy drove them over into touch.  From the line out Joshua Hart and James North moved the ball forward.  The ball broke loose and Oliver Corbett picked up and finished in style to give Burton a three try cushion.  The final whistle blew and the tension was over.  The lads faces told the picture as they all (including the replacements) celebrated in the middle of the pitch, as did the coaches (even scary had a smile).  Burton were Staffordshire Festival Champions, and now the undisputed best team in Staffordshire 2008.   

Man of the Match: Joshua Hart (two very well executed tries and hard tackling throughout).

Final Table

Team	Won	Lost	Drawn	Tries Scored	Tries Conceded	Points
Burton	2	0	0	4	0	4
Stoke	0	1	1	0	1	1
Stafford	0	1	1	0	3	1

Burton Rugby Football Club under 9’s won the Staffordshire Festival and are now the Champions of Staffordshire 2007/8.

Men of the Festival: Joshua Hart (crucial tries and always a threat) & James North (never missed a tackle).

Burton Under 9’s strategy has always been to have 2 equal squads and to pick a squad of 15 to play in the Staffs festival.  Rugby is a team game and great teams come from great squads.  The Staffordshire Festival win was the result of the hard work put in by all the Burton under 9 players over the season (not just those involved at the festival).  Every under 9 player should be proud that we are County Champions and hopefully we can build on this next year.

Well done to everyone.