A Team victorious against Birstall

The A Team welcomed bottom of the league Birstall to Battlestead Croft for what was a must win for them if they were to put some distance between themselves and todays opposition. Despite their position, at no point in the warm ups or pre match chats did we underestimate Birstall. Their youthful back line looked dangerous and forwards well drilled, a tough game was expected, and that was exactly what the crowd got.

With Birstall electing to kick, Burton were looking to start quick and pin back the visitors, it was however the visiting team who started the better, they collected their own kick off and went on the attack. After a high tackle by Burton, Birstall kicked to the corner, and with less than two minutes on the clock they were ahead after a good driving maul put them over in the corner. 0-5.

With early shock, the young A team had to pick themselves up and start again, they kicked deep and pressurized Birstall, within two minutes their luck paid off, from a Birstall pass the ball seemingly went forward off a burton hand, the ref appeared to miss it and second rower Anton Davidson ran in from 40 metres to get the home team on the board, Kieran Jackson duly converted. 7-5.

With the wind finally in their sails, the backline started to play, probing runs from Josh Lister, Cam Summers & Jacob Ruprecht started unlocking the defence, however the final passes either went to ground or were knocked on. After a strong surge from Tom Lovering, the ball found its way out to Connor Bassest who despite his diminutive stature, handed off two props before crashing over the line. Jackson again converting. 14-5

Birstall attempted to come back with some strong runs from their number 8 but each they were repelled, from a turnover around half way, the ball was quickly spun out to Josh Ballance who showed great footwork to step between two defenders and stroll under the posts, Jackson maintaining his 100% record with the boot. 21-5.

The young guns continued their freeflowing rugby but again could not find the final pass to finish the move and allowed Birstall to start gaining a foothold on the game. They were eventually rewarded with their fullback going over in the far corner after some great interplay. This brought the score 21-10. The remainder of the half was a stalemate with both sides starting to tire. The ref finally blew his whistle and the half time score was;

Burton A's 21-10 Birstall

The second half kicked off in similar fashion, with Burton fluffing the kick off, giving the visitors field position, thankfully the home team were able to repel the next few attacks before a turnover from Dom Taylor relieved the pressure. A penalty kick from Jackson was all they could get from the next attack. 24-10

They fell into the same trap as before, been unable to find the final pass, it eventually fell to prop Callum-Hartland West to carry the ball and three defenders over the line to get the all important bonus point try. Jackson finally losing his 100% record. 29-10

For the next 20 minutes it was all Birstall, with Burton having taken their foot of the pedal and allowing Birstall back into the game. Needless penalties were given away granting the away side territory, during this period, Dom Taylor was yellow carded after too many infringments on the 5 metre line. The pressure eventually told and after several pick and go's, the Birstall prop barged his way over to bring some life back into the game. 29-17.

Burton were under the cosh and still down to 14 men. Some mammoth defence was all that kept Birstall out, from another scrum Connor Hutchinson somehow managed to steal the ball from under his opposite numbers nose and some respite was felt. They managed to clear their lines and went looking to put the game to bed.

It wasn't until the 78th minute that they achieved this, from a Birstall clearance kick, Hutchinson collected the ball and from 40 metres out slotted home the drop goal much to the astonishment of everyone on the pitch and in the stands. 32-17. The ref blew the whistle shortly after and the expected tough encounter came to an end.

A much needed victory after a couple of tough results of recent, the A's turn there attention now to a trip to Mansfield next saturday and hope to use this weeks game as a springboard to more success.