Burton Four represent Stafford to ensure game goes ahead

Burton Under 17`s travelled to STAFFORD RFC in a Staffordshire County League Fixture.

SQUAD LIST

Broberg, Cole, Finney, Furner, Handy, Higginson, Hulland, Marshall, Mason, Millington, Mycock, Pickett, Roden, Sharp, Shaw, Sturgess, Valentine, Welsford, Whitehouse, Williams, Witts.

STARTING LINE-UP

1. Loose Head Prop – Cameron Handy
2. Hooker – Lewis Sturgess
3. Tight Head Prop – Josh Shaw
4. 2nd Row – Ben Hulland
5. 2nd Row – Joe Mycock
6. Blind Side Flanker – Ben Whitehouse
7. Open Side Flanker – Max Williams
8. Number 8 – JJ Broberg
9. Scrum Half – Alex Finney
10. Fly Half – Taylor Millington
11. Left Wing – Ryan Sharp
12. Inside Centre – Sam Valentine
13. Outside Centre – Harry Pickett
14. Right Wing – Sheridan Cole
15. Full Back –Lewis Mason

MATCH REPORT

After a disappointing display last time out, Burton U17’s needed an improved performance to get their league campaign back on track. Stafford RFC had always got the better of the Young Crofter’s but Burton kicked off knowing they faced a stern test. Burton’s kick went high into the sky. Stafford were only able to field 13 players so Abe Furner & Ryan Welsford kindly volunteered to play for the hosts. Welsford was first to the ball driving forward only to be met by JJ Broberg who put in a hard crunching tackle to set up the first ruck. It was no surprise to see fellow guest player Furner flying in to secure the ruck before play was taken down the right.

Burton’s launched their first attack when Joe Mycock wrestled the ball off the opposition & made a half break in mid-field. An infringement by the hosts led to the first scrum of the day. As Stafford’s front row were injured, uncontested scrums were being played so Alex Finney fed the ball in & passed to Taylor Millington. A dummy pass ledto Millington breaking the gain line before off-loading to Harry Pickett. Josh Shaw & Lewis Sturgess combined to pick & go to take it on but the referee penalised The Crofter’s for holding on so possession was lost.

The hosts kicked the ball long down field where Lewis Mason easily took the catch & ran it back beating the first defender. Millington gathered the ball & put in a magnificent kick into the corner. From the lineout Max Williams rose high into the sky to win the ball. Finney fed Millington who dived over to open the scoring. Sam Valentine cooly slotted the conversion straight through the posts.

Burton was very much on top. From the kick off, they were back within the hosts half with debutant Cameron Handy easily breaking through the defence to take it on. Ben Hulland was everywhere on the pitch & putting his share of hard miles but time & time again Burton would spread the ball out wide too quickly & play would breakdown. Stafford were using their kicking game to great effect &another high bouncing ball was picked up by Sheridan Cole before running it back, being held up before forcing himself to the ground to set-up play. Burton’s big forwards moved the ball to the backs but again too often, the backs threw the ball out wide too quickly & Ryan Sharp got tackled into touch.

After 15 mins of constant Crofter’s pressure, Stafford launched their own raid & was duly rewarded with a try in the corner, when some missed tackles led to a score against the run of play. The conversion was missed. This left the score Stafford 5 – 7 Burton at half time.

Stafford 5
Burton 7 (Try – Millington Con – Valentine)

The 2nd half begun with a Stafford kick off. The ball was caught by Sturgess who went galloping forward to be met by new guest player Cole. Remembering Lomu vs Underwood, the result was the same but the two got up afterwards with great smiles on their faces afterwards. Stafford was starting to play some good rugby with Cole having a good run & reliable Mason cutting out all danger. However, nothing could be done about the 2nd phase when the hosts broke free to score under the posts. The conversion was successful.

Burton had to up their game. Ben Higginson came into the fray to provide some power up front with George Roden adding a bit of fizz to the back line. The Crofter’s upped their game & attacked down both flanks. JJ Broberg was like a rampaging bull each time he had the ball taking several players with him with Handy handling proving a righ handful but still the whitewash was not crossed. Even the galloping Valentine was tackled back by Cole who gave his all, this time for the opposition. Even Hulland was jeering his first half colleagues as he played in the same tenacity for Stafford as for Burton. Will Spray came in & used his lighting pace to break free but still Burton could not pull themselves back into the game.

The clock ran down & as Burton faced a narrow defeat,Valentine got close to the gain line & intercepted a pass on 65 mins. He darted over unopposed to score under the posts to draw the sides level. He then stepped up & kicked the conversion to give Burton the lead. The Crofter’s held on to win at the final whistle Stafford 12 – 14 Burton.

Stafford 12
Burton 14 (Tries – Millington, Valentine Con – Valentine 2)

The Academy would like to say a firm welcome to newcomer Cameron Handy who had an outstanding debut for Burton. A further well done goes to Age Group captain Max McKendrick & Tom Benjamin who both travelled the considerable distance to Stafford to support their mates.

However, todays proceedings will be long remembered for the actions of 4 young men. With Stafford only having 13 players, the game was due to be cancelled but Abe Furner & Ryan Welsford during the first half , Ben Hulland & Sheridan Cole during the second, volunteered to represent the opposition to ensure the game took place. When others declined, these 4 stepped forward & showed they just want to play rugby & they want their mates to play also. The Stafford Coaches thanked them for this & so do we. Well done Furner, Welsford, Hulland & Cole.