Overturned Result

Burton under 17s v Tamworth
27th February 2011 Burton 15 : Tamworth 10

This home-match was played on the Oxhay. The opening period saw good work from the Burton forwards and by the back line in defence as Tamworth came forward. However the first points came from the visitors with a well worked try after 20 minutes play.

On the re-start the Burton backs broke and earned a penalty. The forward drive made it across the line but the ball was held up. Nevertheless, winning a scrum, the ball went down the line and Charles Popp went over for a try in the corner to level the score in a fine piece of play.

The period prior to half time saw a game of attrition as the well matched packs traded drives and hits. However it was Tamworth who came out of the blocks the stronger after the break. Their forwards punched their way steadily down the field, creating a platform for the back line to score a try on the overlap as they went ahead.

Burton continued to absorb pressure and spent a long period in their 22 as Tamworth dominated possession. However their defence held and the Burton line-out was working well as they won a Tamworth throw. Marcus Armitage, back from injury, broke out and with great handling, pace and offloads in the tackle, forwards combined with the backs to cut through their opposition and threaten the try-line on the right-hand side. The move was finished by Sam Halton who went over for the try to level the scores.

The superior fitness of the Burton players began to tell on the wet pitch and Tamworth began to resort to a kicking game. In the dying minutes Allum charged down a Tamworth clearance and Armitage was on hand to pick up the scraps to score the winning try.

Whilst much of the game constituted a highly entertaining forward battle, it was Burton who showed the ability to both absorb the pressure and combine their players with incisive match winning moves when opportunity presented. The team proved to be well deserved winners and can look forward to next weeks trip to Grimsby in the regional competition.