Burton are now 8 from 9 in the league and again picked up a try bonus point at home to Moseley Oak so there is no change at the top of the league with Bromsgrove also matching the Crofters result. It was another satisfying result for the crofters who outscored their opponents 7 tries to 1 and the result was never really in doubt. Next up are Rugby Lions who have recently returned to level 6 following 4 promotions in succession after they were removed from the RFU league structure due to not being able to pay of their debts in time. This probably had something to do with their successful league season where they gained promotion to level 4 under the coaching guidance of World Cup winner Neil Back and a plethora of high profile players including England 7’s superstar Ben Gollings. But success came at a cost and that was nearly the end of the club which serves as a warning to all clubs at this level that success should never come at the detriment of the club.

Lions sit in 4th place some 12 points adrift of Burton with a record of won 5, drawn 2 and lost 2 with the most recent form being a home defeat to Bromsgrove (19-32) and a draw at Wolverhampton (24-24). Reports suggest their strength is in their pack but this seems to be the norm for season and we have yet to see a pack that can really trouble the Burton eight either in the set piece or in the loose. Even with parity up front this should still allow the Burton backs to carve up their opposition with stats of scoring over 45 points per game.

With no A XV game this week, the coaching team have large number of players to select from although the team who played last week are in pole position to retain the jersey. The only difficult discussion is around loose-head as Tom Murphy is back on the treatment table with a pulled calf and options are limited with only tight heads who are currently fit and available. Another option could be for James Davies to move back to the loose head where is has excelled all season and bring in a hooker. The back row also looks a headache as the trio or Neal, Sturgess and Gorman had solid games last week but waiting in the wings and eager for a return are Taylor, Saunders and Browne. The only injury concern is around Jack Brooks who has a bruised shin.

Team Manager, Jono Edwards, explains:

“For as long as I’ve been involved at the club competition for places in the 1st XV has never been so hotly contested. Each week you could throw together 3 or 4 team combinations and I truly believe we would get the same result and performance on a Saturday. Everyone understands the way we want to play the game and how it needs to be executed and this is being instilled in the players at both 1st XV and A XV as well as the Colts. It means when we have injuries or players not available we have a replacement who can come in an perform at the same level and sometimes better. It means the player is possession of the shirt and who is training regularly deserves to keep his spot and if that means players miss out then so be it. Some of the A XV teams we have put out this season have been frightening as in seasons gone by they would have easily been 1st XV standard”.

The observation made around the AXV and Colts was only emphasised last week as both teams played opposition that were previously undefeated and came away as victors. The Colts won at home to Paviors whilst the AXV travelled down the A38 to Derby RFC who play at level 5 and game away with a 14-10 victory. The result moves Burton to 5th place in the Midlands Reserve League Division 1.

On Saturday it will be a special game for front rower Matt Tivey who will celebrate 250 1st XV appearances for his hometown club. A product of the Mini and Junior section he has represented the 1st XV for the past 16 seasons since his debut in 2002. Apart from the longevity of his career at Burton the more surprising fact is that he started his rugby journey as a three quarters where he combined his pace and power either in the centre or on the wing. Matt played 126 games as a back before the lure of not having to watch his weight so much and playing in the front row was too good to turn down. He transferred his strength to playing prop in the 2010/11 season when Burton were playing at level 5. Since then he has mastered the dark art of front row play and become a destructive player in the set as well as still chipping in with some of his trademark runs in the loose. The last 123 games have been in the front row and when he takes to the field on Saturday he will be only the 34th player in the long and proud history of the club to achieve a 250th tie which commemorates the achievement and held in such high regard by those who have one presented to them. The only question now for Matt is how long he goes on for as there are for sure still a few more seasons left in the old dog.

Burton 1st XV annoucement - https://vimeo.com/242141939