After an overhaul of the management team, training base and team ethics in the off season the arrival of the first competitive game of the season would answer the questions you can not answer in training.

Burton entertained Stafford in the first round of the Staffordshire cup with the intent to defend the crown they won last year and put in a positive performance. On a bright afternoon perfect for running rugby Burton kicked off and after a clearing kick from Stafford, Burton showed the attacking intent by returning the ball in hand with some strong running from the forwards. A Stafford penalty resulted in Burton having a line out on the 22 after a series of drives the ball was turned over for Stafford to clear only as far as Nick Oxley who returned at great pace bought down inside the 22. Good hands down the line and a great pick up and pas set Loz Betty through, his return pass back inside saw Dave Archer go over next to the posts in the 3rd minute. A conversion he missed which know one realised the significant until the final whistle. This lead to a 6 minute display of clinical and accurate rugby come the home team, with a great plantform from the set piece with good line out all and a powerful scrum that kept Stafford going backwards for the full 80. After returning the ball in hand from kick off and 8 phases of play James Davies hit a great line at speed of the side of a ruck to score from 25 meters. This time a much more difficult conversion Archer made it look easy. Agin from the restart Burton excerted pressure and from a line out inside the 22 after several good carries by the forward the ball was released and Loz Betty hit a powerful line to be stopped a few metres short, quick recycled ball saw Harry Titley score in the corner with Archer converting making it 19-0 after 10 minutes.

Burton then had their worst 10minutes of the game as Stafford got a foot hold with a number of penalties and a spell of territory in Burtons half. Despite the pressure they were under in the set piece they were able to keep hold of the ball and for a retreating scrum spread the ball wide to be held up a metre short and quick recycled ball saw them score in the corner. So after 15 minutes the score was 19-5. Burton went back to basics with powerful drives from lineouts and several scrum turnovers saw them back on the front foot. This resulted in a well deserved forwards try from the highly effective loose head Tom Murphy in the 29th minute. This was followed up by an exceptional try in the 32nd minute a loss ball was picked up by Jack Barry Neale who took the ball forward 15 metres to give the go forward ball, a great clear out and superb scrum half skills by Josh Cartwright the second row set the back line free and releases Tom Benjamin down the wing who drew 3 defenders and with a superb off load set Loz Betty off for his first of the afternoon. The players knew how good a score it was as even had the coaches on their feet for the first time in the afternoon.

With half time approaching Burton where still on the attack and again turned over a Stafford scrum in there own 22 which Burton piled forward and Josh Cartwright with good pick up put down under the posts. Half Time and the score was 40-5

The half time message from the coaches was stick to the structure and patterns and do not allow the game to break up. They also added to the pack by bringing on Ed Henry and Francisco Zeleme.

Straight from the restart Burton were on the attack a great show and go by captain Titley and strong running and off loads by the forwards put Gazzard over for the opening score of the second half in the 3rd minute. A few minutes later the skipper needed no support as he danced through to score. From the restart a deep kick from Stafford was passed along the backbone to the hooker James Davies in space but 75 metres and 3 defenders to beat, with a superb change of pace a few seconds later he was under the posts.

Burton really had the bit between the teeth and despite a needless yellow card by Tom Harris the Burton side were relentless. From a line out a superb line was cut by Loz Betty to gain 40 metres and then some hard running by Gazzard and Neale allowed quick accurate hands for Benji to finish on the opposite wing. It was now a complete Burton show and with great discipline to keep the structure they went through the phases. One resulted in scrum half Eddie Nichollas make a great snipe down the blind side draw the last defender to feed fullback Nick Oxley in support. Again from the restart and turnover scrum Burton launched a backs move from deep made good yards and a storming line from Francisco saw burton in the Stafford half, another show and go by Nichollas and great off load to Murphy saw Burton score again and make it 78-5 with Archers conversation. Soon after Stafford had a scrum on the half way line which Burton again drove backwards, poor ball was then shipped behind their back line which Nichollas pounced to feed billy Peach who have a great pass under pressure to Loz Betty to score. With Archers conversation making it 85-5 the retaliation of a 100 was on with 5 minutes left. This lead to wave upon wave of Burton attacks from left to right and one which found Jack Barry Neale on the wing scorching down the touch line, the recycled ball came back the other way and Francisco on debut hit a great line to touch down on 37 minutes. Again from the Burton attacked and had a scrum on the Stafford 22 a superb back move just held up was recycled and great line and off load by Jack Barry Neale say Gazzard over again to make it 97. Archers covers action making it 99 and with hope of a restart the finale whistle was blown and the reality of the 3rd minute was realised.

At the end of the game the management team where extremely pleased with the result but more important the performance. The head coaches jointly said 'it had been a good day and great result but we still have a long way to go'. In reply the players said 'to see the stand when we scored a try and smile at the end of the game we are making progress, but agree the real tests are yet to come.