Burton travelled to Oxford Harlequins to play their first game in the Papa John’s Community Cup hoping to put behind them their poor finish to the league season. Oxford had suffered a big loss at Tring the previous week whilst Burton were awarded a walkover win following Bournemouth’s decision to withdraw from the competition. Late changes to the Burton team saw Cyrus Griffiths start at scrum half and Andy Brown brought in on the wing. There were welcome returns to action for Will Simpson at full-back and Lewis Sturgess at No.8 along with the inclusion of young prop Eddie Brown.
Conditions for the game were almost perfect with very little wind and temperatures just a little higher than of late. The synthetic “4G” pitch added to the expectation of a fast pace and lots of handling rugby, which would certainly suit the visitors. Burton kicked off the game with a deep kick into the Oxford half and Burton were soon enjoying a vast majority of possession and territory in the early stages. The home side were defending very effectively though, and Burton found it difficult to progress into the danger zone. Gradually they did manage to force their way close to the try line but were penalised for not releasing in the tackle. This pattern continued for almost 10 minutes before Oxford were able to get into the Burton half following an excellent kick for touch from the latest penalty.
A box kick from Burton went a little too deep and Oxford ran the ball back with some style and pace exploiting Burton’s defensive weakness and scored the game’s first try in the 10th minute. The conversion was added to take the score to Oxford Harlequins 7-0 Burton. There was then a period of time where play was concentrated around the centre of the pitch as both sides continued to check each other out in an effort to determine the most effective way of overcoming their opponents. Burton still enjoyed the greatest proportion of possession but found it exceptionally difficult to make any telling breakthrough.
In the 15th minute however Oxford Harlequins scored their second try of the game, again showing some very slick handling skills combined with serious pace. This time the conversion was missed meaning the score now stood at Oxford Harlequins 12-0 Burton. Things got worse for the visitors as Oxford Harlequins made a rare visit close to the Burton try line, and the referee spotted a deliberate knock on by a Burton player with the try line begging and awarded the home side a penalty try after 25 minutes. Oxford Harlequins 19-0 Burton. With Griffiths shown a yellow card for that Burton had to reorganise their backline with Jamie Dutton moving to scrum half, Adam McLean at fly half and Andy Martin coming off for the allotted 10 minutes.
From the re-start a similar pattern in the game continued with Burton enjoying much of the territory and possession but still could find no way through the home defence. What was more concerning for the Burton supporters who had made the 2 hour journey to Oxford was the ease with which Oxford were able to carve their way through the Burton defence only for a knock-on deep inside the Burton “22” ending that passage of play with a scrum to Burton. Despite the scrum going back at an alarming rate Burton were able to clear their lines and were then awarded a penalty for some back-chat from the home team. Dutton’s excellent touch kick took Burton all the way up the home 10-metre line on the right.
Burton once again got themselves into a good position but were made to work very hard for every metre they gained. With the Burton pack able to exert constant pressure on the home try line a number of penalties were committed by them and the referee eventually issued a yellow card to the home team, but surprisingly no penalty try. Eventually in the 33rd minute, Burton got their reward as James Davies touched down and Dutton was successful with a difficult conversion. Oxford Harlequins 19-7 Burton.
This time it was Oxford Harlequins turn to make a very positive response and another good handling move took them deep into the Burton “22” only for it to be ended when a crossing offence was penalised by the referee very close the Burton try line. Simpson cleared well with the penalty kick to give Burton the throw at a lineout at their own 10-metre line on the right. Burton’s work rate and effort was outstanding and this was winning them plenty of penalties which despite a strengthening breeze they were able to relieve pressure on themselves. Just before half time Burton came very close to scoring their second try of the game as they moved the ball through the backs very nicely from left to right to create an overlap but Andy Brown was forced into touch a couple of metres short of the line. With that came the referee’s whistle for the break.
The second half started with a penalty to Burton directly from the kick-off as Davies was taken out without the ball. Dutton cleared up to the Burton 10-metre line on the left. It was pleasing to see that they were eager to try and reduce the deficit as quickly as possible and clever game management took them almost immediately deep into the home “22”. With their own throw at a line-out the Burton pack took full advantage of their dominance in this area and scored a second try in the 2nd minute. Simpson took over the kicking duties but pulled the kick slightly to the left but Burton were back within one score Oxford Harlequins 19-12 Burton.
The home team were beginning to look a little rattled at this stage and this was compounded at another home line-out soon after when Cal Donnelly caught superbly to give the possession back to Burton. He was unceremoniously dumped to the ground and Simpson sent the resulting kick to touch on the home 5-metre line to give Burton another scoring opportunity. They were not going to let this opportunity pass and despite the maul being collapsed and another yellow card issued to the home team Burton eventually went over on the left for their third try with Davies again getting the touchdown after 50 minutes. Simpson was not able to add the conversion, but Burton were well and truly back in the game Oxford Harlequins 19-17 Burton.
Their defensive frailty almost resulted in the dangerous looking home backs getting their bonus point try in the next assault on the Burton try line but were forced into touch 5 metres short of the Burton line. The visitors had a lot more defending to do over the next few minutes and thankfully they were able to keep a now rampant home team from adding to their score. Burton thankfully were now defending better and in doing so forced Oxford Harlequins to over play a little. A great interception by Alex Nesbitt saw him break away but he was denied a try by a very good chase back and tackle just 5 metres out. Nesbitt was injured as he fell onto the unforgiving surface and had to leave the field for the remainder of the game. More re-organisation saw the re-introduction of McLean at fly-half with a limping Dutton being moved to the wing.
The game re-started with a scrum following an Oxford Harlequins knock on and it was Burton who piled on the pressure with a great forwards drive which resulted in the award of a penalty. The kick from Simpson set-up another 5 metre catch and drive opportunity which unsurprisingly Davies finished off with his third try of the match and secured Burton a try bonus point. This time Simpson converted to give Burton the lead for the first time in the game with just over 15 minutes to play. Oxford Harlequins 19-24 Burton.
After the re-start Burton were soon under pressure again however and in what seemed like no time at all they had conceded a fourth, bonus point try for the home team. Although this was scored wide on the right the difficult conversion was bang on target meaning the home team had re-taken the lead with about 10 minutes to go. Oxford Harlequins 26-24 Burton. A great follow up to the re-start kick led by replacement Ed Henry resulted in a Burton penalty which was kicked to the 5 metre line, setting up another Burton catch and drive opportunity, which they executed perfectly once again with Davies getting the touchdown yet again. The Simpson conversion was on target but hit the crossbar and bounced the wrong side, but the lead had changed again with 8 minutes left to play. Oxford Harlequins 26-29 Burton.
There was, however, one final twist in this pulsating game. It went the home team’s way as Simpson wrestled for the ball at a breakdown on his own 10 metre line, he was harshly penalised for intentionally slowing play down. The home team kicked to touch close to the Burton line on the left and then manufactured a dramatic winning score with less than 4 minutes to play. Oxford Harlequins 31-29 Burton. Try as they might Burton were just unable to add to their tally and had to settle for two bonus points and sets up a winner takes all clash against Tring at Battlestead Croft next week. Player of the match was given to Cyrus Griffiths who adapted extremely well playing out of position at scrum half.