Walsall were full of confidence after a very successful league campaign finishing second in the Midlands 1 West league with a young team that, on this evidence, will improve in time. Burton were made to work hard for their deserved victory but there were promising signs that form was at last returning as they scored almost 50 points to book their place in the final against Stoke, which is scheduled for Saturday 29 April.
Burton kicked off the game with a deep kick that was returned almost to halfway for a Burton throw at a line-out on the left. Having secured possession, Burton looked to move the ball wide early on but a good tackle in midfield resulted in a ruck where Burton were penalised for killing the ball. A second penalty followed immediately in the next phase and Burton were in danger of making things difficult for themselves not for the first time this season. Things then settled down and the game started to fluctuate either side of the half-way line as the two teams sized each other up.
The first points of the game went to the home side after about 10 minutes when Chaz Bunting landed a penalty kick from just inside the Walsall 10-metre line. Burton 3-0 Walsall. The penalty count against Burton continued to be high and prevented them from getting any real flow into their game. Walsall were able to use these to gain territorial advantage without having to work particularly hard. Eventually one of theses penalties was in a kickable position and they were able to level the scores after almost 20 minutes. Burton 3-3 Walsall.
From the deep re-start Walsall cleared with a kick to touch but against the wind only just outside their own “22” on the left. A good catch and drive set up a rolling maul which Walsall collapsed to hand another penalty to Burton. This set up another driving maul for Burton and Tommie Collingwood scored close to the posts. Bunting added the conversion to take Burton back into the lead after 27 minutes. Burton 10-3 Walsall.
Walsall showed real character and commitment as they went in search of their first try of the game but it took some time for them to break through the Burton defence, which was holding up well at this stage of the game. After 35 minutes Walsall got their try wide on the right following some sustained pressure on the Burton line. The difficult conversion just missed its target, so Burton still held a 2-point lead. Burton 10-8 Walsall. It was then Burton’s turn to apply the pressure and they were rewarded with their third try on the stroke of half-time when George Abel broke through to score close to the posts. Bunting converted and Burton took a 9-point lead into the break. Burton 17-8 Walsall.
The second half commenced Burton failing to claim the kick-off but Walsall then knocked-on giving burton the put-in at a scrum just inside their own “22” on the right. Walsall had the fist opportunity to put points on the board as they opted to kick for goal following a penalty but the attempt just missed to the left and Burton had a 22-metre drop out. An attempted kick from Walsall deep into the Burton half went straight into touch following the drop out so Burton were awarded the throw at a line-out just inside the Walsall half on the left. Great handling by the Burton backs from left to right ended with Tristan DeJager scoring to the right of the posts after 12 minutes. Bunting converted and Burton increased their lead further. Burton 24-8 Walsall.
Burton were soon back in the danger zone and finding themselves under severe pressure Walsall were rather harshly penalised for collapsing a maul on their own try-line and the referee awarded Burton a penalty try after 56 minutes. Burton 31-8 Walsall. The re-start saw the all too familiar mistake from Burton gave Walsall the put-in at a scrum in the centre of the pitch. Walsall had an opportunity to reply quickly but a good catch from Collingwood in the line-out meant Burton regained possession deep in their own “22”. Having made their way almost back into the Walsall half Burton were then frustrated by their own poor handling which resulted in a turnover for Walsall. They made amends shortly after this though with a great handling move from right to left then left to right with Jack Neale scoring just to the right of the posts after 67 minutes. Bunting just missed the conversion against the wind, but Burton now had a commanding lead. Burton 36-8 Walsall.
Burton began to relax a little more now and produced some of their best rugby for some time as their confidence returned much to the liking of a the home supporters. Burton’s next opportunity came following a “no-arms” tackle from Walsall and Jamie Dutton kicked to the 5-metre line on the right. The line-out was well executed and another try was inevitable as Collingwood got his second with 8 minutes remaining. The wind got the better of the attempted conversion, but Burton had passed the 40 points mark. Burton 41-8 Walsall.
With this Burton threw caution to the wind and scored what was probably the best try of the game with 6 minutes remaining. The ball was moved from right to left and received by DeJager who showed his blistering pace to outstrip the Walsall defence well inside his own half. He continued his run and eventually linked well with Bunting in support who the finished off a superb effort close to the posts. Bunting made no mistake with the easy conversion. Burton 48-8 Walsall.
With the result in no doubt Burton switched off a little and Walsall kept going to produce two tries before the end of the game, one of which was converted to make the final score Burton 48-20 Walsall.