For their last game of the season Burton faced Lichfield with a chance to gain some silverware in the final of the Staffordshire Senior Cup at Walsall RFC’s Delves Road ground. After a performance that left much to be desired the game saw then defeated 22-24 and finish second best to a Lichfield side that was dominated up front all game but possessed the pace out wide to exploit any errors Burton made. Unfortunately, as in so many games this season, Burton again lost as they gave away too many presents to the opposition. Simply basic errors, poor tackling and failing to play to a game plan cost Burton dear and without these the Lichfield team would have crumbled into submission under Burton’s total forward domination and control.

Burton kicked-off and a good kick by Dave Archer saw the Burton pack surge forward, like a tsunami, removing everything in front of it as Joel Booth, Jon Edwards, Chris Atchison, Rob Wakelin and Jim Litchfield powered towards the Lichfield line. Under the constant pressure Lichfield conceded a penalty in front of the posts, but a calamity as Archer teed up his kick saw the ball dropped of the tee as he ran to kick so he kicked the rolling ball. This was taken by Lichfield who tried to clear but their kick sailed into Jon Evans’s open arms to start a counter attack with Darryl Banton racing forty metres forward supported by his rampant pack. But when stopped the ball was lost and Lichfield kicked long to clear the danger and as Burton’s defence struggled to control the kick Lichfield’s pacey backs pounced and gathered the ball to race over for a converted try.

Archer’s restart saw the Lichfield catcher caught on his own twenty-two and they scrambled the ball into touch just outside this for a Burton lineout. A great take by Joe Gazzard once again set Burton on the attack as Luke Peach prodded the ball through, but Archer was beaten to the touchdown and so Burton got a five-metre scrum as Lichfield grounded the ball. The referee penalised the Burton pack for an early push so Lichfield cleared to just outside their own twenty-two. From the lineout another good take by Gazzard set his pack in motion as they steam-rollered towards the opposition line. Loose control saw Lichfield turnover the ball and they again kicked deep down field. Where Burton poor control and tackling was again found lacking as the opposition took full advantage of Burton’s disarray and unforced errors to run in and score their second converted try.

So with fourteen minutes played and after two trips into Burton territory Lichfield led 14-0 after the Burton pack had been dominating the game. From the restart Burton won a lineout and after Edwards had won the ball Dan Clarke and Litchfield made ground to feed Archer, who streaked forward with Craig Dutton and Gazzard in support. Eventually ball was taken by Booth and from eight metres out he was not going to be stopped as he drove over for Burton’s first try. Archer added the extra points to take the score to 14-7.

Another great take by Gazzard set up a powerful run by Dutton, who made thirty metres before putting in a high kick. Lichfield caught this kick and countered but good tackling by Lawrence Betty, Dutton and Peach saw the ball gathered by Dave Fitchett who kicked deep into opposition territory. But the bounce beat both Jon Crisp and Banton for Lichfield to clear to just outside their twenty-two. Gazzard, again, took the ball and Evans spun it down the line and Banton came in at centre to race for the line. He was stopped just inches short but from the maul he set-up Clarke emerged todrive over for Burton’s second try and reduce the deficit to 14-12.

For the next twelve minutes the score remained the same with both teams having periods of pressure, but just before the whistle Lichfield got within five metres of the Burton line and to stop a near certain score Edwards illegally delayed the ball and was yellow carded for his actions.

Lichfield got the game underway for the second half, but kicked the ball straight into touch so Burton got a scrum on halfway. Booth fed Evans and as the scrumhalf was stopped Lichfield were penalised and then lost another ten metres for backchat. So Archer stepped up to put his kick directly between the uprights and give Burton a 14-15 lead with just two minutes of the half-gone.

Booth took the restart and fed Peach who put up a high kick that Crisp raced onto, but he just failed to gather the ball and Lichfield got a scrum on their own ten-metre line. They won the ball and spun it out to their backs and thanks to Burton’s woeful tackling raced into the Burton twenty-two. Lichfield support was first to the ruck and re-cycled the ball quickly for one of their forwards to cross over for their third converted try and re-take the lead at 21-15.

Burton, now knew they had a game on their hands and had to stop giving the opposition presents by failing to hang on to the ball and not putting in tackles. In an attempt to change their pattern Burton replaced Atchison, Clarke and Dutton with Steve Cross, Rob Beddard and Ian Gilmour. So with Peach and Gilmour alternating between centre and flyhalf Burton again surged forward from the restart as Litchfield bulldozed his way through defenders to take play to the opposition twenty-two. He passed to Crisp but as the winger raced in for a try he was stopped just inches short by a high tackle, that saw the Lichfield player sent to the sin bin. Burton opted for a scrum and as Booth picked up to drive for the line he found Beddard in support and the hooker crashed over for a first try for Burton 1st XV. Once again Archer added the extra points and Burton now led 21-22 with fifteen minutes remaining.

Rob Wakelin then took his final bow from first team action as Matt Tivey and James Hamilton replaced both him and Litchfield. These both went straight into action after Lichfield had again put the restart directly into touch. So from a scrum on halfway Burton again surged forward for Gilmour to kick deep into the opposition territory. Edwards stole the lineout and set off on a powerful run towards the Lichfield line, but once again the breakdown saw Burton lose the ball and the opposition ran the ball outwide and completely outflanked Burton’s defence. But Archer, seeing the danger, raced sixty metres across from his own wing to put the Lichfield winger down with a superb tackle just two metres short of the line, but a penalty for holding on saw Burton clear to halfway.

Tom Bartram replaced Banton for the last six minutes as Lichfield piled on the pressure and as Burton were caught offside in front of their posts the Lichfield kicker stepped up to put the ball over the bar and give his team a 24-22 lead. Burton stormed forward from the restart but the costly errors and excessive presents they had already given to Lichfield and despite all their efforts they could not get the score that would have given them victory.