On a very dull Saturday afternoon at Peel Croft Burton started this season’s journey in the Staffordshire County Cup and after a tense match against a very pacey Walsall team finished the eighty minutes as well deserving victors to progress in the next round. Having lost to the same side earlier in the season the Burton squad showed that the recent form is here to stay in a match that, despite Walsall’s pace out wide, they controlled throughout taking the lead in the first two minutes and finishing up winners by 31-22. Both sides contained changes from their regular line-ups but as the saying goes a team is only as good as its reserves and the result shows Burton’s strength in depth and ability to mix and match.

Burton’s Dave Archer started the game and as the Walsall pack failed to gather his kick Steve Cross and Ken Archer were on hand to spin the ball out to Dave Archer who raced down the wing before passing inside to Lewis Brooks. The latter was hauled down on the Walsall twenty-two and Burton got a penalty as the opposition slowed the ball. Dave Archer stepped up and made no mistake with his kick as it bisected the uprights to give Burton a 3-0 lead after just two minutes play.

Josh Cartwright took the restart and the home pack surged forward and from the resulting scrum Cross caught the scrumhalf in possession for Ben Peach to feed cousin, Will. He kicked through for Dave Archer and Brooks to chase but the Walsall cover just manage to drop on the ball as it crossed the line. From the dropout Burton were awarded another penalty and Dave Archer again put the ball between the sticks to increase the lead to 6-0.

Walsall came back with vengeance but great cover by Damon Varney, both Archers, Brooks and Cross kept the try line safe, but at times while attempting to clear Burton took wrong options and put themselves in trouble as kicks were charged down or missed touch. From one such poor kick the Walsall centre raced clear and outstripped the cover to touchdown under the posts for a converted try to give his side the lead at 6-7 with only ten minutes played.

Burton continued to dominate possession but just could not get the vital score until Dave Archer raced from inside the Burton half before being caught from behind within five metres of the opposition line. But as the visitors tried to clear Cross charged down the kick and from the resulting five metre scrum Ben Peach broke to feed brother, Luke, who darted between two defenders to score. Dave Archer added the extra points and Burton now led 13-7 with ten minutes until the end of the half.

Another great take by Will Brooks set up Nathan Taylor and Matt Tivey for powerful runs downfield before Mark Ovens broke clear only to be stopped by a high tackle, but for once Archer’s kick was off target. Great control and dominance by Burton saw the home side just fail to score as Ben Peach, Ian Gimour, Luke Peach and Dave Archer all combined to feed Taylor, but the pass from Archer was deemed to be forward as the youngster dived over the line.

During the halftime break Lewis Brooks was replaced by Craig Dutton due to a leg injury as from the opposition kick-off Burton continued to press forward. Dave Archer again raced down the wing and as he was tackled he fed the ball to Will Brooks who made another twenty metres before being stopped. Once again Walsall were penalised and Archer gratefully accepted the chance to add three more points and increase Burton’s lead to 16-12. Then in a first at Peel Croft a white-booted prop forward entered the fray as James Hamilton replaced the injured Matt Tivey.
Then either Burton dropped the tempo or Walsall upped theirs and some rare opposition possession was rewarded with a try by ex-Burton player Danny Clarke as he burst over the line to give his new side the lead at 16-17. More expansive play by Walsall saw them throw the ball out wide but some lose passing saw Mark Ovens pounce to race thirty metres forward to the visitor’s twenty-two.

With fifteen minutes to play Alistair Eastwood came on for his debut as Dutton replaced Ken Archer at No 8 and Dave Archer moved to centre. A clearance kick by Walsall saw Gilmour gather and race forward only to be stopped by a high tackle on the Walsall ten-metre line for a Burton penalty. Archer’s attempt hit the posts and Walsall scrambled the ball clear to their twenty-two. Walsall at last won a Burton throw but the clearance kick fell into the arms of Gilmour who looked up and darted through the on rushing defence before racing fifty metres to score a superb try. Archer again added the extra points and Burton led 23-17.

Sensing defeat Walsall attacked using their pace out wide and only a superb tackle by Gilmour stopped a certain try. Taylor snapped up the lose ball and ran thirty metres before kicking ahead into the opposition twenty-two. But Burton gave away a penalty and Walsall took a quick tap that was spun out wide and despite the tackles of Gilmour and Eastwood the winger got back to his feet avoiding the clutches of Will Brooks and dived over for a try that was then converted.

With five minutes remaining Burton still led 23-22 and from the restart the pack stormed forward with runs by Dutton, Brooks, Hamilton and Birt and Walsall were again penalised. One again Archer stepped forward and put his attempt straight between the uprights to increase Burton’s lead to 26-22.

A great rolling maul from the Burton pack took play forty metre forward only for the ball to be knocked-on and give Walsall a chance to come back, but this time solid defence by Cross and Varney saw a Burton turnover and Peach fed the ball out to Gilmour and Archer. The latter chipped ahead, gathered and just outpaced the cover in a fifty metres race to the line and score. Unfortunately his tired legs couldn’t add the extra points as Burton heard the final whistle and walked off the pitch to the cheers of their supporters after this fine victory.