Burton’s final game of the season proved to be a step too far as they gave their all against a powerful Syston team but were beaten in a high scoring and entertaining game. The final score of Burton 19-45 Syston did not really do justice to the home team and they were very unlucky not to clinch a try bonus point for their efforts. Burton kicked-off on a calm afternoon with conditions under foot a little on the slippery side following a deluge of rain prior to the game hoping to repeat their victory when the two teams met earlier in the season. The early stages were somewhat tentative as both teams “sized each other up”.
With Syston having the edge in terms of possession it was not surprising they were the first team to score after 8 minutes just to the right of the posts. A successful conversion meant Syston led by 7 points. Burton 0-7 Syston. The visitors handed the initiative straight back to Burton when they kicked the ball out directly into touch from just outside their own “22” to give Burton the throw at a line out on the left. However nothing came of this following a scrum where Burton were pushed back relatively easily by their bigger counterparts. Gradually Syston then progressed up the pitch until they had Burton under pressure in their own “22” once again. This pressure was converted into points when a Burton throw at a line out on the left went horribly wrong and Syston simply mopped up the loose ball and flopped over the try line for their second converted try mid-way through the half. Burton 0-14 Syston.
Burton responded well and were soon knocking at the door near the Syston try line. A well-executed catch and drive took Burton to the 5-metre line but they were again unable to convert this pressure into points as the referee awarded the visitors a scrum after the driving maul stalled. Having kept Burton out, Syston wasted no time in getting themselves further up the pitch with a combination of forwards loose play and some good handling form their backs. Burton found themselves on the wrong side of a harsh offside decision which allowed Syston to set up a throw at a line out on the Burton 5-metre line. Burton were caught napping when from the resulting catch and drive maul, Syston scored on the blind side almost un-opposed in the left corner. The difficult conversion just missed its target but Syston had a healthy looking lead as half time approached. Burton 0-19 Syston.
There was just enough time for Burton to respond before the half time break when Adam McClean kicked through the Syston defensive line and Jack Ingram got the touch down ahead of Syston defenders. A difficult conversion was missed by Chaz Bunting but at least Burton had got themselves on the scoresheet. Burton 5-19 Syston.
The second half started promisingly for Burton as a well struck clearance kick bounced into touch just inside the Syston “22” on the left-hand side. However things went astray immediately after this as Syston put together a good handling move from right to left and scored in the left corner, which was allowed to stand in spite of roars of disapproval from the home supporters as the final pass looked suspiciously forward. The conversion was unsuccessful, but Syston had made the best possible start to the half and increased their lead and secured their try bonus point. Burton 5-24 Syston.
Burton again responded with great passion and effort as they looked to convert their increasing pressure into some much-needed points. However, they were frustrated on numerous occasions by some dogged defending from Syston who, themselves, were beginning to tire and started to commit several offences many of which were in the danger zone and stopped Burton from getting the rewards those efforts deserved. The first yellow card of the game was then shown to Syston after a high tackle on winger Will Derry who was taken out in the air following up a high kick on the left just beyond the Syston 10-metre line.
Burton’s frailty in defence then surfaced again as Syston ran the ball from inside their own half to score another try under the posts almost without a single tackle being made. The conversion was successful and Syston now had a commanding lead with half-an-hour to play. Burton 5-31 Syston. Burton were in danger of being overrun completely when Syston scored another try, probably the best of the game, just a couple of minutes later when they moved the ball beautifully from right to left. A difficult conversion was made to look very easy to add further to their lead. Burton 5-38 Syston.
A response from Burton was really needed and although they worked tirelessly the occasional error at key moments stopped them from really threatening the Syston defence. Burton managed to overturn Syston’s previous dominance in the scrum and forced a penalty. Although the result was probably inevitable, Burton now enjoyed a prolonged period of possession and one very promising handling move from right to left was halted just short of the try line and unfortunately Burton lost possession. Burton continued to press and with that came three further yellow card for Syston but, surprisingly, no penalty try. Eventually Burton got their try with 12 minutes left when Dom Taylor finished off an excellent rolling maul effort from the forwards. Bunting added the extras to reduce the lead to 26 points. Burton 12-38 Syston.
Just two minutes later and Burton were on the scoresheet again with their third try when Derry started a move just inside his own half and linked with his teammates to set up Bunting for a converted try under the posts, to reduce the arrears further. Burton 19-38 Syston. Was there to be a dramatic comeback was a question posed – more in hope than expectation to be honest. Syston though had other ideas as they scored the game’s final points with just 4 minutes to go, a converted try. Burton 19-45 Syston. With other results in the league, despite Burton gaining no points today they still finish a creditable 6th and now have Staffordshire County Cup and National Cup fixtures to look forward to.