Following the prolonged Christmas break Burton were made to work very hard for a win in their first league game of 2023 against their “bogey” team Broadstreet who battled to the final whistle in an attempt to clinch victory for themselves. Burton kicked off the game playing from right to left with the wind at their backs and it was a few minutes before they were able to get their hands on the ball as the visitors looked very much up for the challenge. Burton were able to venture into the Broadstreet half courtesy of a penalty at the half-way line, which Jamie Dutton, winning his 50th cap today, kicked to mid-way between the “22” and the try-line on the right. Having progressed up to the 5-metre line Burton were awarded a penalty in front of the posts and Will Simpson made no mistake with the easy kick to give Burton the lead after almost 5 minutes. Burton 3-0 Broadstreet.
The visitors responded soon after with a move down the blind side aided somewhat by a Burton missed tackle which resulted in the first try of the game in the left corner. The difficult conversion was missed so the score was now Burton 3-5 Broadstreet. Burton were forced to make an early change as Ben Smith was replaced by Eddie Brown due to a head injury which required bandaging. Burton though were soon back in the Broadstreet danger zone and some great handling and passing through the forwards saw Jack Barry Neal score Burton’s first try of the game just to the right of the posts after 13 minutes. Simpson added the conversion to put Burton back in the lead Burton 10 -5 Broadstreet.
The next passage of play led to Broadstreet getting into the burton danger zone and indeed they were able to capitalise on this as Burton seemed to have cleared their lines pretty well but some dreadful defending gifted Broadstreet their second try wide on the left. Fortunately for Burton the conversion was missed so, midway through the half, the scores were level at Burton 10-10 Broadstreet. From the re-start Broadstreet were penalised for holding on to the ball in centre field, which Simpson converted comfortably to edge Burton into the lead once again. Burton 13-10 Broadstreet.
Broadstreet were looking quite threatening with the ball in hand as they moved the ball down their backs very rapidly and Burton had to be very careful not to be beaten on the outside as they matched-up with the drift defence. Despite their visitors’ larger pack, Burton were competitive in the set scrum in the main but as the game wore on this area became more difficult and this was one of the factors that meant Burton’s normal momentum and flow in the game was difficult to achieve.
The home supporters were given a big lift when just before half time as Burton produced some excellent handling rugby following a prolonged period of possession and Dutton finished off the move to score Burton’s second try of the game on the left. Simpson added the conversion, and the first half came to an end with Burton 10 points ahead. Burton 20-10 Broadstreet. The question on everyone’s lips was “will that be enough?”
The second half started with a fine box lick from Chaz Bunting up field, but Broadstreet were soon testing the Burton defence again as another defensive mistake allowed them to progress right up to the Burton 5-metre line on the left. A fine interception relieved this pressure and the game returned to the middle of the pitch. At this stage of the game things were a little scrappy as neither side was able to really dominate territory nor possession to any degree, but this probably suited Burton as they were leading. It was no surprise therefore that when Burton were awarded a kickable penalty they opted for the kick at goal. The kick against the wind just missed to the left so the score remained Burton 20-10 Broadstreet.
Eventually Burton made their way steadily towards the visitors’ line and as they did so the supporters were able to sense a degree of desperation in the visitors’ play as the were penalised several times in succession prompted the referee to give the Broadstreet captain a stern warning that any more would result in a yellow card being shown. On this occasion though the penalty in front of the posts was successfully converted by Simpson to increase Burton’s lead mid-way through the second half. Burton 23-10 Broadstreet.
Broadstreet again continued to compete and get back into the game, but Burton’s defence held firm on this occasion and others as they began to build up quite a degree of momentum. Burton were then very unlucky to be penalised at a scrum when it seemed clear to the home supporters that Broadstreet were responsible for collapsing. A quickly taken penalty kick caught the Burton defence cold and allowed Broadstreet to score their 3rd try after almost 30 minutes. A successful conversion brought Broadstreet within one score and the home supporters were more than a little worried to say the least. Burton 23-17 Broadstreet.
Broadstreet could smell potential victory in the air and threw everything they had at Burton. Wave after wave of attacking moves were to follow and to the great delight of the home supporters Burton’s defensive line was superb and kept them out until eventually the visitors struck and were awarded their bonus point try with what many thought was the final play of the game. A successful conversion followed, and the home supporters were left thinking the worst. Burton 23-24 Broadstreet.
However there was to be a final twist in the remaining time as Burton dug deep and threw everything they had left at their visitors. Burton arguably played their best rugby in this period as they showed wonderful resolve and courage to batter through the tiring Broadstreet defence. They made their way deep into the visitors “22” and with a penalty coming they created a guilt edged chance to score on the right only for the final pass not taken by winger Jack Ingram with the line at his mercy. This did not matter, however as the referee went back for the original offence and it was left to Simpson to convert his third penalty of the afternoon and give Burton the lead again. Burton 26-24 Broadstreet.
Again much to the surprise of the home supporters there was time for the re-start and more as Broadstreet refused to lie down and surrender. Burton defenders again put their bodies on the line, this time without being under severe territorial pressure, and saw out the game much to the relief of the home supporters and indeed, the players themselves. Having defeated their “bogey” team this well-deserved win, takes Burton back up to 4th in the league above local rivals Derby, just 2 points behind second placed Bridgnorth and 1 point behind next week’s opponents Bromsgrove in 3rd. Man of the match was awarded to Ed Henry for a sterling performance in the back row.