Following last week’s excellent win at Syston, Burton travelled the short distance to Derby with great hopes of another league win, but a somewhat subdued performance saw them not able to gain any real control in the game against a young, hard-working home team that just would not be beaten. Their single point victory was sealed by a late penalty shortly after Burton had taken the lead for only the second time in the game with just a minute or so to play.
Derby kicked off and were immediately handed the put-in at a scrum following a Burton knock-on. This was the only time Burton were to touch the ball for around 6 minutes as Derby came straight out of the blocks and simply maintained possession, although they weren’t able to really threaten the Burton try line. There were just 2 positives in Burton’s game in that their defence held firm during this period and they looked dominant in the set scrum. Derby scored the first points of the match after 6 minutes with a successful penalty attempt from in front of the posts. Derby 3-0 Burton.
Derby failed to get a hand on the ball from the re-start but were awarded the throw at a line-out mid-way between the “22” and the 10-metre line on the right. When Burton did finally get hold of the ball, they showed their handling skills as they moved from left to right, but Derby managed to overturn the ball and made their way just into the Burton half once again. With Burton straying offside Derby had a penalty coming but a well struck drop kick sailed between the posts for their second score after 8 minutes. Derby 6-0 Burton.
Derby were reluctant to kick the deep re-start kick out of play due to a slight breeze blowing in their faces and looked to run the ball out of their own “22”. Eventually, in the face of excellent Burton tackling they did kick the ball straight into touch and Burton were awarded the throw at a line-out mid-way between the 10-metre and the Derby “22” on the right. From the line-out Burton moved the ball very nicely through the hands but were eventually forced into touch.
Despite winning their fair share of possession over the next few minutes Burton were let down by unusual poor handling on occasions which meant they were not able to build much in the way of momentum in their game. In response Derby began to retain possession once again and very gradually began to use the offload effectively and took play to the Burton “22”. Two free kick awards to Derby followed with the second catching the Burton defence cold as Derby went under the posts to score the first try of the game after about 20 minutes. A successful conversion followed, and Derby had stretched their lead into double figures. Derby 13-0 Burton.
The response from Burton was not far away as Will Derry and Will Simpson combined down the left for the latter to go over for a well taken try just 3 minutes later. Simpson added the conversion and Burton were back within one score/ Derby 13-7 Burton. The re-start kick was well followed-up by the Derby forwards and they got to the ball before any Burton player could take the catch. Derby re-cycled well and moved the ball swiftly to their right and Derry produced an excellent tackle into touch to halt this move.
As the home side continued to dominate possession over the next few minutes it was almost inevitable that a Derby penalty would be given. Indeed this came after almost 30 minutes and the kick was successful making Derby’s lead more than one score again. Derby 16-7 Burton. Burton then turned the tables on derby at the re-start and stole possession and a good kick along the ground took play to just outside the Derby “22” on the right.
A knock-on by Derby then handed Burton the put-in at a scrum, from which their dominance resulted in a penalty, which, in turn, gave Burton the throw at a line-out on the 5-metre line. Burton were then camped on around the 5-metre line for some time and with another two penalties awarded from scrums it was a surprise no stronger action was taken by the referee. Many of the Burton supporters were left scratching their heads. Just before half-time Burton were rewarded for their efforts when the ball was moved well to the right for Henry Knox to score in the corner. Simpson’s kick just drifted to the right, but Burton had closed the gap to just 4 points. Derby 16-12 Burton. With the half-time whistle blowing very soon after the re-start, Burton had given themselves a platform to work from in the second half.
Burton started the second half on the attack and looked more composed than they had for the majority of the first period. They sought to pin Derby deep in their own half, but good clearance kicks meant play reverted back to the halfway line or thereabouts on two or three occasions. Although Burton had the territorial advantage, they were still to find the rhythm and continuity that was so visible the previous week. Eventually following a Dutton break in midfield Burton were awarded a kickable penalty, which was well converted by Simpson to close the deficit to just one point after an hour’s play. Derby 16-15 Burton.
From the re-start Burton were guilty of putting themselves under unnecessary pressure following a poor clearance kick which gave Derby the throw at a line-out on the right of the Burton “22”. However, great defensive work led to a turnover of possession and the award of a penalty against Derby, which allowed Dutton to clear magnificently right up to the Derby “22”. A good catch and drive from the Burton pack saw James Davies peel off the back of the maul and charge over the line for a wonderful team try after 18 minutes of the second half played. Simpson was again just wide with the conversion, but Burton were in the lead for the first time in the game. Derby 16-20 Burton.
Burton unsurprisingly were perked up a little by that score and they looked to go straight back on the attack from the kick-off, but a pass just failed to hit the target which would have created another opening. Burton continued to apply pressure and made their way up to the home “22”. However Derby responded again and resorted to their effective offload style of play which took them rapidly up to the Burton “22” and beyond. They went over for their second try of the game after 22 minutes. The conversion missed narrowly but Derby had regained the lead. Derby 21-20 Burton.
Derby were back into the Burton danger zone very quickly and burton had some more defending to do if they were to stay within one score. However, with them dominating possession again it was no surprise that they scored again, this time in the left corner with just over 10 minutes to go. An excellent conversion extended their lead further and Burton had it all to do if they were to win the game. Derby 28-20 Burton. Indeed they really began to show their fighting spirit, and another well taken team score ended with Cal Donnelly scoring wide on the left. Simpson was injured in the build up to the try so Bunting took over the kicking duty and landed a very good conversion to take Burton back to within one score. Derby 28-27 Burton.
The nerves were evident all over the pitch as from the re-start Derby’s kick went straight into touch, so Burton had the put-in at the scrum on half-way. Another scrum penalty resulted in a throw to Burton on the right just outside the Derby “22” although the Burton kick did not make touch the clearance from Derby was poor. Derby were obviously rattled at this stage and were hanging on to say the least. Another penalty came Burton’s way and a brilliant kick by Bunting took Burton into the lead again with little time left on the clock. Derby 28-30 Burton.
There was one final twist in this game as Burton conceded another penalty in the centre of the field and the Derby kicker kept his composure to pinch back the lead for one final time. The final whistle went very shortly after the re-start and Burton had not been able to close the game out this week. Other results, however, went in Burton’s favour as Dudley Kingswinford and Syston were both defeated so Burton remain 3rd in the table just 2 points behind leaders Dudley, who meet at Battlestead Croft next week in what should be another closely contested game.