Burton were worthy winners of an entertaining and tight game at league leaders Syston, sealing a maximum 5 points to nil victory with the final play of the game scored by Jamie Dutton, who intercepted a Syston pass as they were trying, desperately to keep the ball alive in an attempt to score what would have been the match winning try themselves. The pitch looked in fine condition, despite the torrential downpours of the previous two days and there was a cool breeze blowing towards the clubhouse.
Syston kicked of the game playing towards the clubhouse looking to build a substantial first half lead. Burton moved the ball through the hands early on but knocked on and the first scrum was very encouraging for the smaller Burton pack who looked very comfortable indeed. Syston also showed good handling skills early on as they looked to test the Burton defence. Burton produced a good turnover of possession and cleared to the half-way line but from a Syston kick downfield Burton were penalised in front of their own posts for holding on in the tackle. The penalty kick was successful for the first score of the game after 5 minutes. Syston 3-0 Burton.
Both sides signalled their intention to play a handling game but at this early stage it was the defensive skills of each team that stood out as neither side could make much headway without considerable effort. Burton’s dominance of the scrum was in evidence again as they gained another penalty just inside the Syston half on the right-hand side. Burton made their first visit to the Syston “22” and had the chance to level the scores following a holding-on offence but Will Simpson’s kick just faded wide of the mark.
Burton were soon knocking at the Syston door again with forwards and backs involved in some excellent handling moves. Joe Gazzard was held up just short of the try line, but as the ball was re-cycled left, excellent handling gave Alex Nesbitt the opportunity to score after 14 minutes. Simpson was just off-target again with the conversion, but Burton had taken a slender lead. Syston 3-5 Burton. Syston kicked the re-start long and Burton sensibly kicked to touch on the left halfway between their own “22” and the 10-metre line. Syston won the line-out impressively and moved the ball in the hands again, but Burton were in no mood to give them ground too easily and the move came to an end as Burton forced the knock-on to win a scrum on the left inside the Burton “22”.
As play remained in the middle part of the pitch there was little sign of the next score coming very quickly. However, Burton did get back into the Syston “22” with some great forward drives only for Syston to use the breeze to excellent effect when clearing and they were soon deep in Burton territory, despite solid defensive efforts to keep them at bay. Eventually this pressure resulted in Burton being penalised and the lead changed again at the penalty attempt after 23 minutes was successful. Syston 6-5 Burton,
From the re-start Burton retained possession through Simpson following up and catching the excellent Dutton kick. Burton moved the ball to the right but were unable to take any real advantage of an offside Syston player, so the referee brought play back to centre field and Simpson this time slotted the penalty kick for Burton to re-take the lead once again. Syston 6-8 Burton.
Syston then enjoyed a more sustained period of possession following the re-start and made slow progress towards the Burton line once more, but as they got into the danger zone Burton were able to overturn this and cleared the ball but invited Syston back there as the kick did not make touch. A clever kick over the Burton defensive line was chased through and touched down for Syston’s first try of the game after almost half-an-hour. The conversion was missed but Syston re-took the lead after 29 minutes. Syston 11-8 Burton. It was not long before Syston were on the scoreboard again as they quickly got themselves back in the Burton danger zone with some dangerous looking attacking play. Burton were penalised right in front of their own posts, and it was no surprise that the penalty kick was duly converted to make the score Syston 14-8 Burton after 33 minutes. Syston repeated this tactic following a dropped pass by Burton which was kicked through and chased by Syston who were denied the chance of another score as the ball went into touch rather than staying in play. However, the home team did not have to wait too long before they added to their lead as half-time approached. Burton were under considerable pressure as Syston regained possession and their scrum half dummied and dived over from close range for their second try of the game. A successful conversion gave them what looked like a commanding lead with just two minutes of the half remaining. Syston 21-8 Burton.
Burton immediately found themselves deep in their own half once again and were hanging on at this stage as Syston were hungry to try and put the game beyond doubt. Burton responded however with some great teamwork handling moves went on the search for another score themselves and made some good progress up to towards the Syston try line, where unfortunately a handling error gave Syston the put-in at a scrum on the left. Burton won themselves another scrum penalty with an excellent drive. Time was not on Burton’s side at this point and the half-time whistle blew with Burton having to score two converted tries just to regain the lead. The second half was going to be a challenge, particularly as the strong breeze seemed to have disappeared for now.
Burton began the second half with great style and a spot-on tactical approach. A wonderful “50-22” kick to touch by Dutton gave Burton the throw at a line out deep in the Syston half. Good re-cycled possession took Burton very close to the Syston try line and were rewarded when Bunting scored their second try of the game after 44 minutes. Simpson added the conversion and Burton had done just what their supporters had wanted by scoring first in the second half. Syston 21-15 Burton.
Both sides were still trying to find the best way to beach each other’s solid defence and several box kicks ensued following the re-start until Harry Titley found touch with another “50-22” to give Burton the throw just outside the 5-metre line on the left. The throw, this time was disrupted by good work from the home team, and they were awarded the put-in at a scrum. A penalty infringement by Burton allowed Syston to relieve the pressure with a fine kick to touch and their throw at a line-out on the halfway line.
Like Syston in the first half Burton were now using the breeze very well to alleviate pressure and then look to build phases of possession and reverse that pressure on to their hosts. However, at this stage of the game Burton were frustrated by a few simple errors, which meant that build up would not materialise just yet. Burton instead found themselves on the halfway line. However, a mis-handled pass by Syston was intercepted by Dutton who raced away to score Burton’s third try under the posts after 55 minutes. Simpson converted and once again the lead had changed hands again. Syston 21-22 Burton.
Burton could not relax as the home team looked to strike back in an attempt to maintain their unbeaten record. Indeed, they re-took the lead yet again after 65 minutes, when a maul formed on the right, just inside the Burton half. With winger Will Derry having been sucked into the maul Syston were quick to seize their opportunity for a rather soft unconverted try from a Burton perspective to be scored in the corner. Syston 26-22 Burton.
However, as a number of times previously, Burton showed real heart and mounted a final effort to claim victory. Their persistence and determination paid off handsomely when a sustained period of possession and territory concluded with Llwr Griffiths going over on the right for Burton’s bonus point try, which was converted by Simpson with 10 minutes remaining. Syston 26-29 Burton.
The home team were now also feeling the pressure as their re-start kick went straight into touch for the second time in the game and Burton had the put-in at the scrum on halfway. Following a penalty, Syston looked to stage a comeback of their own and kicked for a lineout on the Burton “22”. Indeed, they were within just a few metres of the Burton try line when they were penalised for holding on and Burton were able to clear. But the drama was not over quite just yet as they won back possession and began to go through the phases once again. Burton’s defence was heroic, probably the best it has been all season, and there was no way through for Syston.
With seconds remaining Syston made one last desperate push to win the game. In doing so they over-played and the ever-alert Dutton made a wonderful interception and sprinted away to score the final try of the game and increase the lead to 8 points, therefore depriving Syston of a losing bonus point. Dutton fully deserved his man-of-the-match award for a fine performance and excellent decision making. The conversion missed to the right but that did not matter as Burton claimed a hard-fought win to move third in the table on the same points total as Syston, 3 points behind leaders Dudley Kingswinford, who they meet in two weeks’ time.