A fabulous final play score conjured up by Chaz Bunting and scorer Jamie Dutton sealed a deserved win for classy Burton at home to a big Bromsgrove side that could not hold on to a one-point winning margin despite an impressive second half display. There was a big sense of relief around the home spectators as the final score of the game capped a good all-round Burton performance, which produced some scintillating rugby.
In the initial stages of the game there was little to separate the two teams until the first scrum of the match saw Bromsgrove push Burton back at rather an alarming rate, signalling that the Burton pack were in for a torrid afternoon should that dominance continue. Unsurprisingly Burton were penalised and found themselves in their own “22” and having to deal with a Bromsgrove throw. Bromsgrove found the home defence difficult to break down as they put several phases of possession together. Eventually another scrum penalty gave Bromsgrove, playing with the wind at their backs, an opportunity to open the scoring. A successful kick gave them an early lead Burton 0-3 Bromsgrove.
Burton’s first period with the ball saw them move it left to right in their normal slick style and Henry Knox was able to show his strength and speed to encouraging effect. Unfortunately, he was guilty of holding-on in the tackle and a dangerous attack came to a disappointing end. Shortly after this Bromsgrove used the wind to great advantage with a kick from around their “22” which stayed in play and was touched down by a Burton player before the Bromsgrove chasers arrived. The drop-out from under the posts was held up in the wind and meant Burton had some more defending to do. Despite getting back to within 5 metres of the Burton line a misplaced pass was knocked-on, and Burton were awarded the put in at another scrum. Again, the pressure was well and truly on the home scrum and another penalty went Bromsgrove’s way. From the line-out the visitors’ big pack scored a push-over try, which went unconverted to increase their lead, after 14 minutes, to Burton 0-8 Bromsgrove.
Burton’s response to this was not long after as a clearance kick was well fielded by Bunting, just outside the Burton “22” on the right, who beat three Bromsgrove chasers with a brilliant combination of a sidestep and dummy pass. He then forced his way past several covering defenders before passing to the supporting Alex Nesbitt, who sprinted away from covering defenders to score Burton’s opening try of the day on the right after 17 minutes. A great conversion from Will Simpson brought Burton back to within a point of the visitors. Burton 7-8 Bromsgrove.
For the next few minutes, it was Burton who enjoyed the lions’ share of possession as they made their way steadily into the Bromsgrove half. From a maul on the left just outside the Bromsgrove “22” the ball was moved delightfully through the hands and Nesbitt; this time was the provider of a try making pass to Knox who went over in the right corner for their second try of the game after 26 minutes. Simpson’s kick drifted just wide in the wind, but Burton had taken the lead for the first time. Burton 12-8 Bromsgrove.
The re-start was welcomed by pouring rain which could have made Burton’s task that much harder as it was definitely suited Bromsgrove’s style of play much better. So this proved in terms of possession over the next few minutes as Bromsgrove looked to reply but the Burton defence was very solid and looked confident in their ability to keep them out. However, it was Bromsgrove who scored next through a penalty kick following a high tackle decision from the referee after 32 minutes. Burton 12-11 Bromsgrove.
With half-time approaching the game entered into a period of stalemate as neither side wanted to give anything away before the break. However, there was drama when an altercation between several players resulted in John Kirwan receiving a yellow card. It was a particular surprise to the home crowd that there was no card for any of the Bromsgrove players involved. With just 14 players for 10 minutes Burton had to dig deep to retain their lead. This they managed to do until the break. The change in the weather for the start of the second half could not have been a greater contrast as the sun shone brightly, producing beautiful rainbows in the sky although the wind, now in Burton’s favour, was still blowing quite briskly. Bromsgrove were quick off the blocks in this period, and they re-took the lead with an unconverted try after just 3 minutes. Burton 12-16 Bromsgrove.
Possession once again reverted back to Bromsgrove, but they were very reluctant to spread the ball wide, preferring to play a forwards-based ruck and maul game close to the breakdowns. On the few occasions they did move the ball their moves broke down several times due to poor handling, which probably explained their tactics, particularly in the second half. With Kirwan back on the field the home supporters were hoping for more parity in the scrums and more possession to release their dangerous looking backline.
Whilst the latter did not materialise immediately Burton were much more competitive for the next few minutes and made headway into the Bromsgrove half, where they were awarded a kickable penalty after about 10 minutes of the half, which Simpson duly converted. Burton 15-16 Bromsgrove. With the Burton defence holding well there was a feeling that Bromsgrove were becoming a little frustrated in their failure to make another breakthrough. This frustration was compounded when Burton won a scrum against the head on the Bromsgrove 5-metre line, recycled the ball along the backs for Knox to score his second try of the game in the right-hand corner. Simpson just missed the difficult conversion, but the lead had changed again after 15 minutes of the half gone. Burton 20-16 Bromsgrove.
The remainder of the second half was played out with Bromsgrove enjoying the majority of the possession but finding the home defence in no mood to give an inch. All of the Burton forwards worked tirelessly against their bigger opposition who were, very gradually getting closer and closer to the Burton try line. The pressure finally told when Burton were penalised on their own 5-metre line following a scrum. Bromsgrove took a quick penalty tap and got over the line. The conversion struck the post, but they had re-taken the lead yet again. Burton 20-21 Bromsgrove.
Burton were not done yet though and they too went in search of a decisive score with time rapidly running out. A failed attempt to kick a penalty left the home supporters worrying that a third successive defeat was looking increasingly likely. However, Dutton and Bunting came to the rescue with a superbly taken try in the dying seconds. Dutton collected the ball on the left just outside the Burton “22” and made a great break through the first line of defence. He linked with the supporting Bunting who then returned the pass to Dutton who was able to sprint away gleefully to score just to the left of the posts. Simpson added the conversion and Burton had sealed the bonus point win in dramatic fashion as the referee blew the final whistle immediately after the conversion.
The entire Burton team should take great heart from the way they stuck to their self-beliefs and had the courage to put into effect a stunning victory, scoring some excellent team tries and not shirking the challenge of a much bigger side which gave their all in their attempt to win the game. Man of the match was awarded to the entire front row, Ben Smith, Riley Cassidy and James Davies who were outstanding. The win leaves Burton 4th in the league table, 5 points behind leaders Syston, who they travel away to play next weekend.