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Sat 02 Dec 2023 · Regional 1 Midlands
Broadstreet
1st XV
11
36
Burton Stay In Touch With Top 2 With Win At Broadstreet
Robert Nesbitt3 Dec 2023 - 12:55
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That's Better! - Burton Overturn Half Time Deficit Against Broadstreet
Following the great performance against Bromsgrove 2 weeks ago Burton were keen to extend their winning run when they travelled to bottom side Broadstreet, who had failed to register a single league point so far this season. Previous meetings between the two sides had been very tough encounters with Broadstreet coming out victors with the exception of last season’s meetings. There was a familiar look to the Burton team with no new injuries that has been a problem during parts of this season to date. Bitterly cold conditions suggested that a forwards-based game was likely which would probably suit Burton better and surprisingly the pitch condition was excellent despite the recent frosts. Burton wore their all-black away kit for the first time and must have been cursing the short sleeves!
The early possession was dominated by the home team and they made their way up to the “22” in centre field where they were awarded a penalty in front of the posts, which they duly converted to take the lead after 4 minutes. Broadstreet 3-0 Burton. From the restart Burton quickly regained possession and pushed well up into the Broadstreet “22” but the opportunity to hit back straight away was lost when the ball was knocked on. Over the next few minutes there was little real action to get excited about from either side as the game drifted a little into a territorial stalemate with no obvious winner. Burton’s defence stood out as Broadstreet failed to make any meaningful gains in spite of their dominance of possession.
Broadstreet then had a chance to extend their lead when Burton were caught offside, but the penalty attempt drifted just to the left of the posts and Burton re-started the game with a 22-metre drop-out. Unfortunately the kick went straight into touch and Burton found themselves under pressure again with a Broadstreet scrum in centre field. This was then compounded further when Alex Nesbitt received a very harsh yellow card attempting to intercept the ball, but he was adjudged to have deliberately knocked-on by the referee. The hosts made no mistake with the easy penalty attempt at goal and doubled their lead to 6 points after 22 minutes. Broadstreet 6-0 Burton.
Burton found it difficult to retain possession for any prolonged period but prevented Broadstreet from adding further to their lead with some excellent defending across the whole team. On the few occasions they did have the ball they were frustrated by a home team growing in confidence along with a number of puzzling decisions against them, particularly at the breakdown. Burton tried to respond but found it hard going until a line-out was won on the right of the home “22” and their highly successful catch and drive move was employed for the first time in the game which saw them make real headway into the Broadstreet “22”. Once again though the move broke down and the referee awarded a penalty for an earlier offence and then marched Broadstreet back a further 10 metres for some backchat.
Burton opted to go for goal and Phillips duly obliged 10 minutes before half time to reduce the arrears to just 3 points. Broadstreet 6-3 Burton. For the remainder of the half the ratio of possession became pretty equal as Burton enjoyed their best period of the half but were unable to breakthrough the home defence and the half concluded with no further addition to the score. Burton could feel happy with their defensive efforts but were yet to show any attacking real prowess and this would surely be the message head coach Harry Titley would be drilling home in the changing rooms at the break.
Whatever was said at the interval Burton started the second half with much more purpose and were rewarded after just 2 minutes when Joe Gazzard forced his way over the line following a sustained attack on the home line. Phillips added the extras with a well struck conversion and Burton took the lead for the first time in the game. Broadstreet 6-10 Burton. Despite the lack of possession in the game so far, the 2 Burton wingers caught the eye of spectators with their ability to find space and break the defensive line and it seemed only a matter of time that Burton would add to their score. Indeed with 8 minutes of the half played it was Will Derry who scored Burton’s second try of the game wide on the left. Phillips was very close to getting the difficult conversion, but Burton were now more than one score ahead. Broadstreet 6-15 Burton.
3 minutes later Burton scored their 3rd following a good handling move from right to left and Nesbitt broke through the first tackle and outstripped the covering defence to score just to the left of the posts. This time Phillips added the extras and Burton were building a handy lead. Broadstreet 6-22 Burton. Following this Broadstreet once again began to dominate possession although they still found the Burton defence standing firm and tackling really well to prevent them from adding to their score. Burton rubbed salt into their wounds when with about 10 minutes to go they scored their bonus point try following a lineout on the left the ball was moved to the right and an offload was collected by George Able who scored Burton’s 5th try. Another great strike by Phillips added the extras and took Burton well out of reach from any sort of Broadstreet comeback. Broadstreet 6-29 Burton.
As the game concluded, Able scored his second try after good work by Chaz Bunting and Nesbitt down the right. Phillips again added the conversion with just over 5 minutes left to play. Broadstreet 6-36 Burton. To their great credit Broadstreet did not give up and following some sustained pressure on the Burton line they scored their only try of the game. A unsuccessful conversion almost doubled their tally for the afternoon and rather surprisingly the referee blew the final whistle with a couple of minutes remaining. This win sees Burton consolidate 3rd position in Regional 1 Midlands and close the gap on next week’s opponents Stourbridge, who had their game at Bromsgrove postponed due to the weather to just 7 points. Burton will be seeking to get some revenge following a very narrow defeat when the two sides met at Burton in September. A well-deserved man of the match award was given to winger Will Derry.
The early possession was dominated by the home team and they made their way up to the “22” in centre field where they were awarded a penalty in front of the posts, which they duly converted to take the lead after 4 minutes. Broadstreet 3-0 Burton. From the restart Burton quickly regained possession and pushed well up into the Broadstreet “22” but the opportunity to hit back straight away was lost when the ball was knocked on. Over the next few minutes there was little real action to get excited about from either side as the game drifted a little into a territorial stalemate with no obvious winner. Burton’s defence stood out as Broadstreet failed to make any meaningful gains in spite of their dominance of possession.
Broadstreet then had a chance to extend their lead when Burton were caught offside, but the penalty attempt drifted just to the left of the posts and Burton re-started the game with a 22-metre drop-out. Unfortunately the kick went straight into touch and Burton found themselves under pressure again with a Broadstreet scrum in centre field. This was then compounded further when Alex Nesbitt received a very harsh yellow card attempting to intercept the ball, but he was adjudged to have deliberately knocked-on by the referee. The hosts made no mistake with the easy penalty attempt at goal and doubled their lead to 6 points after 22 minutes. Broadstreet 6-0 Burton.
Burton found it difficult to retain possession for any prolonged period but prevented Broadstreet from adding further to their lead with some excellent defending across the whole team. On the few occasions they did have the ball they were frustrated by a home team growing in confidence along with a number of puzzling decisions against them, particularly at the breakdown. Burton tried to respond but found it hard going until a line-out was won on the right of the home “22” and their highly successful catch and drive move was employed for the first time in the game which saw them make real headway into the Broadstreet “22”. Once again though the move broke down and the referee awarded a penalty for an earlier offence and then marched Broadstreet back a further 10 metres for some backchat.
Burton opted to go for goal and Phillips duly obliged 10 minutes before half time to reduce the arrears to just 3 points. Broadstreet 6-3 Burton. For the remainder of the half the ratio of possession became pretty equal as Burton enjoyed their best period of the half but were unable to breakthrough the home defence and the half concluded with no further addition to the score. Burton could feel happy with their defensive efforts but were yet to show any attacking real prowess and this would surely be the message head coach Harry Titley would be drilling home in the changing rooms at the break.
Whatever was said at the interval Burton started the second half with much more purpose and were rewarded after just 2 minutes when Joe Gazzard forced his way over the line following a sustained attack on the home line. Phillips added the extras with a well struck conversion and Burton took the lead for the first time in the game. Broadstreet 6-10 Burton. Despite the lack of possession in the game so far, the 2 Burton wingers caught the eye of spectators with their ability to find space and break the defensive line and it seemed only a matter of time that Burton would add to their score. Indeed with 8 minutes of the half played it was Will Derry who scored Burton’s second try of the game wide on the left. Phillips was very close to getting the difficult conversion, but Burton were now more than one score ahead. Broadstreet 6-15 Burton.
3 minutes later Burton scored their 3rd following a good handling move from right to left and Nesbitt broke through the first tackle and outstripped the covering defence to score just to the left of the posts. This time Phillips added the extras and Burton were building a handy lead. Broadstreet 6-22 Burton. Following this Broadstreet once again began to dominate possession although they still found the Burton defence standing firm and tackling really well to prevent them from adding to their score. Burton rubbed salt into their wounds when with about 10 minutes to go they scored their bonus point try following a lineout on the left the ball was moved to the right and an offload was collected by George Able who scored Burton’s 5th try. Another great strike by Phillips added the extras and took Burton well out of reach from any sort of Broadstreet comeback. Broadstreet 6-29 Burton.
As the game concluded, Able scored his second try after good work by Chaz Bunting and Nesbitt down the right. Phillips again added the conversion with just over 5 minutes left to play. Broadstreet 6-36 Burton. To their great credit Broadstreet did not give up and following some sustained pressure on the Burton line they scored their only try of the game. A unsuccessful conversion almost doubled their tally for the afternoon and rather surprisingly the referee blew the final whistle with a couple of minutes remaining. This win sees Burton consolidate 3rd position in Regional 1 Midlands and close the gap on next week’s opponents Stourbridge, who had their game at Bromsgrove postponed due to the weather to just 7 points. Burton will be seeking to get some revenge following a very narrow defeat when the two sides met at Burton in September. A well-deserved man of the match award was given to winger Will Derry.
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