A Win for Burton!

Burton entertained Syston at Battlestead Croft on Saturday hoping for revenge after being badly beaten by them back in November. The score on that occasion was 51-5 to Syston and for the first ten minutes of the game it looked as though there would be another rout. The home team started badly making errors and conceding penalties at the breakdown. From one of these penalties the ball was kicked into touch about ten metres from the Burton goal line. From the ensuing lineout the visitors passed the ball quickly along the back line for the winger to score in the corner. With a good kick from almost on the touch line the fullback added the extra points.
The restart kick went directly into touch, so Burton again put themselves under pressure, having to defend a scrum on the halfway line The visitors went on the attack again and were eventually awarded another penalty for a scrum offence. This time they opted for a kick at goal, which the fullback slotted between the posts to take the score to 0-10.
The home team got their hands on the ball from the restart and were able to keep it for a while without really penetrating the Syston defence but again handling errors gave the initiative back to the visitors. However, Burton were awarded a penalty for a scrum offence by Syston and flyhalf Will Simpson kicked the ball into touch on the five metre line. From the lineout the forwards set up a maul and drove towards the line. Captain will Hopwood broke off and dived over to score. Fullback Dominic Phillips added the extra points to make the score 7-10.
It was now the turn of the visitors to make handling errors and Burton were able to exert some pressure of their own. The ball was gathered from a poor kick and was moved along the back line. Right winger Tristan De Jager ran from his own wing to join the line on the left. He then beat several defenders to score the home team’s second try. Unfortunately, the conversion attempt by Phillips hit the post but Burton were now in the lead. There was no further significant play in the remaining few minutes of the half, so the half time score was Burton 12, Syston 10.
From the start of the second half Burton again went on the attack but again handling errors let them down but the visitors were also making handling errors. Burton were awarded a penalty as the Syston backs strayed offside and from the ensuing lineout the forwards drove towards the line. Hooker James Davies broke away to score and Phillips again added the extra points to take the score to 19-10.
A short passage of play then occurred where neither side was able to dominate. Eventually the visitors were awarded a penalty as Burton were deemed to have collapsed a maul. It looked as though the fullback had badly hooked the kick but it just managed to creep inside the post taking the score to 19 -13.
There had been two or three brief but heavy showers in the first half but the rain now set in for the afternoon making it very difficult to play. Both sides made handling errors and the scrums were very messy with the syston pack by and large gaining the upper hand. The home team again came under pressure but defended stoutly. A series of penalties took the visitors to five metres from the Burton line but when they chose a scrum from one of these penalties, they were penalised themselves for an early push and the home team were able to clear their lines.
With time running out Syston tried to run the ball as now only a converted try would win the game, they made handling errors themselves however and conceded a scrum. With time up Burton were awarded a penalty at the scrum and Simpson was able to tap the ball to himself an kick it over the touchline to end the game.
This was an error strewn game in difficult conditions, but Burton were worthy winners through their dogged defence. The final score was Burton 19 Syston 13.
Match Report by Nick Counter