Burton Eventually Overcome Old Halesonians In A Real "Ding Dong" Encounter

Burton travelled to Old Halesonians on a windy but dry afternoon looking to finish their Regional 1 Midlands fixtures on a positive note, following their big win against Broadstreet before the Easter break. Old Halesonians too had a great result last time out against Stoke so, despite their position just above bottom placed Broadstreet, a difficult task was anticipated. So it proved, as the scoreline changed hands on a frequent basis all the way through the game with the result remaining in doubt until the last play.
Burto’s starting lineup saw two changes with John Kirwan away on holiday and Alex Nesbitt’s shoulder injury, so Joe Shacklock and George Abel came in at second row and centre respectively. Chaz Bunting also returned at scrum half. Burton kicked off the game with the crosswind slightly in their favour. In the first few minutes Old Halesonians dominated possession as they made their way steadily into the Burton “22”. However it was Burton who created the first threat as Tristan DeJager followed up a kick which the home defence did not collect but his attempted kick through was just too strong, and the ball went dead before he could touch it down.
Burton got into the game following the re-start and began to build some momentum in the centre of the field and did then get the scoring underway with a well created team try with James Davies finishing off the move with the try on the right after 8 minutes. Dom Phillips conversion attempt was blown just to the right of the posts by the wind, but Burton held an early lead. Old Halesonians 0-5 Burton.
The next period of the game was rather scrappy as neither team could really master the gusty conditions, but it was the home team who continued to enjoy the lions’ share of the ball and Burton were forced to defend, which they did very effectively to ensure the home team did were not able to threaten the Burton line. Eventually they won a penalty just inside their “22” and were able to clear. Burton continued to retain possession although they remained in their own half until a clever kick from Bunting into the Old Halesonians “22” was rewarded with the throw to Burton thanks to the “50-22” law. The catch and drive routine started well but Burton somehow lost possession as they were gaining momentum and Old Halesonians were able to clear.
Burton continued their dominance of possession but were let down, firstly by their own knock-on and then penalised for pulling down in a scrum, which allowed Old Halesonians to kick up to the Burton “22” where, this time, it was the home team that was penalised for pulling an arm of a Burton player at the lineout. Burton seized upon this and with their next phase of possession broke through the home defence with some ease it must be said to score their 2nd try of the game midway through the half. A successful kick by Phillips gave Burton a 12-point advantage. Old Halesonians 0-12 Burton.
From the re-start Burton made their way steadily to the centre of the pitch, where they kicked long. Old Halesonians patiently began to move the ball up the field but were penalised and Burton were able to set up another catch and drive move from just inside the home “22” Burton’s hopes were dashed when they were penalised just as they threatened the home danger zone and again Old Halesonians were able to clear. This time Old Halesonians had a real go at the Burton defence and were rewarded with their 1st try of the game wide on the right after 28 minutes. An excellent conversion was successful, so the deficit was narrowed to just 5 points. Old Halesonians 7-12 Burton.
Old Halesonians grew in confidence and were quickly back to dominance of possession for the next few minutes but their search for a second try was halted when they knocked-on inside the Burton half. Burton were forced to make a change when Shacklock suffered a leg injury and was replaced by Ben Sanderson. Old Hales were still pressing and were eventually rewarded with their 2nd try of the game 5 or 6 minutes before the break. This time the conversion was wide of the mark, so the scores were now tied. Old Halesonians 12-12 Burton. Burton stepped up their efforts as they went in search of the lead once again. As a consequence all of the remaining time in the half was spent in home territory and it was a little disappointing that Burton could not find a way to unlock the home defence during a spell of almost uninterrupted possession.
The second half began in a similar fashion to the fist and Old Halesonians dominated possession and territory. For the first time in the game Burton missed a tackle and the home team scored their 3rd try on the left after just 3 minutes. The conversion was missed so Old Halesonians took a 5-point lead. Old Halesonians 17-12 Burton. Tommy Collingwood was then introduced as a replacement for Davies and an injury to Ben Meades meant Josh Kent came on as a winger in his place. The next few minutes of the game was somewhat disjointed as neither side could retain possession for any length of time. Burton did come under some pressure on one occasion, near their own line but were able to prevent another home team score and the home kicker missed a penalty attempt.
The next score went to Burton who squared the scores once again after 22 minutes when Collingwood scored on the left after another successful catch and drive move. Old Halesonians 17-17 Burton. The scores, however, were not to be level for very long as Old Halesonians found a gap in the Burton defence just 3 minutes later and scored their bonus point try. Th conversion missed once again but it was Old Halesonians in the lead again. Old Halesonians 22-17 Burton.
The game began to swing like a pendulum as each side looked to try and put themselves in control and produce a decisive score and with that the flow of the game deteriorated a little as tension crept into each teams play. Burton were the next scorers as they produced another successful catch and drive move on the left with Collingwood getting his 2nd and Burton’s bonus point try with about 10 minutes left to play. Phillips was successful with his conversion so the lead swapped hands again. Old Halesonians 22-24 Burton.
Both teams were still really going at it in an attempt to get the win and it was the home team that struck what looked like to be the winning blow as time seemed to be fast running out. A successful penalty attempt from in front of the posts handed Old Halesonians a 1-point lead. Old Halesonians 25-24 Burton. However there were still more twists and turns before the final whistle was blown. A penalty to Burton was kicked by Phillips to make the score Old Halesonians 25-27 Burton. With Burton forced to defend deep in their own half another successful home penalty re-took the lead. Old Halesonians 28-27 Burton.
Davies was re-introduced for the final moments of the game and Burton pressurised the home defence for one last time following yet another catch and drive move from a 5-metre lineout on the left he got the all-important touch down with the final play of the game which seemed to go on forever as Burton edged very slowly over the line. Phillips added the final conversion and Burton had secured a fine win away from home to make the final score Old Halesonians 28-34 Burton.
This win sees Burton end the season in their highest ever position since the introduction of the league system. Other results on the day means Burton finish in 4th place in Regional 1 Midlands and that is a real credit to everyone involved at the club! Next week sees the return of the Papa John’s Cup where Burton face Derby at home, followed by Syston away on 20 April and Wirral away on 27 April.