On a very, bright sunny day Burton took to the pitch at Peel Croft led by new captain Joel Booth looking to start their home league season with a victory in front of their loyal supporters. After a very hard fought contest Burton, much to the delight of players and supporters, did just that and finished the day with a splendid 23-16 victory to show other sides in the league that they are a side that must not be taken lightly.

With Dave Archer’s kicked-off failing to get over the halfway line things did not look too good for this young Burton side as Newport immediately gained a scrum on the centre spot. From this Newport showed their intent as they attacked the Burton line, but with the Burton scrum looking far more solid and solid defence the home team repelled these early challenges. Good pressure from the Burton back-row of Joel Booth, Ben Grocott and Dave Fitchett did not help Newport’s cause as Burton began to respond and take play to the opposition. A break down the narrow side saw Danny Smith dart forward and with Craig Dutton in support the ball was quickly recycled when he was stopped. Dutton, relishing his return to his old position at centre, took up the charge and made ground before feeding Ian Gilmour. The little standoff’s long pass found Archer at pace and he cleverly drew the full back before passing to Sam Smith. The young debutant colt made 30 metres to get within five metres of the opposition line but as he was tackled he slipped the ball to another league debutant Harry Titley who promptly burst over the line to touch down.

So with less than five minutes gone Burton led 5-0, but Newport forced their way back into home territory with a series a forward drives as they worked the ball down the edges. A maul some five metres from the Burton line saw the visitors win the ball and a quick short pass out to their No. 8 saw him charge the short distance to the line to level the scores.

A twenty-minute period of play followed in which Burton failed to gain any impetus, but good defensive covering and hard graft by the pack stopped Newport gaining any further tries. However during this time Burton did conjure up a couple of chances one when Sam Smith caught an attempted cross kick and with Dutton in support took the ball forward to release Archer, but his kick ahead saw Danny Smith just beaten to the touchdown. Then a penalty to Burton was put safely into touch and Josh Cartwright took the lineout to be driven on by Joel Booth, Jon Edwards and Dave Fitchett to get within five metres of the opposition line. But the ball was lost and Newport cleared to halfway. But, having missed an easy penalty attempt from directly in front of the posts Newport’s kicker Jamie Simpson made amends as he landed two late penalties that saw Newport get a 5-11 lead as half-time approached.

Trailing by six points Burton at last awoke from their slumbers and a great passage of play involving Rob Wakelin, Booth, Ben Grocott and Dan Clarke saw the Burton pack driving forward. This released Sam Smith who raced forty-metres down the pitch before being stopped three-metres short by a great tackle. But as Darryl Banton grabbed the loose ball the referee adjudged him to be offside and Newport cleared their lines. As Newport stormed forward a clever kick ahead saw their centre racing clear but great defensive covering by the two Smiths saw him tackled three-metres short and Banton cleared to the Burton twenty-two as the half-time whistle sounded.
Newport restarted the game and Burton soon put themselves under pressure as the ball was not gathered cleanly. But as the visitors tried to capitalise and pass the ball out wide great pressure from the Burton backs and back row saw a loose pass swooped on by Titley as he intercepted to race forty metres and score under the posts. Archer made no mistake with the conversion and Burton now led 12-11 with only five minutes of the half gone.

Another penalty against Burton, in front of the posts, saw the visiting kicker again miss as Newport strove to pile more pressure on the Burton side. Then having been rock solid throughout the game Burton’s defence went to pieces as a loose kick was taken by the Newport winger and he proceeded to dance through or round six or seven would-be tackle attempts to score wide out.

Trailing 12-16 Burton restarted the game and some good chasing by Sam Smith and Titley stopped the visitors making any ground and Dan Clarke with Charl Neethling took the ball on to within five metres of the opposition line. Some great runs by Dutton, Booth, Titley and Dan Smith kept the pressure on Newport but a penalty for handling gave them chance to clear to the Burton ten-metre line.

With twenty minutes remaining Burton introduced colt Nathan Taylor and Kelvin Browne to the fray in place of Wakelin and Grocott. Both of these players were soon into action as Browne pressurised and tormented the opposition with some powerful runs and tackles, while Taylor was involved with Neethling, Edwards and Booth as Burton stormed to within ten metres of the visitors line to gain a penalty. Archer easily despatched his attempt between the uprights to take the score to 15-16. Then more great pressure from the Burton side earned another penalty for Archer to put his cock-a-hoop side into a 18-16 lead as a Newport player was yellow carded.

Burton now really began to have a belief in themselves and with the extra man advantage they proceeded to up the tempo with great runs by Dutton and Clarke. But Newport were not going to lie down and some hard work by their pack took play sixty metres down the field. But when the ball was spilled Danny Smith grabbed his chance and took the ball forward to feed Titley, who straightened the move and found Dutton in support. Dutton saw the full back and went to drive through him but at the last minute he turned and passed to the dashing Gilmour who was racing round behind him. The latter simply drew the cover and passed to Sam Smith who needed no second offers to race the last five metres and touch down for a try. Archer’s touchline conversion just shaved the outside of the post. But even with Newport back up to fifteen men Burton were home and dry and no amount of pressure was going to stop them from enjoying their splendid and deserved victory as the whistle blew to end the game and start Burton’s celebrations.