A game that left spectators wanting more following one of the most closely contested and entertaining matches seen on Peel Croft in many a year Burton left the pitch to rousing cheers for a deserved victory over their visitors Luton in this National 3(Midlands) clash. In the first sixty minutes the lead changed hands four times before Burton drew level and took the lead never to relinquish it in the sixty-second minute when Ian Gilmour swooped to intercept and race sixty-metres to put his side in front.

With a late illness forcing Charl Neethling to cry-off Matt Tivey came into the side to make his debut at prop and Burton kicked-off with the sun and wind behind them to get the game underway. Early pressure by the Burton pack took play to inside the visitor’s twenty-two, but after six minutes of this forceful play Luton stole the ball and cleared to inside the Burton half. But a home scrum saw Gilmour kick the ball back to inside the opposition twenty-two. More barn-storming play by Joel Booth, Ben Grocott, Dave Fitchett and Danny Clarke saw Luton concede a penalty and Darryl Banton wasted no time in putting the ball between the uprights to give his side a 3-0 lead.

From the restart Burton charged forward with Jon Edwards leading the fray to start another period of home pressure. But as with last week no points were forth-coming and supporters may have feared another game where early domination and possession wasn’t turned into points and so a chance of to stake an early lead was lost. After good work on the narrow side by Booth, Grocott and Craig Dutton released Sam Smith, but he was stopped inches short of the line. Then tragedy struck as totally against the run of play Luton broke out of defence and showing great pace raced towards the Burton line. But great covering by Dan and Sam Smith saw the winger tackled as the line beckoned, unfortunately Luton recycled the ball quickly and spun it out along the line where their prop Joe Lynch was waited to burst over to score a try. With the conversion missed Luton now led 5-3 after thirty minutes play.

Burton’s pack charged after the restart and good chasing saw Luton knock-on the ball as they tried to clear and so Burton gained the advantage with a scrum inside the opposition ten-metre line. A great scrum by Burton saw Luton driven back and Booth picked-up to drive forward with Fitchett, Grocott, Edwards and Rob Wakelin in support for Luton to once again concede a penalty. With the wind at his back from some thirty-five metres out Banton slotted his kick between the uprights to restore Burton’s lead at 6-5.

Unfortunately during this last Burton surge Tivey received a blow to the head and had to be replaced by young colt Nathan Taylor. The youngster soon showed he was up to the task as Luton got a penalty from the restart and kicked to within five metres of the Burton line. As the home defence was put under pressure Taylor responded superbly to help his team mates by putting in tackles and driving Luton off the ball as the home defence stayed firm. Eventually Burton won the ball and Banton cleared to halfway where Luton knocked-on for a Burton scrum. A good, solid scrum gave Banton the chance to break and he raced to inside the visitor’s twenty-two before being hauled down. Luton recovered to kick back to inside the home half where Dave Archer gathered and returned the ball with interest. Unfortunately a blatant knock-on was not given and Luton stormed back to inside the Burton twenty-two. But the Burton defence was again rock solid and the referee blew for half-time before any further scores were added.

Taylor safely gathered Luton’s kick-off and he drove into the opposition to set up a ruck on the Burton ten-metre line. Slow support saw Luton win a penalty and their kicker Chris Meehan put the ball over the bar to give his side an 8-6 lead after just two minutes of the half. Stirred by this Luton began to throw the ball around and helped by some indifferent handling and passing by the Burton back three they utilised their pace to again set-up prop forward Lynch to dive over for another try. This time Meehan made no mistake with his conversion and Luton now had a 13-6 lead after five minutes of the second half.

Burton replaced Archer with John Philliskirk with a view to using his greater experience at fullback. Another good solid scrum from the Burton pack saw Gilmour dance through the opposition defence to make forty metres before his pass to Dan Smith was adjudged forward and gave Luton a scrum some ten metres from their own line. From this they tried to clear their lines but a confident Philliskirk safely gathered the ball to race back up field to link with Gilmour, Dan Smith and Harry Titley for a move that gained some vital thirty metres to take play to just inside the opposition half. Luton tried to run the ball as they tried to force play forward, but the ever-alert Gilmour pounced to intercept a long pass and snatch the ball. His little legs carried forward as fast as they could go and he out-paced the covering defence with a sixty-metre dash that saw him touch down under the posts. Banton made no mistake with his conversion and Burton were now level at 13-13 with twenty minutes to play.

Sensing the danger Luton pulled out all the stops and only magnificent defending by the Burton side kept them at bay. Unfortunately one great tackle by Fitchett saw him injured and he left the field to be replaced by Jon Parkinson, who was soon showing that twelve months away have seen him become a more mature and forceful player. A great take by Josh Cartwright at a lineout set-up another Burton attack as the pack surged forward. Banton fed Danny Clarke on the narrow side and he took play on another twenty metres with a powerful run before drawing the cover to feed Dan Smith. The latter set his sights on the line and jinked passed the remaining cover to score wide out and once again Banton’s boot ensured maximum points.

So two superb pieces of excellence had given Burton two converted tries in the space of five minutes and had put Burton in a commanding 20-13 lead with barely twelve minutes left to play. But less than two minutes later a lovely piece of running by Luton centre Jimmy Speirs had seen the rock-like Burton defence ripped to shreds as he dashed through to score wide out and narrow the lead to 20-18.

But Burton were far from finished and play was going up and down the field as both sides looked for the next points. Once again Booth, Grocott, Clarke, Edwards and Taylor burst up the field with powerful short bursts and took play to the opposition twenty-two for a ruck. Quick release saw Banton spin the ball out to Gilmour, who again showing his natural flair, tore the defence apart as he danced through for his second try under the posts. Banton again converted and Burton now led 27-18 with eight minutes remaining.
Luton attacked again and a scrum five metres from the Burton line after some heroic Burton defending saw Meehan dummy his way over for a converted try to take the score to 27-25. With five minutes remaining play again swung from end to end but neither defence could be broken and as Burton pressed forward again the final whistle blew to mark the end of a splendid game a