Once again Burton kept their supporters hanging by a thread before a last minute drop goal by Harry Titley clinched victory for the Burton side. While this game was not the spectacle provided last week it was definitely a credit to the tenacity and resolve of a Burton side that battled from 13-6 down to overcome the odds of playing with only fourteen men for the last twenty-five minutes and securing a thoroughly deserved victory.

A training injury to Will Brooks saw a late change as Jon Edwards moved back into the second row and Kelvin Browne came in at flanker. Burton kicked-off with the wind at their backs and a good take by Tigers allowed them to show their intent with a series of short forward bursts that took play back to halfway. A penalty against Burton saw the home side kick deep into the opposition twenty-two. Tigers drove forward from the lineout but Burton’s pack defended solidly, but an offside decision gave the home side chance to put points on the board as the successful kick sailed between the uprights.

More pressure from the home side saw Burton defending like terriers with Joel Booth, Ben Grocott and Kelvin Browne leading the resistance backed up by the rest of the Burton pack. Burton snapped up a loose ball and Ian Gilmour kicked back to halfway to ease the pressure. The Burton pack now began to pile pressure on the home side as Booth, Edwards, Rob Wakelin and Danny Clarke set up a series of powerful runs. All this saw Tigers penalised and after a discussion between all the officials the referee awarded Darryl Banton the three points to level the scores.

Gilmour’s restart saw Tigers kick to clear any danger, but it only caused some as Banton gathered and raced forty metres before being tackled just short of the line. But as the Burton pack steamed forward the home side conceded another penalty and this time Banton’s kick sailed over the posts to give his side a 6-3 lead after twenty minutes play.

With both sides keeping the ball close play became somewhat static with both sets of forwards fiercely contesting for the ball. The referee adjudged that Grocott had offended once too often and yellow carded him. But worse was to follow when three minutes later Charl Neethling was also yellow carded for a high tackle. Now down to thirteen men Burton’s defence was being sorely tested as Tigers pressed forward, but with the whole team tackling like demons Burton’s line remained intact until the halftime whistle sounded.

The second half started with Dave Archer taking the kick and racing forward forty metres before being stopped but as he slipped the ball to Grocott the ball was lost.
John Philliskirk replaced Archer and was soon fielding kicks and racing forward to link with Dan and Sam Smith to make valuable ground. A series of closely contested but scrappy play resulted in Banton being red carded for a swinging arm offence and Burton now had twenty-five minutes to lay with just fourteen men. Sensing an opportunity Tigers surged forward and after several attempts managed to break the resolute Burton defence with a converted try to retake the lead at 10-6. Burton responded by bringing on Nathan Taylor for Neethling just as Tigers missed an easy penalty attempt. But moments later another offside decision gave their kicker a chance to extend his team’s lead to 13-6 with twelve minutes play remaining.

Tiger’s supporters thought their team were home and dry, but they hadn’t realised that true grit is in Staffordshire as well as Yorkshire. Despite being a man down Burton took the play to the opposition with Craig Dutton playing at flanker and Gilmour at scrumhalf. They started to drive into the Tigers half as Edwards, Danny Clarke, Browne, Dutton, Booth and Taylor made forceful runs to take Burton forward. Under the pressure Tigers began to give away penalties and Gilmour kicked the ball into the corners. If Tigers did manage to get possession the ferocity of Burton’s tackling made them panic, losing the ball as Burton drove them back. In particularly Browne put in some superb tackles to stop any likely breaks into Burton territory. Another kick by Gilmour into the corner saw Josh Cartwright take yet another superb ball to set up a rolling maul. Burton surged over the line but the unsighted referee rule not grounded and gave Burton a scrum. With the pack straining at every sinew they drove back the scrum and Tigers gave away another penalty. Burton opted for the scrum and again surged forward and this was repeated two or three times before the referee awarded a penalty try that Titley converted to level the scores at 13-13 and three minutes to play.

Still not satisfied Booth roared his team on for one last effort and they duly replied as Dutton, Clarke, Grocott and Edwards took play up to the home twenty-two. Burton won the scrum and Booth picked up supported by Jon Parkinson (on for Browne) and Grocott to drive the ball to fifteen metres out in the front of the posts. Titley moved back into the pocket and Gilmour fed him the ball for the youngster to bisect the uprights with a well-struck drop goal to clinch a Burton victory as the final whistle sounded.