A change, owing to a facial injury to new player James Litchfield, saw Rob Wakelin take his familiar role at tighthead prop in the frontrow and bought Matt Tivey onto the bench as Burton travelled to play Old Northamptonians in a vital match in their fight to avoid relegation. But even this late move did nothing to stop the current Burton upsurge as they once again came from behind to battle their way to a hard, fought two point victory (14-16) to put more pressure on their drop-zone rivals.

Burton kicked-off to start the game, playing down the slope and with a slight breeze at their backs, and immediately showed their intent as Kelvin Brown, Will Brooks and Dave Fitchett attacked and drove back the opposition catcher. But the North pack quickly got behind their man and began to start their own forward thrust only to concede an early penalty, which Dave Archer put into touch on the opposition ten-metre line. The first of many poor lineouts for Burton saw the hosts win the ball to go forward and attack as they spun the ball out wide. Great tackles from Luke Peach and Jon Evans showed that the Burton defence was not going to be pierced easily as North felt the force of some heavy tackling. A good solid Burton scrum allowed Evans to clear the danger with a kick that took play back to halfway.

A second penalty against Burton for not releasing the ball in the tackle saw the normally reliable opposition kicker put the ball well outside the uprights from twenty metres out in front of the posts. More pressure followed for the Burton defence but their hosts could find no way through as both man and ball were unceremoniously dumped to the deck as Lawrence Betty and Lewis Brooks tackled like demons. Eventually a penalty kick by Peach indirectly cleared the danger, though the kick failed to find touch as North tried to run the ball they dropped the ball and Burton were awarded a scrum. Another solid Burton scrum saw Joel Booth picked up from the base and charged forward. When stopped he spun the ball out to the ever, alert Ian Gilmour who darted through the startled defenders to race forty metres down the touchline. He was half-tackled just three metres short of the line and North were penalised to allow Peach to put the ball in touch for a Burton lineout. For once the throw-in and catch were clean as Brooks took the ball and the Burton pack steam rolled forward to drive over the line for a try that was claimed by a very happy looking Danny Clarke. Archer’s conversion narrowly missed, but Burton now led 5-0 after twenty minutes play.

A series of penalties against Burton saw the opposition move up the pitch, but once again the North kicker failed to live up to his reputation as his attempts on goal missed the target. Burton fought back and Booth drove up to the Burton ten-metre line before his side conceded yet another penalty, but this time the kicker didn’t miss the target and his successful kick reduced the deficit to just two points at 5-3. Another failed attempt just dropping under the bar followed as to their frustration and cost Burton continued to concede silly penalties. These errors put Burton under more pressure but they still attacked with runs by Jon Crisp, Betty, Gilmour and Booth, but North replied with some high hanging kicks. Burton dealt with these until one longer kick saw Archer racing back and for some reason kicking the ball over the dead-ball line from some thirty metres out. The resulting dropout saw North take the ball and charge towards the Burton line and their prop was carried over the line to touch down and give his side an 8-5 lead with half-time five minutes away. Although the hosts tried to extend this lead before the break solid work by Jon Edwards, Rob Wakelin, Will Brooks, Danny Clarke and James Hamilton made life difficult for their pack who were eventually penalised for non-release and the break arrived with no further score.

Now playing up the slope and against the breeze Burton knew they had it all to do in the second half if they were to get anything out of this game, but they were still in with a chance and just needed to stay calm and not panic. Gilmour took the restart and as Burton moved the ball out wide some poor passing gave North a scrum. From this they kicked up field only to again find Gilmour, who had already broken passed two defenders before the referee could blew for offside. From thirty metres out and slightly to the left of the posts Archer made no mistake as his kick sailed between the uprights to put Burton back on level terms at 8-8 after just three minutes of the second-half.

Edwards took the restart and Burton moved the ball out wide where Lewis Brooks was eventually bundled into touch. North won the lineout but good work by Browne, Fitchett and Booth saw Burton gain the ball as it crabbed towards the centre of the pitch, but over eager North hands were penalised. So from practically the centre spot Archer stepped up to kick the ball straight between the posts and twenty-metres above the bar to leave all spectators rubbing their eyes as Burton went into the lead 11-8.

But this joy was short lived as from the kick-off yet another Burton offence gave North the chance to level the scores, which their kicker again duly accepted. So with thirty minutes to go it was all square and any ones game.

Browne chased after Archer’s restart and took the ball on the full supported by Edwards and the pair charged forward to set up a maul. Quick ball saw Evans feed Peach, who slipped the ball inside to Fitchett, who drove forward with Booth at his elbow and a dynamic burst of power saw Booth surge over to score his second try in successive games. Archer couldn’t match his earlier kicking feats and his conversion just curled outside the near upright, but Burton now led by 16-11.

Edwards and Evans took play forward from the restart as the ball was returned into North’s territory. The ball emerged with North and they surged down the pitch but resolute defending by Peach, Brooks and Betty eventually saw Archer tackle an opposition prop into touch on the Burton twenty-two. Another offence by Burton gave away a chance for North to cut the deficit but yet again their kicker missed a fairly easy chance. Kicks by Peach and Archer put play back into North territory as Burton replaced Wakelin and Crisp with Matt Tivey and Harry Titley. Then another massive Archer kick sailed from his own to the opposition twenty-two and from the resulting chase and maul Burton got a penalty, but Archer again missed the target. North continued to attack but great tackling by everyone, especially Peach, Browne and Brooks, kept them out as time and again moves came to shuddering halts as Burton tackles smacked in. With three minutes to go North replaced their kicker and the new incumbent managed to get three points as his attempt bounced in off the upright.

Burton surged back upfield and a great scrum saw them gain further ground as Booth powered forward with his pack around him, but a final penalty offence saw North mount one last fling as they took a quick tap and go. Evans hit the man with the ball and the Burton pack soon stole the ball to put paid to any other scores as the final whistle sounded for Burton to leave the field happy in the way they had played and worthy of the result they had achieved.