For their last league fixture of the season Burton faced Malvern RFC on Peel Croft. With relegation now certain it was pure pride the Burton squad were playing for as they looked for a confidence boosting victory not just to end the season on but prior to the County Cup final at Walsall on Wednesday evening.

A solid, workman-like first half display saw Burton go into the break leading 12-0, but a much invigorated Malvern emerged after the break and pushed hard to get within two points and nearly steal victory. Although down to thirteen men for the last ten minutes the Burton side showed what they are made of and earned their colours to not only hang on but by also increasing their slender lead to finish with a win.

Malvern kicked-off and with Jon Edwards gathering the kick and after the initial drive good work saw Dave Fitchett, Ben Grocott, Lawrence Betty and Craig Dutton take play to the Malvern ten-metre line. Then a good take by Will Brooks at a lineout saw the Burton pack surge forward to the opposition twenty-two where Joel Booth was stopped and Burton won a penalty for slowing the ball. But Luke Peach missed his touch and Malvern got a twenty-two dropout, but Burton couldn’t gather the ball and Malvern put the ball back to halfway.

A period of frantic play by both sides saw the game hover around midway, but as Malvern tried to run the ball they were penalised for crossing. Dave Archer’s kick from forty-five metres out hit the posts and supporters may possibly have wondered if that would be the tale of Burton’s day. But the Burton team had other ideas as Peach chipped through only for Archer to be judged just in touch as he carried on the move. Then Darryl Banton safely gathered a Malvern clearance and returned the kick before chasing after it and hitting the receiver as he caught the ball to take play into the opposition twenty-two. These individual efforts, though, were to no avail as other moves ended with Burton losing control or dropping the ball. But then Burton put together a string of passes that ultimately saw Peach to feed Jim Litchfield, who powered his way twenty-metres down the field before being hauled down. But from the ruck Jon Evans fed Booth. He found Banton outside in support and taking the ball he raced through a flat-footed Malvern defence to score Burton’s first points after twenty minutes play.

The restart saw Malvern surge forward as Burton once again failed to control the bouncing ball and Burton were given off-side at a maul, but from thirty-metres out in front of the posts the Malvern kicker'’ effort sailed wide of the posts for Burton to breathe again. This was repeated some three minutes later as Burton again fell foul of the referee’s whistle. This time Evans gathered the attempt and linked with Jon Crisp and Betty to run the ball out of defence, but the ball was lost and only Banton’s kick saved the day as he cleared to touch. This started a good passage of Burton play as Edwards stole the lineout and first Evans and then Peach kicked with good effect to take play to inside Malvern twenty-two. Here, a great steal by Brooks set up a rolling maul that saw the Burton pack surge towards the line. Rob Wakelin and Rob Beddard were both stopped before Dave Fitchett hurled himself over the line for a try. Archer converted the try and Burton now led 12-0 after thirty minutes rugby.
A high tackle on Beddard as he gathered the restart saw the Malvern flanker sin binned for his efforts and from the penalty Archer kicked the ball deep into the opposition twenty-two. Good runs by Grocott and Beddard saw Peach get good ball to feed to Archer, but the winger was tackled into touch just five metres short of the line. Malvern cleared the danger but the half ended with Banton, Dutton and Archer chasing an Evans kick that just beat them all as it trickled into touch.

Archer’s kick-off went deep into the Malvern half, but their return was knocked-on by Evans as he tried to gather and so Malvern had a scrum just inside the Burton half. But Burton won the ball and it was spun down the line where, after Dutton’s initial bustling burst, Betty and Archer took play into the Malvern twenty-two. Unfortunately during this move Grocott sustained a shoulder injury and left the field to be replaced by Chris Atchison.

Although Burton took the play to Malvern all too often lost ball in contact cost Burton dear and Malvern were able to counter attack. A penalty against Burton for offside saw a quick tap by a Malvern centre catch Burton napping and he raced thirty metres to score under the posts for a converted try and reduce Burton’s lead to 12-7. Then as Malvern attacked again Dutton was seen to hold his man and Malvern got a penalty in front of the posts twenty-five metres out. The Malvern kicker duly obliged and the score now read 12-10 with twenty-five minutes to play.

Play became somewhat spasmodic as both sides tried to gain control and territorially it was Malvern who were in command but Burton’s defence was solid with forwards and backs putting in great tackles to stop threatening moves. Malvern’s clearances were well taken by Banton, Evans, Archer and Crisp who ran the ball back making plenty of ground, but turnover ball cost Burton dear. A great take by Brooks set-up a powerful Burton surge and took play into the Malvern twenty-two, but ball lost again and danger was cleared. Archer took a long clearance kick and attacked at pace with Crisp and Banton in support but as ball was fed back inside it was dropped just five metres from Malvern line.

Burton replaced Wakelin with Matt Tivey as Malvern upped the tempo and some great powerful runs by their big second rows put Burton under pressure and with twelve minutes remaining Fitchett was sin binned for slowing down the ball near the Burton twenty-two. Malvern opted for a scrum but lost the ball for Archer to clear to halfway. Litchfield collapsed a catch and drive by Malvern so Burton were reduced to thirteen men. From the penalty Malvern kicked to the Burton twenty-two, but Burton again stole the ball and with Booth, Edwards, Crisp and Dutton leading the way they charged up field to earn a scrum near halfway. This saw Wakelin, for yet another final episode on his league career, return for Atchison to fulfil Burton’s front row needs. Evans broke clear and kicked ahead to take play inside the Malvern twenty-two where Tivey, Booth, Beddard, Wakelin and Edwards all tried to drive over for a vital score to clinch the game. A five-metre scrum to Burton as Joe Gazzard entered the fray for Brooks and the Burton pack used all of its experience, strength and determination to drive towards the line. The Malvern pack collapsed for the referee to award a penalty try for Archer’s conversion to sail high over the bar and end the game with Burton 19-10 winners. A fitting reward for the grit and effort shown throughout the game, but especially in the last ten minutes when thirteen took on fifteen and won to help restore Burton’s pride and confidence.