Rain throughput the morning and for the first hour of the game made for difficult conditions in Kenilworth for the visit of Burton. Great resolve from Burton enabled them to come back for a well- deserved victory.
Burton kicked off with a strong wind at their right shoulders and turned over immediately. Ed Henry and Jack Neale made carries before a penalty was awarded and Eddie Nicholls claimed the three points.
Joe Gazzard and Josh Cartwright tidily handled the re-start and then Harry Titley kicked into the twenty two for the home Full back to knock-on. Burton with debutant Alex Gale at Tight Head, got a nudge on before Loz Betty, Neale and Gazzard tested the defence. The defence turned over and then counter-attacked to the Burton twenty two with their first real possession. Burton then defended excellently forcing play back to the ten metre line but then conceded a penalty. The difficult kick fell short in the wind and Burton cleared their lines.
Matt Davies took a difficult high ball and Titley used the wind to find space in the twenty two which the home side knocked on. Burton scrummaged well but there was a lack of support for Gazzard as he picked up from the base and a penalty was conceded.
Kenilworth advance to the Burton twenty two before Ed Henry and Joe Briggs held up the ball carrier, who then was penalised ten metres for dissent. James Davies charged up the five metre channel from the line-out before Kenilworth attacked again and it took a Loz Betty tackle to stem the tide. Kenilworth recycled the ball and earned another shot at goal from the tee, but the ball slid wide.
Full Back Nick Oxley dealt with an awkward kick through but Kenilworth were soon back in the Burton twenty two. Despite the advantage of the wind Burton were struggling to escape until their dominant scrum was awarded a penalty. Titley smashed the ball 45 metres to touch. James Davies found Cartwright with his throw and the Burton pack drove forty metres and the Hooker scored the try. Nicholls came close with the difficult conversion, but the score remained 0-8.
Gale caught the re-start and Burton trundled over half way before Matt Davies was injured making a carry and was replaced on the wing by 17 year old Elliot Grant.
Burton finished the half applying significant pressure but couldn’t transpose it into points. Whether an eight point lead would be sufficient remained to be seen. In the process Titley took a knock from one of several late arrivals from the opposing Open-Side.
Burton were immediately pinned back and opted to try and run their way out of trouble several times. The eventual clearance kick was charged down and the home side won the scramble to flop on the ball in goal and the converted to close the gap to a single point.
Dewi Williams clattered into the kick receiver and then Francisco Zeleme made a powerful carry.
The average age of the starting Burton bench was 25 and Crag Dutton the only one older than 17 came on to replace Titley at Fly Half.
Burton conceded a couple of penalties in quick succession and the home side surged forward before taking the lead with a Penalty Goal.
Jeri Oldfield replace Briggs on the flank.
The penalties continued and a kick to the twenty two gave Kenilworth a good position. Gazzard stole the throw before James Davies, Neale, Oldfield, Dutton and Zeleme took the ball right the way to the other twenty two. A penalty was awarded and Nicholls calmly regained the lead.
The last twenty five minutes were frantic and fiercely contested. There were handling errors but Burton were happy to pack down whoever was putting in such was their dominance at scrum time. The paly went from end to end but Burton when Burton lifted the tempo they looked the more dangerous side.
Kenilworth threatened on the right wing but Oldfield smashed the ball carrier and then Gazzard stole another line-out. Gale made a strong carry and Burton had the put in on thirty metres out. A huge scrum powered forward and then a classic diagonal run from Betty opened up the defence on the Burton left hand side. Betty times his pass to Jack Brooks perfectly for a score in the corner.
Burton led 16-10 but there was still time for a few more minutes of play. Oxley relieved the pressure with a terrific kick to the twenty two and Kenilworth were penalised for playing the ball from an off-side position. Nicholls kicked for the corner. Cartwright somehow took the ball one-handed and Burton pressed the line before being penalised for handling on the floor.
Kenilworth made ground quickly but on the last play their line-out throw didn’t cross the five metre lie and Burton came away with a very solid four points.