Burton kicked off, turned over and knocked on leading to a scrum on the twenty two of visiting Whitchurch. The visitors cleared before Full Back Dave Archer returning from injury drilled the ball into touch with the Whitchurch twenty two. The visitors won the lineout only for James Davies to bundle the Scrum Half into touch. Burton were unable to capitalise on a good position. Whitchurch cleared and then drove a lineout some 25 metres, moved the ball into their backs and ignored an overlap. Several phases followed before a neat off-load create the first score of the game. The conversion was successful.
Whitchurch had the wind at their backs and were also enjoying the majority of possession. Elliot Grant made a break for Burton but the ball was lost and the visitors were soon playing in the Burton twenty two again. Whitchurch played through several phases before kicking a penalty and establishing a ten point lead.
Joe Gazzard, James Davies, Jack Brooks, Pancho Zeleme and Loz Betty got their hands on the ball before possession was lost however Burton were awarded a penalty. Jack Neale took the lineout and Zeleme took play forward on a peel. Burton played back towards the left wing where Grant scored his fourth try in four games. On a less windy day Harry Titley’s conversion attempt would have been perfect.
Whitchurch kicked straight out due to the wind and soon afterwards Titley kicked a penalty to the opponents twenty two. Nick Oxley received the ball in the centre of the field on the twenty two running on a diagonal. After a series of big hand-offs he was over in the left corner for a great try. Again Titley struck the kick well but the wind was directly on his face and it fell just short.
With the scores now level there were ten minutes of end to end play before Burton broke the deadlock. Whitchurch kicked to touch after a penalty but Burton countered the drive excellently and earned the put-in at a scrum. Josh Cartwright got the ball in centre field made a show and go before passing to Liam Hucknall who then released Grant on the wing. The youngster was pulled down but re-cycled that ball and Titley dived over for the try. Captain Titley converted and Burton led 17-10.Good work from Neale Titley and Archer took play into the Whitchurch half before the whistle.
Tom Murphy replaced Zeleme at the interval. Play was scrappy for a while before Joe Gazzard was Red Carded for a boot to an opponent’s head. It can only be observed that this player is not normally a violent player.
Fourteen man Burton battled away for several minutes before the Whitchurch Full Back ran a kick back and through just one pass against some sloppy defending released his Right Wing to score. The conversion levelled the score at 17-17. The Burton kick off failed to go ten metres and from the base of the scrum the Whitchurch 8 & 9 released the Right Wing for a second try which was not converted. It looked like being a difficult last twenty five minutes for Burton at this point.
Je Briggs replaced Lewis Sturgess on the flank. Betty made a superb carry on a trademark line form half way to the twenty two. Whitchurch were blitzing up in defence all day and Titley deftly chipped over them and gathered to score. The kick went wide but the scores were level.
Cartwright Hucknall and Adam Smith took the kick back into the Whitchurch half before a big scrum from the visitors earned them the put-in. From this set-piece the centres combined and the Right Wing crossed for his hat-trick. Again the wind made the kick drift off-course.
Matt Davies replaced Grant on the wing with fifteen minutes of normal time remaining.
Archer and Oxley combined to counter attack and gain fifty metres with Oxley eventually being forced over the right touch-line. Burton stole the ball before James Davies and Betty made ground. Burton were penalised for going off their feet. Zeleme returned at Prop for Smith.
The Whitchurch backs were advancing over half way when a shuddering tackle from Betty dislodged the ball. Brooks seized upon it and scampered clear before running under the posts and touching down. Archer knocked over the conversion as Burton over-turned a deficit for the third time.
There were still at least six minutes to play at this point. Betty again took play to the visitors twenty two but there was a counter attack and forward pass. Whitchurch regained the ball and were awarded a penalty but their line-out throw fell to Zeleme who surged to line only for the ball to be held up.
Whitchurch were awarded a penalty but missed touch. Murphy gathered and ran the ball back and heroic Burton closed the game out for a famous victory.
Burton now top the league courtesy of Bridgnorth and Kenilworth having a game in hand.