A win over Dudley Kingswinford lifted Burton to fifth place in Midlands One West. The game was very much in the balance at half-time and it was good performance from Burton to secure victory.
Burton kicked off on Peel Croft and Dudley K cleared to touch. From a good line-out, Dave Archer attacked from Fly Half and the progress was advanced by Matt Tivey, Jack Brooks, Harry Titley and Alfie Grant. Play was called back for a forward pass just as it seemed Grant would score in the corner. Tivey twisted an ankle and was replaced by Tom Murphy making his 100th first XV appearance.
Burton kept play in the visitors twenty two but were met with excellent defence until they were awarded with a penalty. Archer kicked wide and Dudley K were able to enter the Burton half for the first time.
Dudley were awarded a scrum on the Burton twenty two and Burton edged forward before the Dudley K No. 8 broke down the blind-side fed his winger who scored in the corner. It was a soft try aided by a stumble in the Burton back row, but the damage was minimised when the kick went wide.
The action was played out in the middle of the field before a penalty for Burton allowed Titley to find touch on the twenty two. James Davies threw to Joe Gazzard and the Burton pack drove forward. DK held the drive but then Ed Saunders and Murphy made carries taking the ball to the line. Eddie Nicholls at Scrum Half decided to use width and Brooks threw a scoring pass to Grant. The youngster touched down five metres in from the right touchline. Archer struck the kick superbly and Burton had a lead.
Dudley K piled on the pressure and Burton absorbed it successfully before Jack Neale made a half break only for the ball to be knocked on at the ruck. Dudley K continued to pressure and from a penalty they hit the post. The visitors were dominant at this point and produced an excellent try when their two strongest runners combined to open Burton up. The successful kick made the score 7-12.
After the kick off Burton pressed the visitors back and from a Penalty they drove a lineout over the twenty two. Dudley K infringed and Titley kicked for the corner. Davies found Gazzard at the front and Burton drove over with Josh Cartwright touching down. The angle was awkward but Archer was kicking imperiously and made it 14-12 in Burton’s favour with 3 minutes to play.
Dudley K attacked and whilst overall Burton were very well disciplined a penalty cost them three points at the stroke of half-time.
Lewis Sturgess replaced Saunders at No. 8. Burton produced a massive scrum on half way but the Referee deemed the method illegal. Mysteriously Burton then lost two of their own put-ins and were stuck in their own half for a spell. A high tackle gave DK a shot at goal which was missed but tellingly Archer was able to find the target from 40 meters moments later.
Edging into the led seemed to give Burton confidence. Some good work from Titley and young Joe Gorman advanced play down a narrow blind-side. A penalty was kicked to touch and the Burton pack rumbled forward from the line-out. Dudley K stopped the advance but it was at the cost of a yellow card. Burton were turning the screw as there were further penalties awarded, but then took a quick tap and knocked on. Dudley K relived the pressure but Burton swiftly advanced fifty metres showing much more of a spark than they had before half-time.
The forwards almost crossed from a line-out drive but the pressure eventually told when Nick Oxley managed to squeeze in beside the left-hand corner flag. Mon of the Match Archer made the kick look simple to give his side a nine point cushion.
Dudley K attacked after the Kick Off but Saunders and Gazzard forced a penalty. Burton were probing for a Bonus Point but the defence from Dudley was solid. Matt Davies blitzed up and thwarted a Dudley K counter, Burton turned over and Archer kicked though but agonisingly Matt Davies couldn’t ground the ball successfully. Further pressure followed but Dudley K held out and Burton triumphed 24-15 having kept a clean sheet in the second-half.
Next week Burton make the trip to Hereford which is always a stern test, but back to back wins will help the mood of the squad.

Some photos taken by Rob Campion are available to view online, follow the link to his website - http://rambler77.zenfolio.com/p186982437