A decent crowd gathered to witness a very decent match. Yet again Burton were forced into changes with forwards taking places in the back division.
The match started with Bridgnorth on the attack straight away and after a penalty award for Burton not releasing in the tackle a good finish in the corner by Bridgnorth made the score line 5-0.
On 7 minutes Burton were forced into yet another change with Shaw off and Sturgess on. Yet again Gazzard stepped up to the front row to show his versatility. The scrum from this point in the match was an even contest. Burton’s lineout was working well as this much shuffled team started to believe in getting something out of the match.
On 15 minutes a great attacking move involving all the forwards in good pod work ended up with Neal on the wing creating havoc as Burton pressed for a try. This was followed up by his opposite winger English dancing through to create yet another opening.
Bridgnorth and the good side that they are stepped up the pressure and a series of good plays put ever increasing pressure on the Burton line. Resolute defending on their own line with forwards and backs time after time knocking back the Bridgnorth attacks.
We were now at the midpoint of the half and the belief from this young Burton side started to show as English and Grant tried attacking from deep ,Burton were winning the breakdown area with Sturgess ,Briggs and Saunders leading the way.
Hucknall and Henry were carrying well and Gazzard was having one of his best ever games for Burton as the home crowd started to believe.
But on 27 minutes with the game still at 5-0 a great period of play from both sides, Bridgnorth attacked spurred into attack from the Burtons great defence. A rolling maul from a lineout put pressure on the Burton line until great pressure from first M Davies and then the whole of the Burton back row created a knock on.
From the resultant scrum a half break from Titley and Nicholls with great work across the whole field created a space for Nicholls to wriggle through to score under the posts. Titley added the extras for Burton to lead 7-5. The rest of the half was dominated by Bridgnorth and they got there just rewards as they scored out wide after some good phases. Burton were probably guilty at this point of committing too many to the breakdown but that could be deemed harsh. A great conversion out wide.
With the half petering away into injury time Bridgnorth scored again after another penalty by Burton for not releasing in the tackle, when it could have gone the other way for not releasing the ball after good work again by Saunders and company .A try to Bridgnorth again out wide gave the score line a more comfortable look for the visitors at 7-17. Not to be outdone this Burton side kept giving and deep into added time a penalty to make the score line 10-17. Half time
As is often said the first score in the second half could be crucial. Burton started well and a couple of penalties conceded by Bridgnorth resulted in Burton being camped in the North 22. On 48 minutes Tiltey pushed a penalty kick to touch on the North 5m line. The lineout bravely was sent to the back of the lineout, taken by Briggs and as Burton probed only great defence by Bridgnorth kept them out. Sensing this was their time; more pressure was exerted on the Bridgnorth defence with penalties flowing. On another day who knows yellow cards to the defending team could have come earlier. Yet another lineout on the Bridgnorth 5m line ,and yet another great take at the front by Gazzard led to the maul rolling to the line with hooker J Davies finishing off what he’d started with the throw . Conversion added 17-17 …game on.
After 60 minutes Bunting came on replacing Briggs with Neal moving into the forwards. The last 20 of the match was nip and tuck as both sides wanted victory. On 65 minutes Gazzard ripped the ball free to turnover, Gorman put a big hit in on the tackle as this game slowly crept Bridgnorth’s way.
Another penalty was slotted home by Bridgnorth from distance to edge the game 17-20. Gorman put a kick down field into space, Bunting chased with Grant in support as Burton sought to keep the North in their own 22. Pressure told and a yellow card was given on 65 minutes for persistent offending. Tiltey cooly slotted home and now made the score 20-20.
To be fair this spurred Bridgnorth on and only a super turnover at the breakdown Sturgess stopped Bridgnorth in a very dangerous attack.
Now entering added time and a penalty gave Bridgnorth the lead 20-23 and deeper into added time Bridgnorth denied Burton anything from the game with a try which proved why they are league leaders. Bridgnorth moved the ball well around the pitch and Burton tiring at this point just ran out of defensive numbers at the death.
The match sponsors gave man of the match to Grant but in all honesty anyone of the Burton 18 named could have made a case. Cruelly denied at the end made the score Burton 20 Bridgnorth 30.