The visitors kicked off and the ball was immediately knocked on by Burton so this was an inauspicious start. However from the ensuing scrum it became clear that the Burton pack was stronger as they pushed the Kenilworth scrum backwards. The Burton backs were also tackling well and caused the visitor’s back line to make mistakes. The ball was knocked on and from the scrum Burton won the ball and moved it along the back line. Lewis Brooks made a run well into the Kenilworth 22 before he was tackled but the ball was recycled quickly to fly half Harry Titley who sidestepped his opposite number to score under the posts. Dave Archer converted to make the score 7-0 after just 5 minutes.

From the restart strong running and passing by forwards and backs alike forced an error from the visitors who were penalised for being offside. Dave Archer kicked the penalty to make the score 10-0 after 12 minutes.

Burton continued to make inroads into the visitors’ half and further good passing by the Burton backs release full back Nick Oxley to score in the 17th minute. The try was again converted by Archer to make the score 17-0.

The home team continued to dominate and a poor clearance kick by the Kenilworth full back allowed Lewis Brooks to show a clean pair of heels to score close to the goal posts. Archer again converted to make the score 24-0.

There followed a short period of pressure by the visitors but the Burton defence was strong and eventually turned the ball over. A bullocking run by Kelvin Browne found Darryl Banton following up to score under the posts. Again converted by Archer to make the score 31-0.

Kenilworth again put pressure on the Burton defence causing full back Oxley to commit an offence for which he was sin binned. With only 2 minutes of the half remaining the Burton defence held out. The half time score being 31-0.

The Burton supporters were eagerly anticipating an equally exciting second half, but sadly this was not to be the case. Even after the sin binned Oxley returned to the field play a period of sloppy play including handling errors and poor clearance kicks led to Burton spending most of the second period in their own half of the field. However strong defence, in particular by captain Jack Neal and man of the match Joe Gazzard, enabled the home team to keep a clean sheet.

Only Burton’s second incursion into the Kenilworth 22 came in the 70th minute of the game when the forwards were again able to produce quick ball for Archer to score under the posts and convert his own try.

There being no further significant action in the game Burton ran out 38-0 winners to take them up to fourth place in Midlands 1 West behind Newport, Bournville and Stratford.

By Nick Counter