Burton travelled to league newcomers Moseley Oak this Saturday. Although new to the league the home team had played well so far and were in mid table. So Burton new they had to play well to win.

The visitors started well and were soon in the Moseley Oak half but dogged defence by the home team forced fly half Harry Titley to kick for the corner. From the lineout Burton turned the ball over causing the home side to commit an offence. Titley converted the penalty to make the score 0-3 after just 5 minutes.

From the kick off the home team fought their way into the Burton half and forced an infringement. However the penalty was missed. This was a wakeup call for Burton who seemed to move up a gear from the kick off with the likes of Will Roach, in for the injured Joe Gazzard, Jack Neal and Kelvin Browne carrying the ball over the gain line. From such a move the visitors recycled the ball and passed swiftly along the back line for Dewi Williams to score in the corner. The try was unconverted.

Again Moseley Oak tried to retaliate but strong defence forced another turnover and the ball found its way to Nick Oxley who scored under the posts. The try was converted by Titley. By this time Burton were rampant and the home team had no answer to the driving of the forwards or the pace of the backs. Further tries were added by Oxley and Brooks which were both converted by Titley to make the score at half time 0-36.

If the few hardy travelling Burton supporters were worried that Burton would repeat last week’s poor second half performance, their fears were unfounded. Apart from a few tired passes the visitors managed to keep the same intensity as they showed in the first half, throughout the second. Nevertheless it was the home team who scored first after the break, through their fly half, who after a period of pressure from the forwards dropped a goal. The score was now 3-36.

Some good defence by Burton, Oxley in particular caused the home side to make handling errors. Burton pounced on these and worked their way back in Moseley Oak territory for Loz Betty to charge through the defence and score under the posts. The try was again converted by Titley. More good work from the Burton backs allowed Oxley to run in under the posts for his hat trick try which was again converted by Titley. Oxley then added a fourth try to his tally but his attempt to convert his own try failed. Still the Burton backs were not finished and with a break out from their own 22 the ball was transferred to Jack Brooks who ran from the halfway line fending off the covering tackler to score in the corner. The try was unconverted. The score now 3-60.

The home team refused to give in and strong work by their forwards caused Burton to concede a penalty. Moseley Oak lost the ensuing lineout, however the visitors committed a further offence. This time a quick tap penalty was taken to catch the visitors unaware and the home team ran in for a consolation try. The try was unconverted.

The Burton forwards had the last word, however, when following a knock on by the home team fullback, they scored a push over try from the scrum. Kelvin Browne got the touch down. Titley again converted to make the final score 8-67.

This was a thoroughly good performance by the Burton team which sees the rise to second in the Midlands 1 West league, behind the unbeaten Newport. This should put them in good heart for their home game against the league leaders next Saturday.