Burton travelled to Stoke on Saturday, to resume their league campaign, in confidant mood following their convincing victory over level five team Lichfield in the Staffordshire cup last weekend.

However poor starts seem to be becoming a habit for Burton and the match started badly for them. The home team caught the visitors on the hop straight from the kick off, when instead of clearing the ball to touch they ran the ball from their own goal line. A poor clearance kick by Burton allowed the Stoke backs to again run through the Burton backs and the visitors were penalised for not rolling away after a tackle. Stoke took the penalty quickly and ran in to score the first try under the posts. The conversion was added making the score 7-0 less than ten minutes into the game.

From the kick off the Stoke backs again ran with the ball pressurising the Burton defence. Another poor clearance kick was fielded easily by the Stoke full back and passed along the back line for the winger to score in the corner. The try was not converted so the score was now 12-0.

As Burton got themselves into the game it became clear why the home team were choosing to run the ball at every opportunity. The Burton forwards were much stronger both in set scrums and in loose play. Burton were awarded a penalty and from the ensuing lineout the forwards drove the ball over the line. Ed Saunders got the touch down. The try was unconverted.

The teams then exchanged penalties, Dave Archer converting for Burton, to make the score now 15-8. The visitors again worked their way into Stoke territory and were awarded a penalty about five yards from the goal line and in front of the posts. Instead of kicking the penalty they opted for a scrum. This proved to be the correct decision as they pushed the home pack over the line with Kelvin Browne getting the touch down. Dave Archer added the two points to make the score at half time 15-15.

After the break the visitors continued to improve and it was their turn to run the ball out of defence. The forwards and backs combined to run through the home defence for Ed Saunders to score. Archer converted to make the score now 15-22.

It was now the home teams turn to make some poor defensive kicks which the visitors were able to capitalise on. Some strong running out of defence saw the ball finding its way to fullback Malcolm Theo to score wide out. The conversion was missed.

Stoke piled the pressure on again through their speedy back line, forcing another infringement by the visitors. From the resultant penalty they scored a converted try. The score was now 22-27.

From the kick off Burton carried the ball out of defence with a series of driving runs by the forwards. After going through several phases the ball was then recycled quickly for centre Jack Brooks to score under the posts. Archer again added the conversion.

From the kick off some good running by the backs and forwards alike saw Burton awarded a penalty. Archer kicked the goal which meant that the home team now need to score three times to win with about ten minutes remaining. Stoke were not finished yet however and a series of penalty infringements by the visitors allowed them to eventually score under the posts. The try was converted making the final score 29-37.

This was an exciting game for the spectators but Burton will want to sharpen up their defence especially early on in the game.