Another error strewn, below par performance by Burton saw them give up a 17-12 halftime lead to lose 34-20 as league leaders Sutton Coldfield totally dominated the second half to score four tries with Burton only adding a penalty goal to their total. Burton controlled the first half with some powerful bursts that blew Sutton away, but the second half saw a complete role reversal as the opposition brushed aside Burton’s attempts at tackling as they played with a arrogance that left Burton floundering. Burton’s inability to gain possession, particularly at the lineouts, saw Sutton exploit gaps within the Burton defensive line and run amok to leave Burton still looking for their first home win of the season.

Sutton kicked off and Craig Dutton caught the ball to race forward thirty metres on a barn storming run, but a failure to control a lineout saw the opposition kick back into home territory For the first ten minutes this was the pattern of play as Burton move up field only to be pegged back when losing possession. A penalty after twelve minutes saw Dave Archer give his side a 3-0 lead after Sutton were caught slowing the ball.

Almost immediately Sutton had chance to draw level but their kicker missed the target and Burton cleared the danger and took play to halfway. Burton’s pack were taking the play to Sutton with Kevin Birt, Kelvin Browne, Matt Tivey and Dutton leading the way. Youngster Nyle Davidson was held up two metres short but the Burton pack arrived in numbers to win quick ball and Darryl Banton fed Ian Gilmour. He spotted the lack of defence out wide and threw a long pass out to Jack Bartram, who in turn fed Archer to race in and run round under the posts for a try that he then converted. This gave Burton a 10-0 lead after just twenty minutes play and from the restart Burton continued to dominate.

Dutton again took the restart and charged up field supported by Birt and Davidson to take Burton into the opposition twenty-two. But the ball was lost and Sutton kicked deep into the Burton half. From the lineout Sutton again got possession and lapse tackled in the Burton back line saw their centre waltz through for a converted try, very much against the run of play. More slack play by Burton saw them let the ball bounce far too much and Sutton swooped to get another try as Burton players looked on as the ball bobbled away from them.

So for the first time Burton trailed 12-10, more due to Burton’s ineptitude than Sutton’s prowess, and with just five minutes of the half to play Burton re-doubled their efforts. Bartram kicked ahead and Danny Smith gave chase but the ball ran into touch on the opposition twenty-two. From the lineout Browne caught the ball to link with Gilmour, who drew the cover before feeding Tivey on the burst. The prop was unstoppable from fifteen metres out and touched down for a try that Archer converted to restore Burton’s lead to 17-12 as the halftime whistle sounded.

Burton kicked-off for the second half and were soon in trouble as Sutton upped their tempo and began to outmuscle Burton. To make matters worse Archer limped off injured after just ten minutes play. This saw some reshuffling in the Burton ranks as Ben Peach came off the bench to play at scrumhalf with Banton moving out to the wing. Sutton were not slow to take advantage of Burton’s misfortune as their outhalf slid through Burton’s poor defence to score a converted try and put his side back in the lead at 19-17.

Bartram landed a penalty goal to restore Burton’s lead at 20-19. But further injuries to Tom Murphy and Kelvin Browne saw Dave Fitchett and Joe Gazzard entered the fray as Burton again had to re-organise their ranks with Birt moving to prop, Dutton to flanker as Gazzard came in at No 8. These changes did little to help Burton’s cause as Sutton began to dominate more and more.

Burton were now being brushed aside as the opposition upped their game and turned the screw helped by weak tackling and more ball watching that resulted in Sutton’s winger racing in for two tries as Burton flaws were exploited. A further try by the opposition centre gave Sutton a 34-20 lead and take away a victory that at halftime had been seen to be within Burton’s grasp.

From victory appearing to be a near certainty Burton’s self made errors and lack of quality possession, particularly at lineouts, saw the home side totally overawed by a rampant second half display from the visitors to leave Burton’s players and coaches looking for answers before next weeks away fixture at Walsall.