After a tense and hard battle Burton took the honours and emerged victorious from this Midland 1 (West) fixture against local rivals Lichfield at their Cooke’s Field ground as they recorded their third successive league victory thanks to this very satisfying 17-22 score line. All games between these two sides are normally close run encounters and this one was no different as Burton came back from 17-5 down to take control and earn themselves a well, deserved victory to the joy and pleasure of all their travelling supporters.

Lichfield playing with a strong wind behind them started the stronger of the two sides with their backs looking very sharp they rapidly made progress into the Burton half and put Burton under pressure in their own 22. From here ex-Burton scrum half, Jon Evans, charged down an attempted clearance kick from his opposite number Ben Peach and the loose ball went back over the Burton line. But, much to Lichfield's disappointment, the race to touch down between Evans and Burton's Kelvin Brown was deemed to be won by Brown and Burton could breathe again.

Burton were struggling to generate any possession and the continuous pressure by Lichfield led to their three quarters breaking the Burton back line and with a pass to Lichfield’s Massey clearly knocked forward to everyone but the referee, both teams expected the referee to blow up but he waved play on which resulted in an opposition player scoring under the posts with Massey adding the conversion to give his side a 7 – 0 lead after ten minutes play. Worse was to follow as shortly after this try a penalty for handling in a ruck was given against Burton and Massey added a further three points with a well struck penalty goal to take his sides lead to 10-0.

This sparked Burton into playing the sort of rugby that they have recently been getting better from week to week and with possibly the best handling of the day they scored a try to get on the board. Although struggling with an early kick to his hand (and a possible broken finger) Ben Peach passed to his younger brother Luke who fed to Lawrence Betty who carved through the Lichfield back line. When stopped he passed the ball to Lewis Brookes who timed his offload to perfection and so allowed Dave Archer to use great pace in order to race over the line to score in the corner. Unfortunately the conversion attempt from wide out was narrowly missed by Archer and the score stayed at 10-5 with just minutes of the first half remaining. In this last few moments Burton realised that the Lichfield forwards were no match when it came to fitness and commitment and finished the half the stronger of the two sides.

With the strong wind now behind Burton and only a five points deficit, Burton eagerly awaited Lichfield restart but it was a stunned Burton side that struggled to come to terms with the bouncing ball and Lichfield’s Chris Upton ran in, un-opposed, collected the ball and raced thirty metres while evading some very poor Burton tackling to score under the posts. The ever dependable boot of Massey converted to take the score to 17- 5 and so not give Burton the ideal start it had hoped for.

Led by the young captain, Josh Cartwright, Burton didn't panic and started to play to the game plan that had obviously been talked about at half time by the Burton coaches Mick Davey and Tom Barlow.

The Burton pack now kept the ball close and collectively drove the ball up field with some great surging runs by Cartwright, Jon Edwards, Matt Tivey and Tom Murphy. Lichfield had no response to this tactic and scrum half Ben Peach saw the smallest of openings within the Lichfield defence and scythed through from five metres out to score after some fantastic forward pressure, Archer added the extra points and Burton again trailed by just five points 17 - 12.

From the restart Burton had one idea in mind, to play in the Lichfield half and keep it in the forwards, and they did this to great effect with the opposition pack struggling to match Burton's control, power and dominance they conceded a penalty. Archer stepped forward and his effort sail high over the bar to cut the home side’s advantage to just two points at 17-15.

All too often in past games many Burton sides, throughout the club, have been in this position before, playing well but with Lichfield just managing to hang on and win the day. But not this time, the Burton forwards, seeing that victory was within sight, started to make massive inroads into home territory with a series of rolling mauls that saw the ball go forward at great ace. Their opposition numbers were nowhere in sight, and, not to be outdone by his older brother, Luke received a pass ten metres from the line , saw a gap and went through it, and although held up two metres short his ample weight and strength saw him squeeze his way over for a touch down. Once again Archer’s conversion sailed over the bar and Burton now led 17- 22.

Now in the lead the Burton side had no intention of releasing their grip on the game and continued to press forward and control the game, but at all times being ever wary of Lichfield’s pace. Although Lichfield tried to fight back their efforts were nullified by Burton’s will and determination. With five minutes still to go plus an extra twelve minutes of injury time being played Burton held firm with a massive effort being made from everyone of the Burton players using vast reserves of energy to cover, support and tackle any possible Lichfield break outs. The final whistle heralded a much deserved win for the players, coaching staff, all the travelling supporters and everyone at Burton Rugby Club.