This was a first for the visitors as they had never played a league match under lights before. They played on artificial pitches twice last season however and it seems that the surface suits their style of play. They started to run the ball right from the outset and the home team were forced to give away a penalty directly in front of the posts. Full back Will Simpson kicked the goal to open the scoring.

The Burton backs then attempted to run the ball out of defence but winger Nick Oxley received a high tackle. Scrum half Chaz Bunting was sent to the sin bin presumably for retaliation and a penalty was awarded to Derby. They cleared the ball into the visitors’ 22 and won the line out. Burton tackled well but with a man short they were unable to prevent a try being scored. The conversion was missed but the home team were now in the lead.

The Burton backs were intent on playing running rugby and as soon as they got their hands on the ball they attacked again. They took the ball well into the derby 22 where it was recycled and passed to the ubiquitous Jack Neal, this week playing as a lock rather than his normal flanker role, who popped up in the centre to crash over for a try. Simpson added the extra points and Burton had regained the lead.

Now back at full strength the Burton backs ran the ball as often as they were able and although the forwards were struggling in the set scrums, with the return of lock Joe Gazzard after injury, the lineouts worked much better this week. Burton were able to run the ball and cause problems for the Derby defence. The home team again killed the ball in their own 22 and Simpson again kicked the penalty to put Burton further ahead.

By this time the powerful Derby forwards were disrupting the Burton scrum. They knocked the ball on just short of the Burton line but won the scrum against the head and drove over the line. The try was converted to bring them back to within a point of the Burton score.

Derby were soon on the attack again with their backs showing that they could also run the ball. From a line out on the 22 They passed the ball along their back line for the winger to score in the opposite corner. The conversion was missed but the home team were now back in the lead at 17-13.

This was to be their last score however, as Burton upped their game. The visitors’ forwards won a lineout in the Derby 22 and drove towards the line. They patiently recycled the ball until eventually Gazzard scored a try by touching the ball against the base of the post protector. Simpson again converted to make the score at half time, Derby 17 Burton 20.

Whatever was said in the changing room at half time worked wonders as Burton played really well in the second half. They tackled ferociously often driving the opposition back several metres and causing them to make a considerable number of errors. The backs again ran the ball with the forwards linking up with them to drive over the line. Number eight Lelo Gemashe got the touch down. Simpson again added the extra points.

The home team were now chasing the game and when they won a scrum on their own 10 metre line they tried to run it. However fly half harry Titley intercepted the pass and ran in to score under the posts. Simpson converted.

Burton now started to play sensible rugby and some well directed kicks by Titley and centre Dave Archer and some strong tackling, kept the home team pinned in their own 22. Derby again tried to run the ball out of defence but were penalised for holding on, just inside the Burton half. Simpson kicked the goal from three metres inside the Burton half to put the game beyond any chance of a Derby recovery.

With all hope of the game gone Derby now tried to chase a try bonus point. However, the Burton defence forced them into another mistake and they dropped the ball. It was snapped up by Archer who ran from inside his own half. He could not quite make the line but flying winger Oxley was in support to receive the ball and jog over the line. Simpson again added the extra points with the last kick of the game to make the final score Derby 17 Burton 44.