Having beaten the Leicestershire side in October, another win was hoped for to help them get clear of relegation danger. However, from the outset the home team played badly. They lacked penetration, their handling was poor and their decision making was poor. When they carried the ball, they were going in ones and twos with the ball carrier often getting isolated.

To be fair to the visitors their first try was a good one. Burton conceded a couple of penalties for breakdown offences which eventually got the visitors a lineout on the Burton 22 metre line. They won the ball and passed it slickly along the back line for the winger to score in the corner. The conversion was missed.

Burton then had a chance to get three points back when they were awarded a penalty in front of the posts. Instead of taking an almost certain three points they chose a scrum. Although the set scrums were one area of the game where they did have parity, on this occasion they were penalised for a front row offence and came away from the Syston 22 without points. The visitors got into the Burton half and after a series of missed tackles, scored under the posts. Burton were at least showing some fight at this stage as they charged down the conversion attempt. Something that you don’t see very often these days.

Burton then won a penalty which gave them a lineout inside the Syston 22. They drove towards the line and although the visitors appeared to pull down the maul they were not penalised and were able to clear their lines. The visitors then scored a third try as they exploited gaps in the Burton defence. This time they were able to add the extra points.

Burton attacked again and were awarded a penalty. This time they chose to kick for goal and Will Simpson slotted the ball over. He shortly followed this up with a second penalty goal to take the score 6-17. After this the Burton backs tried to run the ball but an unnecessary and foolhardy pass from the back of the hand went to ground where it was snapped up by the Syston winger who raced in to score a bonus point try. The kicker added the extra points to make the score at half time 6-24.

Shortly after the restart the visitors were awarded a penalty within easy kicking range and sensibly took the three points on offer to further stretch their lead. Burton then finally crossed the Syston line when from a line out the forwards drove over. The captain Dominic Taylor got the touch down. Simpson missed the conversion attempt.

For the remainder of the match Burton had the majority of possession. However, as their attack lacked any bite or penetration the visitors were happy to soak up any pressure by tackling well and when they did get the ball, they held on to it for as long as they could to run down the clock. The final score as Burton11 Syston 27. A disappointing outcome for Burton supporters as a win would have taken them into 10th place above Lichfield.