Burton put on a display of skill, power and pace that overwhelmed their latest visitors to Peel Croft, Berkswell & Balsall, and left supporters full of praise for the home side after this near immaculate nine try victory. Unfortunately Burton marred their performance with occasional lapses in their defensive work and with the visitors never giving up and taking full advantage of any chances they were not slow to penalise fifty percent of these Burton errors as they showed their own pace out wide and scored three tries to help make this match the excellent spectacle it was for all the watching supporters.

On a clear bright autumnal afternoon Burton’s Dave Archer kicked off and an early penalty to Burton saw Luke Peach kick into Berkswell’s territory, but showing they were not going to buckle easily in defence the B’s held out and cleared to halfway. But another Burton penalty saw Peach repeat the process and from a good catch by skipper Josh Cartwright the ball was spun out to Archer who raced towards the visitor’s line only to be tackled on the twenty-two. With the Burton pack quickly up in support Kelvin Browne spun the ball to Lawrence Betty who in turn was stopped just short of the line, but Danny Smith was quickly onto the ball to feed Archer who raced over the line for a try that Darryl Banton converted to give Burton a 7-0 lead after just eight minutes play.

A great take by Browne from the restart saw him make thirty metres as he twisted and turned his way passed defenders, but the ball was lost and B’s tried to kick clear only to find the safe arms of Danny Campbell and he started a move that saw the ball being handled by Browne, Archer, Betty, Lewis Brooks and Ed Henry before Smith dived over to touch down for a try wide out and increase Burton’s lead to 12-0.

Burton continued to control the game but the visitor’s good defence meant little or no headway was made, but a change of tactic saw Banton kick the ball to the B’s twenty-two for a lineout. Jon Edwards and Henry stole the ball and drove forward to gain Burton a penalty. The ever-alert Archer took a quick tap and race over the line to score under the posts, Banton converted and Burton now lead 19-0 after half an hours play.

The restart saw Campbell, Smith, Brooks and Archer again utilising their pace as they combined to get to within five metres of the visitor’s line, but a penalty for non-release saw the ball lost and B’s kicked clear to halfway. However with the throw not straight Burton got a scrum and a great forward surge saw good ball come back to Banton who passed the ball out. Brooks broke through the cover to link with Edwards and Ken Archer, who fed Peach and he gave the ball to the on-rushing Campbell who raced to wards the line. When faced by a would be tackler he found Archer in support to carry the move on and he made ground before passing back to Campbell who again faced the would be tackler but cleverly returned the ball to Archer who raced over the line to score.

With five minutes until halftime Burton suddenly found themselves under pressure as the mobile B’s pack set up camp five metres from the home line. The Burton defence completely misjudged the next move as a well directed cross-field kick sailed into the arms of the unmarked B’s winger who just caught the ball and dotted it down for his sides first points to take the half-time score to 24-5.

At the break Burton replaced Henry within Jason Knight and from the kick continued to pile on the pressure with Matt Tivey, Nathan Taylor and Tom Murphy given their opposite numbers a torrid time. Brooks again carved through the defence to feed Campbell, who turned back inside to give Archer the ball as he glided through the opposition to score under the posts. Banton converted and the Burton point’s spree was back on the roll after just two minutes of the second half. But another defensive lapse saw the B’s again show their pace for their winger to again race over for a try just a minute later. Stunned by this the restart saw Burton’s Peach again release Brooks but this time he completely dazzled and amazed the defence and spectators as he raced fifty metres to score under the posts with a run containing steps, weaves and real pace.

With the conversion again sailing over Burton were totally in control and rang the changes even more with Will Brooks and Sam Smith replacing Ken Archer and Banton. This involved Campbell moving to scrum half as Smith and Brooks slotted into their usual positions of full back and lock. For the next ten minutes Burton lost their way a little and failed to make any real headway as the visitors continually harassed them at every opportunity. But Burton steadied the ship and some powerful bursts by Cartwright, Edwards, Taylor, Browne, Knight and Will Brooks kept play in the visitors half. This coupled with the pace of Smith, Archer, Brooks and Campbell tested the B’s defence but it proved a solid nut to crack. Then from a ruck on the B’s twenty-two Burton won the ball and Peach fed Browne a lovely inside pass for the latter to race over for a well-deserved try that Archer converted to take the score to 45-10.

The never say die visitors tried all they knew to pierce the home defence, but their kicks were met by the on rushing pace of Burton’s backs who returned any misplaced ones with a handsome profit to make them start all over again. However, another defensive lapse again saw the Burton defence move inside to leave the visiting winger free and although a great tackle by Campbell stopped him once on another occasion he again raced in for his team’s third try and took the score to 45-15 with fifteen minutes to play.

Berkswell piled on more pressure from the restart but with the likes of Tivey, Edwards, Taylor Browne and Knight tackling like terriers the Burton line held firm. One fine move by them saw |Campbell scuttling back to put in a try saving tackle as the Burton defence gave the opposition too much space. A great burst saw Ken Archer twice involved with Dave Archer and Jason Knight took play fifty metres down field before Ken Archer set up a ruck and Burton were awarded a scrum. Another great push by the Burton pack saw Campbell break blind only to be stopped inches short. But the ball was quickly recycled and Dave Archer slipped the ball to Betty who raced in for another converted try under the posts.

But once again the visitors showed their grit and tenacity as they piled pressure on the Burton line but the defence held firm and after a Banton tackle had driven his man back fifteen metres Burton broke loose again and Henry, Knight and Ken Archer set up a drive that eventually saw the ball released to the irrepressible Archer to race in for his fourth and final try that he converted to give Burton a superb and, but for possible half a dozen defensive lapses, a near perfect winning performance.