Saturday afternoon saw hundreds on spectators witness a pulsating battle at Peel Croft in this top of the table clash between Burton and Lichfield. Sadly for Burton their opponents came out of the game with their unbeaten record intact and now sit comfortably at the top of Midlands Two West after yet another wild pass by Burton gifted an interception try to the visitors late on in the game.

After a tactical kicking exchange Burton piled on the pressure however the Lichfield defence was far more resolute than that faced by Burton in recent weeks and after seventeen phases of Burton attack Lichfield eventually got their hands on the ball and cleared to the Burton 22. Throughout the game the Lichfield pack showed considerable improvement on last season making it a far tougher afternoon than expected for the Burton eight. The Lichfield backs showed their prowess in a flowing move despite thundering tackles from Josh Cartwright, Lawrence Betty and Dave Archer. One move took the opposition fifty metres in the blink of an eye and from the ensuing ruck their inside centre fortunately knocked on with an overlap beckoning. Lichfield maintained the pressure before missing a simple penalty with twenty minutes gone.

Burton’s defence was being pressed into action continually and Luke Peach thwarted a promising Lichfield attack before then making a promising break to half way before forward pass stopped Burton’s advance. Lichfield pressed forward again and camped on the Burton twenty-two until a break by Kelvin Browne gave Burton some forward impetus and the backs spun the ball out to over-lapping fullback Sam Smith who dived open in the right hand corner for the opening score after thirty minutes play. Burton kept the ball in hand from the re-start with strong carries from Danny Smith, Jono Edwards, Matt Tivey and Nathan Taylor. These runs set-up Darryl Banton to make a scything break and take play deep into opposition territory before a cross-kick from Peach had Lichfield scrambling. However they managed to contain the catch and drive from the resulting lineout. Burton dominated the territory for a spell, but just before the break a fumble gave the Lichfield No. 8 chance to hack, gather and race for the corner only to be chopped down a metre short by Dave Archer.

With Burton leading 5-0 the second half started with another territorial kicking battle before a penalty chance was missed by Lichfield. But another penalty against Burton saw Lichfield kick for the corner and quickly spin the ball to their right winger who was forced into touch dangerously close to the Burton line. Ex Lichfield colt Keifer Laxton replaced Edwards and threw himself into a rear-guard action but it failed to stop Lichfield levelling the scores through a try from their left winger.

Tempers from both sides were becoming frayed and the referee addressed the captains before the re-start and Burton responded with a spell of pressure and the visitors conceded couple of penalties. The first from in front of the posts was tapped too quickly and wasted, however Dave Archer made no mistake with the second as his kicked sailed between the uprights.

Lichfield were contained in their own half after the re-start and Burton drove forward from a lineout before rolling in field to form a ruck, from which Tom Murphy surged forward and Danny Campbell, now replacing Banton at scrumhalf, released his backs and Lewis Brooks scampered over for a superb team try. Archer made the score 15-5 with an excellent conversion.

Lichfield made ground back into the Burton half but superb defence from replacement Jason Knight stopped a certain try with twenty minutes remaining. A poor scrummage from Burton gave away a simple penalty to Lichfield. Burton were soon under pressure again as Lichfield dragged the defence from side to side before scoring under the posts and making it 15 all with the conversion. Matt Tivey left the field injured so Taylor switched to prop and Knight went to hooker so allowing Ed Henry to return to the fray. A good kick and chase at the re-start gave Burton a promising position for a lineout but it was overthrown and Lichfield cleared. Burton sensed an opening with a counter-attack but Lichfield’s scrumhalf was alert to it and intercepted a short pass before racing clear for a telling score which was converted to give the opposition a seven point buffer with 10 minutes remaining.

Burton pressed hard and the next advantage went to them as Lichfield gave away a penalty in their half, however the resulting lineout failed and at the next opportunity a kick at the posts was elected. Archer drilled the ball over from forty-five meters out and although for the rest of the game Burton tried in vain to create a scoring chance it was Lichfield who came out winners 22-18.