Selected player Will Brooks had to fulfil work commitments and then with his late replacement Dan Eastwood returning from holiday with a stomach bug Burton were forced into even later changes, but fortunately the experienced John Drage was there to answer the call and bolster the Burton pack. Despite an early try by the opposition Burton fought back to record their second league win of the season with a 29-16 victory that keeps their unbeaten home record intact.

Whitchurch kicked-off on a sultry autumn afternoon and although Drage took the ball to give the pack a chance to drive forward the Burton pack managed to loose control and got penalised for holding on when the drive was grounded. The opposition soon displayed their tactics as they kicked into the corner for a lineout that saw their pack catch and drive the last fifteen metres to the Burton line where their flanker Hares grounded the ball. Nicholson made no mistake with the conversion and Burton were 0-7 down after just two minutes play.

From the restart a charge down by Joe Carpenter and a kick ahead by Darryl Banton took Burton into the visitor's twenty-two, but a series of knock-ons saw any chance of an early reply lost. With their lineout operating much more fluently than last week Burton were able to gain much more possession and soon had the visitors defending tenaciously. The next fifteen minutes was all Burton as the home side made plenty of ground thanks to runs by Darryl Banton, Tom Gregory and Dave Archer. But with Burton intent on trying to punch through the middle and lacking the penetration to do so no scores were forthcoming and Whitchurch were able to clear any danger thanks to Burton being penalised for holding-on and crossing. Then after the Burton backs ran the ball out wide Archer made ground up the wing before being stopped in the Whitchurch twenty-two and Banton spun the ball out to the right. Moving swiftly through several pairs of hands the ball soon found Lewis Brooks whose long pass to Danny Smith saw him round his opposite number and race over the line to touch down in the corner. Archer's conversion attempt barely got off the ground but at least Burton were on the board at 5-7.

A great take by Carpenter from the restart saw the Burton pack roll forward with a great drive, but good work by Josh Carpenter, Rob Wakelin and Jason Hooper was wasted when Burton were penalised for rejoining the lineout. From this Nicholson made no mistake to increase his team's lead to 10-5 with a well struck kick. Then straight from the restart Burton were penalised for not releasing and up stepped Nicholson to further increased Whitchurch's lead to 13-5. Some five minutes later a rather dubious decision gave the same player another chance and he duly took the opportunity to put his side 16-5 in the lead with five minutes to go before the break.

But happily Burton had the last say in first half when a great break by Banton saw him dart through the visiting defence to penetrate deep into the Whitchurch twenty-two. When faced by the opposition cover he steadied himself and put in a neat little kick ahead that allowed Tom Bartram to race and dive onto deep in the dead ball area for a well-taken try. Banton added the extra points to leave Burton trailing 16-12 at the break.

Burton started the second half with some good forward pressure that saw the back row of Carpenter, Gregory and Simon Spencer leading the way with excellent work at the breakdown. This was helped by the continued improvement in the lineout with Hooper, Drage and Josh Cartwright combining well to produce a steady flow of good quality ball.

However, after again trying to force play up the middle Burton changed their tactics and started to throw the ball out wide and despite some poor handling far more chances and gains began to come Burton's way. An shoulder injury forced Tom Gregory to be replaced by young Steve Cross for his debut and with a Whitchurch prop being yellow-carded for showing over-aggressive actions with his head Burton had ten-minutes to use their man advantage. This was soon taken when a good solid scrum by the Burton eight on the opposition ten-metre line gave Banton the chance to spin the ball out to Luke Peach. A clever dummy run by Bartram saw Peach feed the on rushing John Philliskirk, who burst through the opposition ranks without a finger being laid on him to score under the posts. Banton converted to put Burton in a lead that they were only to increase and never relinquish for the rest of the game.

However, for the next twenty minutes both sides struggled to put together any decent rugby as scrums wheeled and handling deteriorated and the only points put on the board were thanks to a Banton penalty after another great take and charge by Carpenter set up the position for Burton. This increased Burton's lead to 22-16 and Lawrence Betty came on at centre with Brooks moving to the wing after Archer hurt his back.

Both Betty and Cross were prominent as Burton surged forward, but Burton were once again penalised when a forward entered the ruck from the side and vital ground was lost. However, Burton persevered and continued to power forward as Charl Neethling, Rob Wakelin and Hooper drove at the opposition like bulls at a matador in a Spanish arena. A great run down the wing by Brooks saw him combine with Cross, Hooper, Spencer and Carpenter to take play deep into the visitor's twenty-two. With the ball being re-cycled quickly it was spun down along the line, where more by luck than skill the ball eventually reach Smith. He showed excellent balance and awareness to even take the ball, but once he had hold of it he twisted and turned his way rounded a melee of defenders to race in for a try under the posts that Banton converted. This took Burton's final score to 29-16 and allowed them to record a well-deserved and earned victory.