and some solid defensive work saw Burton return from the Bishop's Cleeve ground with a superb 76-5 victory to put themselves at the top of the Midlands 1 (West) league. This eleven try romp sees them level on eight points with Leamington, Bournville and Stratford but claiming top spot by virtue of their 150 points difference putting them 65 clear of their other rivals.

Burton kicked-off into a strong wind and good following up from Dave Archer's kick saw the pack force a lineout deep in home territory, but a penalty against Burton saw them being hastily returned to their own twenty-two. Not straight at the lineout gave and after a powerful Burton scrum and a kick and chase by Archer put Burton back on the offensive with a lineout near the home line. A great catch by Josh Cartwright saw the Burton pack surge forward and drive over the line for Jason Hooper to touch down for a try.

Although the conversion was missed Burton now led 5-0 after just five minutes play and had set their stall out with some fine running and power play that showed they were playing for the victory. However, a poor take from the restart saw North get forward to the Burton twenty-two before a good run by Danny Smith took play back into the opponents half. But Burton were again penalised at the scrum and North cleared deep into the Burton twenty-two. The Burton pack again asserted their dominance and set up good ball for Darryl Banton to kick clear and from the resulting line Burton attacked at pace and excellent handling saw the ball spun out to Smith who raced in for Burton's second try. Tom Bartram converted this try for the first of his nine conversions for the match.

Just after this Rob Wakelin pulled a calve muscle while tackling the opposition outhalf and had to be replaced by Rich Wilton, but this upset did nothing to slow down Burton's surging forwards. Good ball from a lineout deep in Burton's half saw Ian Gilmour run the ball out and his neat little kick took play back to the host's twenty-two. A catch and drive by the Burton pack was stopped illegally by North and Bartram stepped up to put his kick between the stick to give Burton a solid 15-0 lead after twenty-five minutes play.

Banton read the restart superbly and gathered the ball to return it deep back into home territory and with Joe Carpenter following up at a ferocious pace Burton won a scrum. From this Gilmour again chipped ahead for Craig Dutton to gather and score for the first of his afternoon's hat trick. After this Burton began to throw the ball around and the new found accuracy of their handling saw them rip the opposition apart with Smith, Banton and Dutton all finishing off moves that made some huge gains in ground. Then Dave Archer received the ball from another flowing move and raced over the line to score under the posts. Dutton then scored his second after another great take by Dan Eastwood saw his forwards drive on and Dutton secured the touchdown. On the stroke of half-time as Gilmour again spun the ball out Bartram fed John Philliskirk coming through at pace to race over the line for a try. Bartram added the extra points with his fifth conversion and Burton turned to play with the wind in the second half leading 43-0.

Cheltenham's kick-off for the second period gave Burton a lineout on their ten-metre line but another penalty against Burton saw North edge closer to the Burton line. But the powerful Burton pack disrupted a home scrum and Banton passed out to Gilmour. With a great turn of pace he broke clear to feed Dan Smith and he raced up field supported by Lawrence Betty and a final pass saw Betty score to give Bartram the chance to take Burton's score to fifty points, which he did with another successful conversion.

Another superb catch and drive by the awesome Burton pack and when stopped the ball went out to Gilmour, whose clever diagonal kick to the corner saw Philliskirk swoop in to score his second try. Now leading 57-0 Burton allowed North back into the game and some sloppy play result in missed clearances being taken up and driven on by the North team and eventually they managed to get the ball over the line for a try. But with the Burton pack taking back control after this two minute lapse Burton continued to surge onwards and upwards as first another disrupted home scrum saw Simon Spencer snatch up the loose ball for a try. Then some fine interpassing following another great take by Cartwright saw Carpenter, Dutton, Banton and Charl Neethling dish up Dutton's hat trick as he dived over in the corner.

Burtom ended the second half as they had the first when after taking advantage of some poor home defence Dutton picked up and fed Bartram, who made ground before passing inside to Smith who raced over the line to score. Bartram completed the afternoon's scoring with his ninth conversion of the day and Burton could return home with a very satisfying and deserved 76-5 victory following a fine display of rugby.