Another five tries by the home side saw them destroy a visiting team that came with high hopes of victory following their win over Bournville last week. But apart from a ten minute spell at the end of the first half the visitors could not match Burton’s superior finishing and power. This result leaves Burton level on ten points with Bournville and Stratford but securing top spot by virtue of their 241 points total giving them more than twice the points difference of their other rivals.

On a lovely bright afternoon Dudley kicked-off towards Lichfield Street with a slight breeze behind them and a penalty against the visiting centres saw Burton take play up to the Dudley twenty-two. But Burton then conceded a penalty and Dudley kicked back to the halfway line where some sound defence by Burton saw the ball turned-over. Ian Gilmour chipped over the advancing defence and this was quickly followed up by Tom Bartram to gather the ball and cross the line to touchdown for Burton’s first try of the day after just five minutes play. The same player added the extra points and Burton were on their way with a 7-0 lead.

From the restart, which was safely caught by Josh Cartwright, quick ball was fed out to Bartram and Lawrence Betty who raced to the opposition ten-metre line before a knock-on gave Dudley a scrum and allowed them to clear to the home twenty-two. The resulting line-out saw Burton penalised and Dudley’s Fletcher made no mistake as his kick split the uprights to reduce Burton’s lead to 7-3.

A good break by Dave Archer and Betty saw Burton again on the attack, but Dudley cleared by kicking the ball back into home territory. Unfortunately, in this attack Archer injured his elbow and had to be replaced by Matt Tivey. The Burton pack continued to pile on the pressure and a kick ahead was quickly followed up by Joe Carpenter and Burton won a line-out on the visitor’s twenty-two. Gilmour and John Philliskirk were both stopped just short of the line before the quickly recycled ball was again fed to Gilmour who sliced through the defence and scored to increase Burton’s lead to 12-3.

A line-out following the restart saw Cartwright take the ball and the Burton pack surged forward with Craig Dutton, Simon Spencer and Jason Hooper all making ground before Burton attempted to spin the ball out wide where Danny Smith was bundled into touch just short of the Dudley twenty-two. Dudley won the line-out and kicked up field where a good take by Darryl Banton resulted in Burton being awarded a penalty and Bartram kicked the ball back into opposition territory. From a well-worked move Philliskirk burst through the midfield only to be stopped five-metres short but from the ensuing maul Craig Dutton spun off and dived over for the first of his two tries. Batram again added the extra pints and with fifteen minutes remaining of the half Burton had a comfortable 19-3 lead.

Burton piled on the pressure and good moves involving Dutton and Banton saw Tivey go close before Philliskirk again burst through the visiting defence with a well worked move involving Gilmour and Bartram. But these and other Burton efforts ended with the scoreline not moving as supposed forward passes resulted in Dudley gaining the ball. Buoyed by this Dudley started to attack and as Burton’s defence was found wanting they scored two tries in as many minutes to produce a half-time score of 19-13 that was hardly a reflection of the play.

Following their success in the last few minutes of the first half Dudley began the next period strongly and only some good defensive work by Gilmour, Banton, Philliskirk, Carpenter, Spencer and Dutton stopped these surges. But gradually the Burton pack again began to impose themselves with Dan Eastwood, Hooper and Cartwright ensuring the line-out play was tightened up, while Charl Neethling and Rich Wilton got the scrums back on an even keel as Hooper and Carpenter made powerful forward runs. While in an effort to steady the boat Burton put on the fresh legs of Jon Edwards and ‘Spud’ Taylor just as Bartram also helped with a well-struck penalty to increase Burton lead to 22-13 on the hour.

Bartram then missed another penalty attempt, but from the clearance a Burton scrum saw Edwards pick-up and feed Banton who slipped the ball to Tivey to carry the ball back into the Dudley twenty-two and gain Burton another penalty. But Bartram’s kick bounced off the upright and Dudley's clearance only found Philliskirk. He gathered the ball and raced forward to pass to Betty who was tackled. Dudley tried to move the ball out of their twenty-two but the eagle-eyed Dutton spotted a poor pass and scooped up the loose ball to race in from fifteen metres for his second try of the day. From in front of the posts Bartram added the extra points.

‘Spud’ Taylor took the restart and after both sides exchanged kicks the ball came to rest for a Burton line-out on the halfway line. Cartwright took the ball cleanly and Dutton burst up field to link with Taylor, Banton and Gilmour. The latter drew the fullback to pass to Bartram who slipped the ball inside to Betty, who raced in to touch down under the points for his third try in as many games. Bartram’s conversion attempt sailed through the uprights to put Burton into a 36-13 lead with minutes to go.

The last few minutes saw the ball being kicked up and down the field by both sides and from a not straight at a Dudley throw Burton were awarded a scrum, but Burton were penalised and Dudley booted the ball to within ten metres of the Burton line. A good catch and drive by the Dudley team saw them spin the ball out for winger Jones to score in the corner.

So Burton march on to another victory by 38-16, and although happy with the result will know that better handling or vision on two or three occasions would have produced a far larger score.