With other chasing teams all losing Burton moved two points clear at the top of Midlands 1 West. This victory was achieved despite four yellow cards that saw the Burton side playing with just thirteen men on three occasions, unhelpful weather conditions and a performance that lacked Burton’s usual sparkle. But given the odds stacked against them Burton still managed to score four tries and get those vital two points that will keep supporters and players happy.
Nuneaton kicked-off with the wind behind them, but a great take and charge by Joe Carpenter soon had Burton camped in enemy territory and gaining an early chance to put points on the board, Tom Bartram’s kick brushed the upright as it sailed outside the posts. Danny Smith safely gathered the ball from the drop-out and passed inside to Carpenter who again charged forward to within two metres of the line, this time a Burton knock-on gave the visitors a scrum. A free kick against Nuneaton saw Darryl Banton feed Jason Hooper, who careered towards the line and when stopped Rob Wakelin picked up the loose ball. Despite three defenders on his back the big, burly prop was able to power forward for the three metres to crash over for a try under the posts. Bartram added the extra points and after five minutes play Burton led 7-0.
Unfortunately from the restart, apart from one sortie by Craig Dutton and Matt Tivey that saw the winger make thirty metres before being stopped Burton struggled to gain any control for the next thirty minutes. This period saw the Nuneaton pack dominating affairs with a series of rolling mauls for which Burton had no answer as the visiting pack trundled forward time and again. Yellow cards against Dominic Taylor and Josh Cartwright within two minutes of each other saw Burton reduced to thirteen men and facing this on rushing pack. Nuneaton were totally dominant winning plenty of ball and continually making yards of ground using this highly successful rolling maul tactic. Any ball that Burton won was soon lost as clearance kicks were charged down or mis-directed to give Nuns the chance to set up more attacking positions. Burton’s lead of seven points began to look very slender as the visitors piled on the pressure. But to their credit the Burton defence held firm and never cracked with Chris Atchison, John Philliskirk and Danny Smith all putting in some excellent tackles.

At last Burton won a ball deep in their own twenty-two, Banton fed Ian Gilmour, who sliced through the on-coming defence to feed Philliskirk and Tivey who combined to take play up to halfway. But with the penalty count against Burton ever increasing another offence saw Nuneaton kick back into the corner and only quick thinking by Philliskirk stopped a near certain try. Burton again broke out of defence and Gilmour raced clear only for his pass to Smith to land short. But the youngster recovered and gathered the ball to feed Lawrence Betty to race clear only to be called back for an alleged forward pass. This gave the visitors a chance to again surge forward into Burton’s twenty-two. But with Burton’s defence still holding firm Tom Bartram sliced his clearance kick and Nuneaton burst through the Burton midfield. With only Philliskirk, who was intent on holding his ground, to beat the Nuneaton centre choose to kick for his winger, but the ever alert Danny Smith caught the ball and raced forward to feed Gilmour. He drew the defence before feeding Betty, who dummied the full back to dive over in the corner for a try that completed a seventy-metre move. Bartram added the extra points and Burton at last had a more comfortable 14-0 lead, fifteen players on the pitch and the half-time whistle beckoning.

With the wind at their backs Burton started the second half and only the paint on the upright stopped Bartram increasing Burton’s lead with a well struck penalty attempt from thirty metres out. After five minutes Charl Neething replaced Rich Wilton and Nuneaton soon realised Neethling’s scrummaging power as the next scrum saw them driven backwards. This new found momentum put Burton on the front foot and the flow of ball started to improve. Indeed from one such scrum Banton pounced on the loose ball behind the Nuneaton pack and the ball spun out to Smith who darted in, out and round bewildered visiting players in the sixty metres sprint that saw him touchdown halfway out. Bartram’s conversion put his team 21-0 up.

Bartram had barely chance to catch his breath and get back into position when another great scrum saw Gilmour feed Philliskirk at pace to burst through the centre. He raced forward forty metres before passing outside to the supporting Bartram who cleverly drew the full back before passing back inside to Smith to cross over for his second try of the day. Once again Bartram’s kick was straight and true to sail between the uprights and increase Burton’s lead to twenty-eight points and thirty minutes to play.

Burton supporters were rubbing their hands expecting another try fest with Burton, who although not playing as fluently as of recent games, were now well in control. But unfortunately more yellow cards and penalties were to thwart Burton’s efforts as another nonsensical two-minute spell saw Charl Neethling and Craig Dutton both sin-binned and Burton again were playing with thirteen men. This predicament resulted in Nuneaton using their numerical superiority to score two tries by spinning the ball out wide to stretch Burton’s thin defensive line.

As the final whistle sounded Burton had done their job and got the victory and two points they had wanted and despite all the distractions that occurred throughout the game came off the pitch as deserved and worthy victors by 28-10 and now alone on top of the league