They scored six tries to completely outplay hosts Old Halesonians. The Burton team produced a six-try display that left home supporters in a state of shock and unable to comprehend how Burton had ever managed to loose to Hales former week’s conquest, Bournville. But with Burton maintaining this type of performance on a regular basis there is no doubting that other opponents and supporters will be left in a similar state of shock.
Halesonians kicked-off with the wind behind them, but with the ball failing to travel ten metres Burton soon had a chance to demonstrate their forward power as they forced the hosts to concede an early penalty. But Hales proved they were to be no pushover as they took the resulting lineout and powered forward to the Burton twenty-two. John Philliskirk stopped this progress as he burst out from defence and his surging run took play back into home territory before linking up with Dan Smith who raced over the line for a try after just ten minutes play. Tom Bartram added the extra points to give his side a seven-point advantage.
Unfortunately, Burton didn’t take advantage of this early initiative and a period of scrappy play followed that saw the ball swing from end to end as both sides exchanged penalties. Burton possibly faired the better of these exchanges with Smith and Lawrence Betty both making good runs deep into home territory.
With Halesonians pressing, a Philliskirk clearance took play to the Burton twenty- two and a pick-up by Craig Dutton gave Darryl Banton the chance to break clear and start an attack. This saw Philliskirk, Smith and Betty race the length of the field before Ian Gilmour took the final pass to score under the posts for the first try of his hat trick. Once again Bartram’s conversion kick bisected the uprights to increase Burton’s lead to 14-0.
With ten minutes to go before the break Burton increased the tempo, but the referee’s whistle stopped three or four promising moves involving Gilmour, Philliskirk, Banton and Smith, all came to nothing as Burton were penalised for holding-on and off-side.
With Burton kicking off after the break, another spell of scrappy play followed with both sides exchanging penalties. Gradually the Burton front row of Charl Neethling, Rich Wilton and Rob Wakelin exerted their control as they put on an awesome display of scrummaging power. This coupled with the lineout control of Burton’s youngsters Dan Eastwood and Josh Cartwright gave Burton plenty of good ball to utilise their pace out wide. With Joe Carpenter and ‘Spud’ Taylor always first to the break down, Burton were always in control and never looked threatened.
A good run by Matt Tivey down the touch line saw him unceremoniously bundled into touch and have to leave the field clutching his knee to be replaced by Gavin Cole. Burton began to assert their domination and as the game became more structured a solid scrum just inside the Hales half saw the ball spin down the Burton threequarter line. Philliskirk burst into the line and took the ball at pace to race clear and touchdown under the posts for Bartram to convert.
After scoring at one end Philliskirk then proceeded to knock-on in front of his own posts and Halesonians were quick to capitalise on this as their prop powered over from three-metres out to put his side on the score board at 5-21. This set back saw Burton again assert their control. Simon Spencer came off the bench to replace Dominic Taylor and he was soon in the action as he provided the link in a move involving Cole, Gilmour and Philliskirk when he fed Gilmour to race over the line for his second try of the day. Bartram’s pin-point accuracy saw his kick again add the extra points and Burton now led by 28-5.
A penalty to Hales saw them take play to the Burton twenty-two, where a knock-on by Burton increased the pressure on Burton’s line, but as supporters have witnessed in recent games Burton’s defence is rock solid and with players working tirelessly for each other the danger was soon cleared. A typical Philliskirk run again provided the breakout as Burton turned defence into attack. He burst through tackles to find Bartram outside him in support and he continued the move that saw Gilmour again taking the final pass to touchdown under the posts for his hat trick. Bartram’s conversion increased Burton lead to 35-5 as Burton continued to press forward in their search for yet more points.
With two minutes remaining Gavin Cole intercepted a pass inside his own twenty-two to race seventy-metres and scored under the posts for Bartram to add the icing on the cake as his sixth conversion sailed over the bar to give Burton a well-deserved victory of 42-5.