Playing into the wind and rain, after seven minutes play that saw both sides kicking the ball to and fro Burton were reduced to fourteen men. Ian Gilmour had just ripped the ball from the opposition centre only to be pulled back for a Stoke scrum as he was racing towards the Stoke line. From this scrum Craig Dutton picked-up to feed Darryl Banton, but as play continued Dutton was repeatedly held by a Stoke player and despite shouting and trying to push his assailant away his patience finally wore out and he lashed out at his opponent in full view of the referee. The inevitable red card followed, plus a yellow for his assailant, the net result was Stoke had to play with fourteen men for ten minutes, but Burton had another seventy-three minutes to go.

Whether this early reduction in playing numbers or the horrible conditions were to blame while the outcome of the game was never in doubt Burton were, once again, made to struggle and held to a tight 22-14 victory against one of their ‘bogey’ sides.

Following this incident Burton found it difficult to put together their normal flowing game, but still managed to maintain territorial advantage as they continually penned back Stoke in their own half. Good breaks by John Philliskirk, Matt Tivey, Tom Bartram, Dan Smith and Lawrence Betty all ended with poor final passes. However, with the Burton pack’s support and defensive work, following the example being set by Burton’s two-man backrow of Joe Carpenter and Simon Spencer, the Burton line was never seriously under threat.

Burton continued to pile on the pressure but just before the break a move involving several Burton players including Banton, Gilmour and Spencer saw the latter having to leave the field with an injured knee to add to Burton’s woes. Steve Cross came on to replace him and was soon in action as he helped Charl Neethling, Rob Wakelin and Josh Cartwright combine to carry the ball to within five metres of the Stoke line, but a fumble saw a scrum given to Stoke. A great Burton scrum saw Banton pressurise the Stoke scrum-half, who fired a poor pass back and Banton charged through to grab the touchdown and get the first points of the day. Bartram’s boot was on target as he increased Burton’s lead to 7-0 after just five minutes of the half remaining.

Stoke restarted the game and Bartram gathered to take play to halfway before a Burton scrum saw Gilmour, Betty and Tivey feed the ball down the line to Dan Smith. He raced into the Stoke twenty-two to feed Carpenter, but the flanker’s efforts were stopped just short of the home line and the whistle signalled the end of the half.

Burton received Stoke’s second half kick-off and a good break by Carpenter saw him feed Smith, who turned the ball back inside to Betty, but Burton lost the ball and the opposition counter-attacked. Stoke Centre Price cut through Burton’s midfield and raced up field to feed scrum-half Oakley who ran in to touchdown under the posts for a converted try to level the score at 7-7 after just three minutes of the second half.
Working tirelessly the Burton side continued to attack and press the home line and the hosts were forced to concede a penalty that Bartram duly converted to re-establish Burton’s lead, 10-7. The heavy conditions and horrible weather saw Burton legs beginning to tire and Jon Edwards replaced Dan Eastwood to boost Burton’s defensive capabilities as Stoke continued to optimise their one-man numerical advantage. With Burton needing all the points they could muster a break by Banton took play to the Stoke twenty-two, but unfortunately Bartram’s normally trusty boot failed as his kick glanced the outside of the upright. Stoke’s drop-out was taken by Smith on halfway and he immediately darted forward only to be bundled into touch on the home twenty-two. The Stoke line-out was not straight and the Burton scrum surged towards the line before Banton released Betty, who fed the on rushing Philliskirk. The full back drew the cover before passing to Carpenter who completed the move as he dived over for a try, and with Bartram’s boot back in form to bisect the uprights Burton led 17-7 with fifteen minutes remaining.

More Burton pressure saw Stoke caught in their own twenty-two as their clearance attempts were only half successful and from one ensuing line-out just inside their twenty-two Burton’s Cartwright won the ball. The Burton backs spun the ball along the line and Smith looped round the back to take the final pass and score in the corner. Despite the conversion attempt sailing just wide Burton now led 22-7 with just ten minutes to play.

Stoke threw everything at Burton in this last period, but the tiring Burton side would just not give in as they battled for everything working tirelessly in support of each other as they gallantly hung on to their precious lead. Time and again Stoke drove at the Burton line, but each time these efforts were thwarted. Not being able to pierce Burton rock-like defensive line a chip over the top paid dividends and saw Stoke’s Price race through to get a try that was converted.

Still leading 22-14 Burton again turned defence into attack with Tivey, Smith, Betty and Bartram all breaking out only to be stopped by Stoke’s cover. A chip into the home dead ball area by Banton saw Bartram just beaten to the touchdown in the last play of the match.

So despite all the distractions of the match, including stoppage for a hare on the pitch, Burton extended their unbeaten run to nine games and stay two points clear at the top of the table after these valiant, battling efforts produced the reward they deserved.