Burton 1st XV showed the type of resolve and spirit that will win league titles with a gritty 6-9 victory over their hosts thanks to three first half penalty goals by skipper Tom Bartram.

In a game that was never pretty everyone of the Burton squad showed why the team is top of the league and intend to remain so. In a performance that while being below par showed nothing but ruthless determination to ensure that they returned home with two more vital league points under their belts and also took away Dudley unbeaten home record.

Burton got the game underway and soon had possession but in the space of two minutes two try scoring opportunities were wasted as ball was kicked instead of staying in hand. First Ian Gilmour having dummied his way across the field kicked ahead as Dave Archer ran alongside him with a clear run to the line. Then Tom Bartram broke through in midfield only to ignore Lawrence Betty and Danny Smith clear outside him as the kicked ahead towards the corner. Although both these moves took play to inside Dudley twenty-two the ball needed to be re-won for Burton to have any chance of scoring rather than scoring directly. As it was Dudley won the balls and cleared to halfway.

With Burton again in possession another attack saw Archer and Betty take play back to the Dudley twenty-two and from a lineout Jon Edwards gathered to surge forward towards the line. When he was stopped some ten metres short Dudley was penalised for edging offside. Bartram’s kick from just to the side of the posts sailed high over the bar to give Burton a 3-0 lead after just five minutes play.

Craig Dutton caught the restart and threw the ball out to Bartram whose kick took play back to halfway. But Dudley began to attack as Burton proceeded to give away far too much ball in contact and also gained the referee’s displeasure as they were continually penalised for not rolling away or handling in rucks. Fortunately Burton’s defence proved to be rock solid with Steve Edwards, Charl Neethling, Jon Edwards and Josh Cartwright putting in tackles.

Whenever they had the chance the Burton threequarters ran the ball and Lawarence Betty was only stopped by a late ankle tap as he raced clear. Then Archer and Bartram combined only for the latter to be stopped a few metres short. Another penalty against Burton allowed Dudley to clear their lines but only into the waiting arms of Archer who started a move involving John Philliskirk, Dan Smith, Betty and Bartram that took play forward but a knock-on again let Dudley kick clear.

Showing that he had lost none of his awareness Steve Edwards took a quick tap penalty to race to within five metres of the Dudley line before being stopped. But he slipped the ball to Betty who was immediately tackled by three opponents and hauled down to earth. However, the referee had spotted some foul play and gave Bartram a chance to increase his sides lead. This he easily did with his kick again bisecting the uprights and so Burton led 6-0 after half the first period of play.

Both sides continued to look for that elusive try but defences were on top as play went from end to end. A lineout on the Burton twenty-two saw Dudley try catch and drive but the Burton pack held them and good technique by Rob Wakelin, Dan Eastwood and Dan Clarke eventually drove them back to win the ball and clear. Unfortunately the clearance only found the Dudley winger who raced forward to try and pierce the rock-solid Burton defensive wall and although the wall of bodies stopped him Burton gave away another penalty as Joe Carpenter was adjudged to go off his feet. The Dudley kicker didn’t waste the chance and quickly put his kick over the bar to reduce Burton’s lead to three points at 6-3.

But Burton were not to be outdone and stormed back into the attack and soon got a lineout on the Dudley twenty-two. Cartwright took the ball and Steve Edwards spun the ball out to Gilmour, who worked a scissor move to bring in fullback Philliskirk. Supported by Steve Edwards and Eastwood he drove towards the home line and Dudley were again penalised for entering a maul from the side. So within a minute of seeing their lead shortened Bartram made no mistake with this third attempt as he completed his hat trick and restored Burton’s lead to six points at 9-3.

The restart saw Carpenter fumble the ball and from the scrum Dudley attacked with a series of short sharp bursts that were quickly stopped by the tackling of Jon Edwards, Gilmour and Bartram. Unfortunately the last of these again saw Burton penalised for handling in the ruck and from in front of the posts the home sides kicker reduced the lead back to three points and 9-6.

For the rest of the half Burton continued to have the bulk of the play but despite efforts by Smith, Archer, Gilmour, Philliskirk and Bartram they could not get the try that their work perhaps deserved as all too often Burton had to regain their ground after giving away penalties.

Dudley started the second half intent on business and despite a good take by Neethling seeing the Burton pack drive upfield with some great bursts by Cartwright, Carpenter, Edwards and Dutton. It was Dudley who almost scored as Burton lost the ball and only a great tackle by Archer stopped a near certain try as he dumped his man into touch ten-metres short of the Burton line.

This set the pattern for much of the second half as the home side got more and more into the game thanks to capitalising on some unforced errors by Burton. Failed kicks to touch, lost ball in contact and silly penalties saw Burton continually having to defend and restore territorial advantage. Fortunately all the home side efforts were thwarted by Burton’s stonewall defence, determined support and covering. One break by Dudley saw them get to within two metres of the Burton line only for Bartram to race back and strip the ball from the startled opponent, who thought he was going to score.

Burton did, however, have attacks of the own and a pick-up by Dutton saw Steve Edwards race from the Burton twenty-two to the Dudley one before being stopped. Archer and Smith combined to chase a kick and were unlucky not to score when they caught the catcher only for a supporting Burton player to be penalised for going to ground. A Dudley kick ahead was caught by hooker Dan Clarke who used Philliskirk and Betty as support to make forty metres before Burton lost possession. Archer then chased another kick only to go down poleaxed with a hamstring injury that saw Burton reshuffling its backs with Betty going on the wing for John Leason to enter the fray at centre.

Burton were then reduced to fourteen men when following Dan Eastwood stealing a home lineout on halfway as the pack stormed forward another penalty against Burton saw Joe Carpenter was carded for repeat offences. But as Dudley sought to capitalise on the extra man Burton resolution and spirit shone through with players putting their bodies on the line to stop anything that got near the Burton line. A Burton penalty on their own ten-metre line saw Steve Edwards take a quick tap and feeding his brother, Jon, to burst forward as Burton drove towards the home twenty-two. But Burton again lost possession and Dudley kicked back to inside Burton’s ten-metre line.

When Carpenter returned Simon Spencer replaced Jon Edwards as the Burton defence continued to stop all that Dudley threw at them. Burton struggled to clear the ball and tried to run out of defence with Dutton, Spencer, Wakelin and Neethling all putting in powerful runs.

But with five minutes to go once again the curse on Burton hookers saw Dan Clarke having to leave the field with a strained calf. Tom Murphy came on for his debut as Neethling moved to hooker to accommodate the young prop. A clever box kick by Steve Edwards saw Eastwood, Smith and Carpenter all beaten by the bounce of the ball as Burton took play to within ten metres of the home line. The ensuing scrum saw Dutton pick-up and he fed Gilmour who tried to cut through to the line but he was stopped inches short and a penalty allowed the home side to clear their lines. A final penalty against Burton saw Dudley try a last gasp tap and go but quick thinking by Bartram saw him tackle man and ball to stop the move as Burton heard the final whistle blow for a hard, fought but deserved victory of 9-6.