Home supporters were treated to a very much below par, mediocre first half performance that saw Burton edge a 9-8 lead thanks to three Tom Bartram penalty goals. But a more lively Burton side returned from the break and although much of their passing still went behind supporting players or even flew into oblivion Burton managed to score five tries and dominate their opponents for a comfortable 41-15 victory.

Leamington started the game and helped by one of Burton’s early indiscretions soon had a 3-0 lead from a well struck penalty goal. With the home side continuing to get on the wrong side of the referee the first ten minutes were all played in or around the Burton twenty-two as Leamington piled on the pressure. But Burton’s usual rock-like defence held firm and eventually powerful runs by first Craig Dutton and then Lawrence Betty took play to the visitor’s twenty-two and a penalty to Burton gave Tom Bartram his first chance of the day to level the scores. This he duly did and then some five minutes later another run by Betty saw Leamington again penalised for a high-tackle on Ian Gilmour. But Burton ignored the possible shot at goal and Bartram kicked deep into the corner. Burton won the lineout and drove forward for Leamington to be penalised for entering the maul from the side. This time Bartram opted for a shot at goal and his kick sailed high over the crossbar to give Burton a 6-3 lead after twelve minutes play.

This lead was short lived as the visitors streamed forward as more indecision in Burton’s plays cost them possession and ground. Pinned inside their own twenty-two Burton struggled to clear the ball and Leamington spun the ball out wide for their winger Raby to easily outflank Burton’s somewhat pedestrian defence and cross the line to touch down for a try. So for the second time in less than twenty minutes Burton found themselves trailing behind on the scoreboard at 8-6.

The next ten minutes saw Burton trying to push forward but poor passing saw their play lose momentum and increasing frustration saw Burton conceding penalty after penalty. In their defence it must be said that the referee’s inability to spot the Leamington backs continually offside tactics made it hard for Burton to move the ball, but their inability to pass the ball accurately was inexcusable. Leamington hit the post with one penalty attempt and from the rebound John Philliskirk kicked the ball back into the opposition half. The ensuing lineout saw quick ball let Dutton and Joe Carpenter take play back into the Leamington twenty-two where Burton were awarded a penalty for handling in the ruck. Bartram made no mistake with his kick and so put Burton back into a lead that they would never relinquish.

For the rest of the half play centred around the middle of the pitch with both sides conceding penalties and loosing possession. A yellow card for repeated offences by the opposition flanker Pirie saw Leamington reduced to fourteen men. But with only a minute to go before the half time whistle Burton were unable to capitalise on this. Although two powerful runs by Bartram and Rob Wakelin that took play to within yards of the opposition line only for poor decision making see the ball lost and Leamington clear the danger.

After a somewhat, vociferous half-time talk by Coach Karl Ashfield Burton kicked-off to start the second half and immediately looked to be a revitalised team. John Philliskirk safely gathered a Leamington clearance and raced forward fifty metres crashing through the opposition defence. But with the line beckoning he drew the fullback only to pass behind the supporting Dutton and a great chance was lost. From the resulting scrum Leamington kicked clear and Philliskirk again gathered the ball. This time he kicked high and long and as Leamington tried to kick clear Jon Edwards got his hands to the ball and deftly kept his feet in play before slipping the ball to the charging Dan Smith who raced away on his inside to score in the corner.

Charl Neething took the restart and drove forward on a rampaging run that took him into opposition territory, but the ball was lost. However, great tackling by Edwards and Carpenter saw Burton regain the ball for John Leason and Dan Eastwood to make thirty metres down the touchline. Edwards was quickly in support to snap up the ball and feed Dutton who raced in from five-metres out for Burton second try of the half.
This put Burton in a commanding 19-8 lead, but more was yet to come as Burton began to dominate play while searching for their third try before ten minutes had elapsed of the half. A scrum just outside the home twenty-two saw Banton feed Gilmour, who made a little half break to feed hooker Dan Clarke. He took the ball, albeit somewhat like a juggler, and charged forward fifteen metres before offloading to Dutton. His barrelling run saw him gain another thirty metres before finding Philliskirk in support and the latter took the well-timed pass to race in for a try from some twenty-five metres out. Bartram’s conversion bisected the uprights and Burton now led 26-8.

At this point Burton started to ring the changes with Dominic Taylor replacing Edwards and as the Burton pack struggled to settle Leamington poured on the pressure. A penalty against Burton saw Leamington kick deep into Burton territory and some good powerful play by their forwards saw Burton’s defence again be tested.
With backs tied up in rucks and mauls it was left to Burton’s forwards to form a defensive line. Leamington spun the ball out wide and the forward just didn’t have the pace to stop Leamington’s centre Secher as he turned on the gas and raced over the line for his team’s second try. The successful conversion took the score to 26-15.

After this try Simon Spencer replaced Carpenter and then Leason tweaked a hamstring as he tackled his opposite number and so had to be replaced by Luke Peach on the wing. With Burton still getting used to these changes Bartram helped steady the ship with a well-struck penalty goal from thirty-metres out to increase the lead to 29-15.

A great take from a lineout on halfway by Josh Cartwright saw him feed Dan Clarke who charged round the back of the line like a rampaging buffalo as he bounced the opposition away. When he was stopped Banton tried to break clear but he was hauled back as he tried to force his way through. Good quick ball was fed out to Gilmour who sliced through the opposition defence and fed Betty, who handed-off three or four defenders before grounding the ball for Burton’s fourth try. Once again Bartram’s boot provided the extra points as Burton stretched their lead to 36-15.

But there was more to come when following a scrappy Burton lineout on the Leamington ten-metre line Taylor managed to regain possession and feed Dutton who raced towards the opposition line. Using his not forgotten threequarter skill he cleverly drew the fullback and passed to a delighted Simon Spencer who took the ball and raced in from twenty-metres out to score a try for Burton final points of the day.

This climaxed a comfortable, if not spectacular, win for Burton that, thanks to a second half revival, at least gave supporters the chance to see both sides of this Burton team.