Once again Burton had more than one obstacle to deal with when they faced Berkswell & Balsall on their narrow pitch at Honiley Road on Saturday but none of them stopped Burton from taking a win out of the fixture albeit at a cost as far as injuries were concerned. With the week-end being originally designated as a ‘free-week’ several players had taken the opportunity to make other arrangements such as going to Twickenham and so Burton’s strength in depth was again tested with John Philliskirk, Tom Cooper, Danny Campbell all in the starting line-up, as well as James Burrough making his league debut plus Dave Archer and Sam Smith playing in unaccustomed roles. These changes meant that Burton lacked the fluidity they usually display but still enough was done to stake a slender leader before Lewis Brooks left the field with a suspected broken hand. But even worse bad look followed as Ken Archer was seen twisting in agony with a broken ankle just under the home posts and after much consultation between coaches and officials the game was abandoned after seventy-two minutes play with Burton being awarded a hollow victory as league rules state ‘score stands if sixty or more minutes have already been played’. So it was a far from happy squad that returned home to Burton despite the victory.

This maiden visit to Berkswell & Balsall was made by Burton in wintry conditions and the match was switched to a small pitch, which saw Burton struggling to adjust to a lack of width as their wingers Sam Benjamin and Tom Copper were ushered into touch whenever they got their hands on the ball.

B&B received the kick off and put together a few phases before spilling the ball and allowing Burton to storm into the opposition twenty two and earn a penalty. Dave Archer found the target and Burton were ahead. Burton’s next attack saw Benjamin streak 30 metres up field, followed by Nathan Taylor in support, but B&B eventually used the power of their forwards to work their way out of trouble, before conceding a penalty, which Taylor took quickly and released his backs. But Copper was forced in to touch five metres from the line. B&B survived a lineout and scrummage and then forced their way into the Burton twenty two for the first time in the match. But after driving a lineout by his forwards, the B&B fly half saw his drop goal attempt slide wide of the uprights.

But Burton were pinned back and a slick lineout by the hosts allowed them to charge from the twenty two to within the inches of the try line. In their efforts to defend Burton conceded a penalty, which fortunately the home kicker couldn’t turn into points. Ken Archer and James Burroughs combined to take Burton back over half way, and then Danny Campbell and Joel Briggs took play even further towards the home line before B&B turned over the ball and then conceded a penalty on half way. Dave Archer had the distance but was off target. Charl Neethling received the drop-out and set up a ruck. Lewis Brooks then set off on a mazy run from half way and scored under the posts. Archer added the conversion. Burton made a hash of the re-start, however Sam Smith made a 35 metre break towards the left touch-line. Burton were awarded a penalty and the passion of the home fans then spilled onto the pitch as a brawl ensued. The referee diffused the situation by yellow carding Burton prop Tom Murphy and a home second-row.

From the ensuing penalty Dave Archer found the target from 35 metres to establish a 13-0 lead. Briggs had to leave the field so that Jason Knight could make up the front row numbers and Knight was on the charge at the first opportunity. Burton conceded a penalty which allowed B&B to clear their lines only for Ken Archer to steal the lineout before Burton conceded another penalty at the breakdown. The home side took it quickly and great work from Kelvin Browne secured the scrummage put in for his side. John Philliskirk showed his experience to deal with an awkward kick in his twenty two before releasing Brooks, who then combined with Dave Archer and Benjamin to take play fifty metres. Burton finished the half pressing for a further score but their efforts came to nought.

A charge from Josh Cartwright took Burton into their opponents half shortly after the kick off, however a booming touch finder soon relieved the pressure for B&B. Burton then missed several tackles before the opposition replacement prop Connors barrelled over for the home side. The conversion was a formality. Neethling made a great run after taking an awkward kick off and took play into Archer’s range for the penalty B&B conceded. The kick narrowly missed however Burton then showed great composure in the build up to a try. The forwards used a pick and go tactic before Smith darted towards the line. The forwards took the ball in field and then Campbell found Archer who ghosted in under the posts before adding the conversion. Burroughs and Neethling were replaced by Jono Edwards & Ed Henry.

The home side then piled on the pressure at the set piece and at the breakdown. It took an eleven man maul from Burton to hold their line, only for the clearance to find the opposition full back who then released Connors to crash over for his second try. The conversion took the hosts within six points and twenty minutes to play. Brooks left the field with a hand injury and Knight moved to centre in yet another re-shuffle to the Burton backs line. Burton were getting on top in the lineouts but an off-side allowed the hosts to make the score 17-20. Burton fought back and Jon Edwards and Ed Henry both made some very hard yards with good carries as Burton established themselves back in the B&B half. Burton pressed for a score but then following a line-out tragedy struck when Ken Archer was left in pain on the ground and after some debate the referee called time seven minutes early with league rules giving Burton a hollow victory.