The 1st XV came away from the west midlands club victorious in a bruising affair, with tries from Will Roach (2), Sam Benjamin and Laurence Betty, as well as Dave Archer converting two tries and scoring a penalty.

With the Crofter’s winning their opening weekend tie against Stratford, the team were looking to build on the momentum and hoping to put daylight between themselves and Walsall who were one place below them after the first round of fixtures.

Instantly from kick-off, Burton looked like they meant business, with Joe Gazzard retrieving the ball and making up 10 yards. He was brought down, but the play continued to stay in Walsall’s half. Moments later on the near side, Matt Boden handed off, inside the 22, to Will Roach who burst through the host’s line of defence to score. Archera missed the conversion leaving it 5-0 to the visitors.

On six minutes, the crofters should have scored again when on the far side, Joe Briggs found Ian Gilmour in the corner. His excitement of scoring may have got the better of him as just before he touched the ball down, it was spilled, resulting in a scrum.

The pace of the opening minutes soon fizzled out, as both sides held their own and play was kept in the middle.

A chance for Burton in the 30th minute, as they were given a penalty when Walsall failed to release the ball. With the shot at goal chosen, Archer stepped up but his attempt went left of the post.

Walsall almost made them pay 10 minutes later. With the ball deep in Burton territory Chris Mould scurried away, through a pack of Burton players. He found team-mate Roger Weston who handed off again to Jack Crowhurst. Burton quickly came onto him and the hosts were penalised for not releasing. That saw the end of the half and the visitors led 5-0.

Substitutions were made with Charl Neethling and Lawrence Betty coming on for Gazzard and Luke Peach.

Like the first half, the opening minutes saw Burton attack with hunger and desire which paid dividend on 45 minutes. Harry Titley broke through Walsalls front row, and as he was closed down quickly, he found Betty. A sequence of passes between Betty, Archer and Boden ended with a try, as Roach received the ball from the winger and ran over to score. Archer again, failed with the conversion and it remained 10-0.

The hosts soon came back however. With possession in Burton’s territory, full back Mould passed outside to Crowhurst, and the winger managed to skip past Ian Gilmour to score making it 10-5. Like Archer though, Walsall’s Matt Wood failed to convert his conversion effort.

Soon after, it was only for the saving tackle from scrum half Darryl Banton that the score was kept to a deficit of 5 points, as Walsall had a chance on the near side, but Harvey Wootton was held up on the 22 and pushed out of play.

The host’s tenacity paid off. On 61 minutes Jody Lane was part of the pressurising pack that was pushed over the line. He scored to make it 10 points each as yet again another conversion was missed, this one again by Matt Wood.

With that resulting score, Joe Brooks was brought on to replace Gilmour and the game play changed again; this time in Burton’s favour.

On 65 minutes, the visitors were given a penalty after Walsall were penalised for players diving in from the side at the ruck. Archer scored his first points of the day; as he was successful in converting the chance.

Joe Gazzard then returned to the pitch coming on for Craig Dutton.

Soon after on 67 minutes, Sam Benjamin scored the try of the game. He picked up the ball inside his own half and ran 3/4’s of the pitch on the far side near the touch line. He left the chasing Walsall players behind and managed to score between the posts. Archer converted giving Burton a 20-10 lead.

The game was put to bed when Benjamin was again involved in the play. He passed to Harry Titley who in turn, found substitute Betty. He ran over to score, and Archer converted leaving the visitors with a comfortable score of 27-10.

The host’s scored a consolation try with Max Hughes, and Wood converted with the last kick of the game, but it ended with Burton taking the spoils with a 27-17 win.

Captain Josh Cartwright said after the match; “We’re happy with the result it’s a good win. We’ve played here before, scored first and lost, and this is the first time we’ve won here in a few years.
“The whole team played well, but the backs were terrific today. The three props in Ed Henry, Joe Briggs and Craig Dutton also put in a terrific shift today so they can be happy with their performance.”

Burton 1st XV: Murphy, Gazzard, Tivey, Cartwright (C), Roach, Henry, Briggs, Dutton, Banton, Peach, Benjamin, Titley, Archer, Boden, Gilmour.

Walsall XV: Lane, Jones, Russ Gauden, Benson, Reeves, Halbert (C), Hughes, Simpson, Pittaway, Wood, Williamson, Weston, Wootton, Crowhurst, Mould.

Referee: Matthew Coultas (Nottingham).