In a rain-soaked match on ladies’ day, tries from the impressive Harry Titley, Craig Dutton and Ian Gilmour ensured that Burton ended an unbeaten record for the second week running.

Dave Archer also kicked two conversions and a brace of penalties in front of a packed crowd at Peel Croft.

Burton director of rugby Steve Smith was delighted with the victory –

“The lads showed a bit of belief against a team who are clearly no mugs – third in the table, well drilled and well disciplined, but we showed a lot of character.”

League leaders Lichfield are now the only other team besides the Crofters yet to taste Midlands One West defeat.

Smith said: “We don’t think about what teams may think of us. We’ll continue to go out and play our game. We’ll be direct and do what we can do and continue to work hard both on and off the pitch.”

Throughout the first half it was Burton’s forwards who showed great strength, constantly winning scrummages and pushing back Hereford.

Five minutes into the game Lawrence Betty looped a ball over the top for Sam Benjamin and Harry Titley to chase. Visiting full-back Nat Thomas was under pressure, and misjudged the bounce. Titley took full advantage, claiming the ball before sprinting through to score the opening try to the delight of roaring crowd. Archer slotted the extras to give Burton and early 7-0 lead.

Further pressure from the Crofters followed moments later. Betty was at the heart of the attack again, bursting through into opposition territory. He found Craig Dutton, who chose to ignore the supporting Benjamin and was brought down, with the ball turned over.

On 13 minutes Hereford’s retreating players were caught offside. Dave Archer took advantage to kick the three points and increase Burton’s advantage to 10-0.

It got better for the Crofters on 18 minutes. Burton were dominant at the scrum before Dutton picked up at the base, drove on, and dived over the line. Archer again added the extras for 17-0.

Hereford’s only points of a one-sided opening half came on 35 minutes, when Ben Osbourne scored a long-distance penalty. The three points were almost immediately cancelled out, with Hereford’s players penalised for going off their feet at the ruck. Archer dissected the posts to give Burton a 20-3 lead at the break.

The second half proved a complete contrast, with Hereford dominating possession and territory.

Ben Osbourne and Will Roach were both shown yellow cards. More controversially, Darryl Banton also saw yellow – despite Ed Henry committing the offence. Hereford made the most of their numerical advantage to score their first and only try of the day.

Lloyd Collier collected from a maul on the 22 and sent his pass left. Suspicions that the pass had gone forward failed to bring the whistle, and Tom Ewins touched down under the posts. The conversion reduced Burton’s lead to 20-10.

For the majority of the rest of the half the Crofters defended well. A nervous ending to the game saw Joe Briggs also sent to the sin-bin after a series of comments to the referee.

But despite being a man down Burton scored a try late on to put further gloss on their sixth league victory of the season. Ian Gilmour, a second-half substitute, received the ball from Will Brooks before touching down to complete the scoring.

BURTON: Murphy, Burrough, Tivey, Cartwright (C), Roach, Ed Henry, Briggs, Dutton, Banton, Peach, Benjamin, Betty, Archer, Boden, Titley. Subs: Brooks, Bradley, Gilmour.

HEREFORD: Parker, Jenkins, Robinson, Humphreys, Walker, Smithers, Sayner, McColl (C), Osbourne, Bell, Ewins, Day, Thomas. Subs: Lowther, Sparey, Collier.

REFEREE: Ben Ward.

By Michael Gallagher