A starting XV of former Colts lined up for Burton. Stoke kicked off up the slope, Damon Varney gathered the ball before running over the first tackler then set up a ruck. Luke Peach kicked long before Dave Archer chased the kick down and won a turnover. Stoke then turned the ball over and made their way into the Burton half. A penalty gave the potteries side a three point lead. There followed a fifteen minute period of play where passes weren’t going to hand for Burton and they barely got past half way. Eventually Peach and Harry Titley combined well to take play to the Stoke 22. From a strong Burton scrum Stoke stepped offside and Dave Archer levelled the scores. Arguably the game changing moment took place minutes later. Both teams Physiotherapists took to the field as Burton were awarded a penalty. Archer enquired if he could take a quick tap and on the nod from the Referee, he carved through the defence to score and then convert. The Stoke players were incensed and the Scrum Half was dismissed.

Burton were beginning to gel and a sweeping move involving Josh Cartwright, Archer & Sam Benjamin took play 40 meters deep into the Stoke half. Stoke regained possession but then knocked on. Some slick handling moved the ball out to Titley towards the left wing before he cut back in and went under the posts. Archer was on target with kick. Five minutes later came a stunning try from Ben Marshall. The Left Wing received the ball on his own 10 meter line before taking his opposite number on the outside and then stepping inside the Full Back and going on to score. Looking good and with and a man advantage, Burton then let Stoke back into the game. A thirty metre counter attack was followed by a penalty kicked to the corner. An unconverted try made the half-time score 24-8 to Burton.

Burton started the second half giving away a string of penalties, one of which was kicked wide before Rowley took a quick tap and evaded several would be tacklers to score under the sticks. Craig Dutton replaced the injured Cartwright at lock. Ben Cook tidied up a loose ball before Marshall, Peach, Ed Henry & Tom Murphy took play to the 22. A Stoke player entered a ruck from the side and Archer found the target once again. James Burrough replaced Ben Burchell at Hooker. Further penalties were conceded by the Crofters and Titley was then yellow Carded as Stoke approached the try line. A great piece of skill from Stoke Centre Hughes closed the gap to just seven points.

Direct play by Varney, Cook, Murphy and Matt Tivey took play deep into the Stoke 22 and then Darryl Banton opted to release his backs but unfortunately a later pass went forward when a try seemed certain. Ian Gilmour replaced Archer but only minutes later Archer was back on the field to replace the hobbling Benjamin.

Stoke attacked again before Archer intercepted and Tom Cooper kicked deep. Burton swarmed forward and turned over. Burrough took the ball blind and crossed for a try. Archer missed the difficult kick, however crucially Burton had a twelve point cushion.

Stoke rallied but Dutton turned over and then Joe Gazzard surged up field after taking a lineout. The injury toll was severe for both sides and Burchell retuned on the flank in place of the injured Henry. Dutton and Cooper broke up the final Stoke attack and at the whistle Burton led 32-20. Burton secured five points and they now are now eight points ahead of third placed Walsall, their next opponents.

By Ian Cartwright