Burton returned home with nothing to show for all their efforts after failing to adapt to a wind that blew straight down the pitch.
Late changes meant Eddie Nicholls was handed a bench spot from the blossoming Burton Rugby Academy, Jack Walford earned his first start at scrum half replacing the injured Darryl Banton, with Jack Brooks coming in for Dave Archer at centre.

With all the changes seven in total from the original squad it was no surprise that it took time for Burton to settle. From the kick off playing into the wind Whitchurch showed their intent to keep the ball tight against the wind and maul.

Within the first four minutes a driving maul led to a Whitchurch score with the conversion out wide against the wind was never going to be possible.

Stirred into action the Burton pack recycled the kick off and exerted pressure with a couple of recycled balls. Only a knock on resulted in the play being broken up.

From the resulting scrum on seven minutes a great turnover from Varney at the scrum gave the ball to Burton, yet again probing amongst the forwards, gaining ground at will.

Yet another knock on resulted in a scrum against, but from this scrum a charge down by Briggs, resulted in Brooks being able to somehow feed the ball to Williams who scampered across the line to score his first try. With the score and both normal goal kickers injured, Boden cooly slotted over the conversion to make the score 5-7 in Burtons favour.

This score seemed to galvanise Burton and a series of plays involving all 15 players, including a great run from Benjamin that took play from the Burton 22 to the Whitchurch 22. Great plays and runs from Gilmour and Betty combined with great hits from Tivey and Varney took some semblance of control of the half.

Burton received a massive blow on 17 minutes when Benjamin had to retire as a stray knee resulted in injury. This handed Nicholls his league debut on the wing.

Undeterred Burton took advantage of a penalty on the 22 and the now confident Boden slotted over to make the score 5-10 with 18 minutes gone.
The match then was dominated by the forwards from both teams, with Whitchurch intent on keeping the match tight, knowing the wind was against them.

With a Burton player asking for attention the game was allowed to continue at a lineout and the resulting maul resulted in a Whitchurch try, 10-10

The rest of the half was a nip and tuck with Varne , Dutton and Cartwright having runs to take the ball into Whitchurch territory.
Yet another indiscretion at the ruck gave Burton and Boden to make the score 10-13 at the break.

The half time team talk was about keeping it tight against the wind, but with the elements with them Whitchurch scored two quick tries to completely turn the match on its head. Coupled with this Varney who had played his best match for Burton for years had to be replaced by Cook after a shoulder injury.

The Whitchurch fly half was influential during the half by placing his kicks to the corners expertly and from the lineouts Whitchurch created havoc and scored a try from a rolling maul on 55 minutes to make the score 27-13.

Gazzard replaced Will Brooks and Burtons never say die attitude involved a series of play involving Nicholls (now at scrum half), Cartwright ,Briggs and Burrough driving the ball at Whitchurch, quick hand using Gilmour, Betty and Williams gave space for Boden to touchdown in the corner . Impossible conversion attempt against a gale made the score 27-18.

Unfortunately for Burton Whitchurch scored two well worked tries to kill the game off, but at 37-18, Burton would not lie down. Both teams lost players as tempers frayed a little. But please be aware this was not a dirty match, both teams had come to play rugby and the final score went to hooker Burrough who capped off another great performance to make the score 37-23.

Burton travel to Hereford next week in the hope of keeping the season alive. Great positives can be taken from performance as Edgeley Park is a fortress and the defence worked well. Scrummaging was back to normal, it was just the changes and cohesion of not playing together that made the difference. Players of note were Boden ,Varney and Nicholls .
Results elsewhere mean Burton stay second with everything still to play for. The squad depth has been used, great things to come. Hope springs eternal.

Steve Briggs