The result was always in doubt until the final whistle with both sides scoring two tries each but Lichfield coming out as eventual winners by be able to convert their conversions and penalties offered while Burton narrowly missing their chances such are the fine lines between winning and losing.

Burton began brightly and took the game to Lichfield from the off and good early pressure resulted in a Burton penalty after only 2 mins which Banton pushed just wide. Lichfield regrouped and good handling put the Burton back line under pressure but Burton defended well. Much of the play was centred between the 22 metre lines with both teams trying to find gaps in the defences but both were holding firm at this point. Burton made a strong statement in the scrums pushing the Lichfield eight back on the first scrum of the day, putting pressure on the Lichfield defence with a good breakout from Sam Benjamin linking up with Laurence Betty looking promising until the last pass went astray in the swirling winds, a common feature of the day.

On 16 mins Lichfield weathered this storm and with some good link play scored a well taken try although the hint of a forward pass was missed. The conversion was not successful. (Lichfield 5 Burton 0). The story of the half continued with Burton dominating the scrums and destroying the Lichfield pack but getting no change from the referee, also dominating territory but the last pass not going to hand or conceding a penalty at the crucial moment. In one of these exchanges Burton were dealt a severe blow when captain and second row Josh Cartwright has to leave the field with a damaged ankle after only 21 minutes to be replaced by Will Brooks.
Three minutes later at his first line out take Brooks fed to Craig Dutton passed along the back line for kick through by Ian Gilmour for Dave Archer to cut a strong line though the Lichfield defence pick up and score just left of the posts. Conversion was missed just to the right of the posts by Banton (Lichfield 5 Burton 5).

The story of the remainder of the half continued in the same vein with Burton dominating the territory, the scrums but Lichfield defending well and Burton conceding too many penalties when they were in the ascendancy in key areas of the field.
Again good work by surging runs from the forwards Liam Hucknall, Dutton, Tivey and Banton and Gilmour linking up the backs of Betty, Archer, Titley and Benjamin resulted in yet another penalty just before half time with an offside offence by Lichfield for Burton but alas again the opportunity to take the lead was missed.
Half time Lichfield 5 Burton 5.

Turning round at half time the weather turned decidedly worse with strong wind and torrential rain falling but credit to both teams they both tried to keep playing rugby. Burton’s pack started as they left off and were still pushing the Lichfield pack backwards but not getting any penalties for their efforts of the Lichfield pack collapsing but instead on this occasion they were penalised for pushing early! From the resulting Lichfield line out and driving maul Burton gave away a penalty which Lichfield converted (Lichfield 8 Burton 5).

Lichfield pressed but great defence by Benjamin cleared the line temporarily and although another great tackle again by Benjamin out wide Lichfield drove on which resulted in a try near the line also converted after 7 mins (Lichfield 15 Burton 5)
Burton continued to pressure and with a great tackle in mid field but players penalised for going over the top gave Lichfield a chance of a penalty but missed.

Lichfield began to achieve some parity on the scrums as the first half efforts began to tell on Burtons forwards but the Burtons backs were beginning to find some holes in the Lichfield defence and making inroads towards the Lichfield half, with Betty and Titley breaking through a number of times.

On the half hour Burton came back strongly and the pressure finally paid off and with some fantastic interplay with Benjamin starting the move to Hucknall to Archer, Betty and back to the ever available Benjamin to score on 32 minutes, Unfortunately the story of the day was the kick was missed but at least the bonus point had been gained (Lichfield 15 Burton 10).

Although Burton made ground and tried to find a way to find the elusive winning score the Lichfield defence held firm. Burton did gain good territory and field position with some good line kicking by Nicholls who had replaced Banton by this time but Burtons line out was now not functioning well losing their own ball and resultant field potion having to start again.

With 7 minutes to go repeated infringements by the Lichfield no 7 led to a yellow card which gave Burton the opportunity to push for the win with some surging runs by Betty, Archer through the midfield but the last pass not given or astray the elusive score could not be achieved.

Final Score Lichfield 15 Burton 10.

Although the team were disappointed with the loss a great deal of positives could be taken from the game. The pack and especially the front five of Burroughs, Titley, Murphy, Harris, Cartwright and Brooks gave a dominant display of forward power and if a little more patience and composure had been shown in the opponents 22 then the result may have been ours. For long periods of the game Burton dominated both territory and possession but the key is to turn these factors into points which Lichfield just did better on the day.

The match also showed that the gap between the two teams is closer than the league points suggest and if the winnable games previously lost the race for the title would be closer.

By Kevin Wrathall

Burton RFC President and Ground Chairman (and now Sports Reporter!)