Burton conceded a turnover the first time they had possession and were turned by a kick to touch in the 22. Bosworth pressured dropped a neat goal to take the lead after only 2 minutes. Daryl Banton sparked Burton into life with a quick tap from a lineout on half way. The Scrum Half made ground before passing to Loz Betty who crossed the 22 and switched with Sam Benjamin coming off the right wing. Benjamin touched down under the posts and Dave Archer struck the conversion.

Bosworth used the wind to kick to touch in the Burton 22, however their subsequent attacks were unable to stretch Burton. Strong runs from Matt Tivey & Tom Harris allowed Banton to launch his backs. Betty got to within 5 metre of the try line and Simon Bradley to within 1 metre. Three penalties followed for Burton and from the last one skipper James Gibbons prompted Archer to kick three points and take a 10-3 lead with 20 minutes played. The game became scrappy as neither side retained the ball until a strong run from Jack Brooks gave Benjamin the ball on half way. There looked little on with four defenders as cover but Benjamin barged his way through to release Archer on his inside and the Full Back notched up seven points from there. The Burton pack produced a solid catch and drive from a lineout for the next try, with Joe Gazzard crossing for the score. Archer narrowly missed the conversion from the left wing. Ian Gilmour kicked to the corner and Liam Hucknell then stole the lineout. Burton then squandered the chance to score as they opened up the defence. A late penalty in the Bosworth half was kicked to touch, Gazzard won the lineout and the ball was spun out from the right wing. Benjamin popped us an extra attacker and from 30 metres out weaved his way through the cover to score. With a Bonus Point secured, Archer added the conversion to make the scoreline 29-3 at the break.

Again Burton made an inauspicious start when a spilled pass on half way was scooped up by a Bosworth player who streaked clear and fed his winger to score a try. The kicker slipped and the kick never got above cross-bar height. Gilmour made a jinking run from half way and found Damon Varney on his inside shoulder, Varney crossed the 22 and fed fellow Flanker Ben Cook who returned a pass to Varney who scored but injured himself in the act. Archer converted and Jono Parkinson left the bench to replace Varney. Dewi Williams also replaced Archer, with Matt Boden switching to Full Back from Left Wing. As Burton made their next attack a Bosworth player was adjudged to have deliberately knocked on and was sent to the Sin Bin. Craig Dutton replaced Liam Hucknell at No. 8. Burton attacked with a series of phases towards the right wing before spinning the ball left for Williams to score in the corner. Banton struck the conversion perfectly. Burton lost their concentration somewhat, were without the ball for a long spell and conceded several penalties in the process. Bosworth favoured the catch and drive and in defending one of these Tivey sustained a knock and Burton re-shuffled the pack. After having the next drive stopped, Bosworth used a couple of pick and goes to cross for a score. The conversion bounced back from the bar. The game needed an injection of pace as it appeared it would meander to an uneventful close otherwise. It was Bosworth who attacked next, but Cook thwarted this with an excellent tackle and turnover. Burton took play back into their opponents half and Dutton, now playing as Prop made a strong carry before finding Cook who crossed for a try. Banton kicked the conversion. Benjamin completed his hat-trick picking up a loose ball on half way and racing clear. In the final act of the game Benjamin drop-kicked the conversion sealing a 57-13 victory.

Next week Burton travel to play Hereford who are their nearest rivals for the play-off spot. Hereford beat Kenilworth 37 – 34, so Burton retain a four point lead and a game in hand.

By Ian Cartwright