Burton travelled to Newport on Saturday for a Midlands Premier league fixture. The Shropshire side are riding high at the top of the league, having lost only two matches previously so a tough afternoon was expected. However, Burton have traditionally played well against Newport and were hoping to avenge their defeat at home earlier in the season.
The match kicked off with Burton playing into a strong wind, but they carried the ball well and soon had the home side under pressure, forcing them to concede a penalty at the breakdown. From the ensuing lineout on the Newport 22 metre line the backs ran the ball and flanker Josh Kent was on hand to crash over the try line and score under the posts. Scrum half Chaz Bunting kicked the conversion.
From the restart Newport used the wind to get deep into the Burton half. The Burton scramble defence was working well but, in the end, they could not prevent the home team scoring in the corner. The conversion was missed so the visitors were still in the lead.
The home side, at this point seemed to be making a lot of mistakes for a team that had only lost two games, but this was probably due to the pressure that Burton were exerting. After one such error the visitors were awarded a scrum on the Newport 22 metre line and again won the ball. Full back Alfredo Bergada joined the three-quarter line and kicked ahead. He raced after the ball, gathered his own kick and scored in the corner. Bunting missed the conversion, but Burton had extended their lead.
The home team again tried to run the ball, but the Burton defence was strong. A hard tackle by fly half Jamie Dutton forced a Newport player to spill the ball. It was picked up by winger Tristan De Jager who ran from the halfway line, outstripping the Newport defenders, to score in the corner. The conversion was again missed. There was no further significant action in the half, so the half time score was Newport 5 Burton 17.
As you would expect from a team at the top of the league Newport came back strongly and some poor tackling by the visitors allowed the centre to score wide out. The conversion was again missed but the home team were now within one score.
Although Newport were now coming back strongly their indiscipline let them down again and Burton were again able to extend their lead through a penalty kick by Bunting.
The last quarter of the match was a tense affair for the Burton travelling supporters as the home team again went on the attack. More weak tackling by Burton allowed Newport to score close to the posts this time the centre added the two extra points to bring them within three points.
There is great team spirit in the Burton side, however, and they have shown great resolve in recent weeks when under pressure. They carried the ball well and again were awarded a penalty. Which Bunting kicked from the halfway line.
There was, then, more indiscipline from a Newport player who received a yellow card for a shoulder charge. The penalty took Burton well into the Newport 22 and from the lineout, Hooker James Davies made a break and outstripped the defence to score a bonus point try. Bunting added the extra points.
Newport came back strongly and some good running and handling by their backs enabled them to score again. The conversion was missed but the home team now had all the momentum. With about 4 minutes to go centre Alex Nesbitt received a yellow card for a deliberate knock on but Burton managed to hold on for a well-deserved victory. The final score was Newport 22 Burton 30.