Burton hosted Doncaster Phoenix, on Patrons’ Day, at Battlestead Croft sitting just one place above them in the league with the home spectators hoping for a much improved performance they had witnessed the previous week against Syston. This fixture in previous seasons had always produced good quality rugby with both teams preferring to play an open running game. Although the spectators’ hopes were met, the final result was once again disappointing as the visitors snatched victory with the last play of the game to leave Burton in bottom place.

Doncaster kicked off the game playing with the breeze at their backs and Burton were penalised almost immediately for “sealing off” just outside their own “22”. A successful kick from in front of the posts gave Doncaster an early lead. Burton 0-3 Doncaster Phoenix. The restart saw Doncaster kick the ball straight into touch for a Burton throw on their opponents 10 metre line. The line-out was won with some ease and Burton made good progress up to the “22”. The Burton forwards made good use of this early possession but were again penalised just as they threatened the visitors try line. This rather scrappy start continued as Doncaster knocked on from the next line-out but from the resulting scrum Burton showed some excellent handling as the ball was moved left through the backs and Jamie Dutton scored Burton’s first try of the game after just 8 minutes. The conversion just missed but Burton had moved into a narrow lead. Burton 5-3 Doncaster Phoenix.

The flow of the game was constantly interrupted by penalty decisions on both sides and it was from one of these that Doncaster hit back at Burton, eventually scoring wide on the left after about 15 minutes in spite of good defensive work by the hosts. The conversion once again missed the target. Burton 5-8 Doncaster Phoenix. Burton upped their game a little after this and much to the dismay of home spectators were unable to touch down with their next attack following a kick through. Another penalty gave Burton a further chance to re-take the lead when the line-out was again very effective only for Burton to be penalised for holding on.

Alfie Grant made some good headway after collecting a Doncaster penalty kick that failed to make touch and there were signs Burton were beginning to get the upper hand in the game. Heavy rain then began to fall and this signalled the start of forward dominated play which saw most of the game in the visitors half right through to half time. An injury to Corey Beck saw him replaced by Callum Stokes as half time approached. However, the Burton forwards could not make the decisive breakthrough they were seeking and as half time arrived the score remained the same.

Half time saw further changes made as Harry Titley was taken off and replaced by Will Simpson, returning from injury, coming on at full-back, Dutton moving to fly-half and Beck having recovered to take his place again at prop. Simpson made an immediate impact as a kick through took Burton right up to the Doncaster 5 metre line. A Burton throw at the next line-out was really well taken and the ensuing forward drive saw Beck gleefully score wide on the left. Bunting this time slotted his conversion very nicely to give Burton the lead once again. Burton 12-8 Doncaster Phoenix. From the re-start Burton kicked back downfield and Doncaster then kicked directly intro touch to hand the throw at the line-out to Burton on the 10 metre line. Play was then halted for another Burton injury but captain James Davies was able to carry on after treatment. Another change saw John Kirwin replaced in the second row by Ed Henry after 50 minutes.

With Burton now sensing they were beginning to get more of a stranglehold on the game they gradually made good progress deep into the Doncaster half. As they did this Doncaster then gave away several penalties. Burton kicked well and found themselves on the visitors 5 metre line with the throw in at a line-out. Again they won the ball comfortably and drove impressively towards the try line. Davies finished the move clinically and Burton were building a good lead after 11 minutes of the half. Bunting converted impressively again to extend the lead further. Burton 19-8 Doncaster Phoenix. The next few minutes saw Doncaster dominate possession but great defensive work by Burton ensured they made very little in the way of progress. Frustrated by this the penalty count against Doncaster began to rise and Burton were able to increase their lead again with a successful penalty converted by Bunting mid way through the half. Burton 22-8 Doncaster Phoenix.

Burton were then guilty of switching off and allowed Doncaster to make headway with the ball and although their defence was generally good, Burton conceded again on 24 minutes after relentless pressure. The conversion was missed to leave the score Burton 22-13 Doncaster Phoenix. Burton then began to make more errors as the pressure mounted upon them. A kick went straight into touch and a penalty against at the next line-out saw Doncaster make progress into the Burton half. Penalties continued to be conceded far too often and eventually Doncaster were close enough to go for goal, which they did not convert.

Having regained their composure a little, Burton managed to retain possession for a short period and were awarded a penalty inside their own half which for some unknown reason they decided to try and kick rather than go for touch and play out time for the much needed win. The long penalty kick fell just short of the posts and disappointingly, Doncaster then retained possession almost exclusively for the remainder of the game. With just over 15 minutes to go Doncaster scored an unconverted try on the right to close the gap to less than one score. Burton 22-18 Doncaster.

The pressure was really on Burton now and Doncaster, as expected, did not give up believing they had a chance of pinching a result. To their credit Burton’s defence was admirable with tackles being made in the face of the relentless assault by the visitors. It was not until the final play of the game that Doncaster made the crucial breakthrough and sealed an unlikely win with a converted try to make the final score Burton 22-25 Doncaster Phoenix. With that win they sent Burton to the bottom of the league - fortunately results of teams just above Burton were kind so the gap at the bottom remains a small one and the opportunity to move up the table is still a realistic one.