The Burton President had already delegated the most important job of the day and handed the ‘pen of power’ to an elite press gang to write up today’s match report.

With a spritely start Burton were soon on the attack, and with a little less selfishness we could have had our first try. It took 10 minutes to get on the scoreboard with a try from Dewi Williams, the conversion missed.

A beautiful piece of play starting on the right wing, led to Burton’s next try on the left wing by Sam Benjamin, this was converted by Darryl Banton. Confusion on the scoreboard had Barkers Butts leading 12-0, and it was the young members of Burton RFC that got this corrected.

Burton were now dominating in the scrum, and won one against the head this lead to the next try by Jono Parkinson, the conversion missed.

Crossing from Barkers Butts gave Burton a penalty, and with a good drive from the line out meant Will Roach was able to make valuable yards.
Burton makes a substitution Joe Gazzard on for Tom Harris.

A text book line out and Burton build the phases, a clever grubber kick through puts pressure on the Butts defence and results in a line out, unfortunately the throws not straight. Another wonky lineout and Burton have the put-in at the scrum, which is subsequently knocked on by Will Roach playing no.8.

Butts pitch is luscious and green and could actually do with a cut, the only way you can tell it’s late in the season as the usually pristine white shorts of Burton are now grey.

35 minutes played and a breakaway from Lawrence Betty, an exquisite inside pass to Sam Benjamin, set up the backs to hand it to Dewi Williams to score under the posts, try converted by Darryl Banton.
A good catch from Harry Titley and a storming run up the right wing, let Sam Benjamin in for his 2nd try of the afternoon, converted by Darryl Banton.

Half time score 0-31

2nd half gets off to a flyer but a knock-on from Burton leads to scrum to Burton, feeding from Butts leads to a quick tap and go penalty from Banton who tries to go up the blindside and is pushed into touch. Burton soaks up the pressure and hold up the maul to win a scrum, Burton penalised for crossing. An interception from Betty leads to a partial break but a tap tackle form Butts bring him down.

Burton make more substitutions Cartwright and Parkinson are off and Dutton and Briggs are on.

18 minutes into the 2nd half and a breakaway by Roach hands Samtastic his 3rd try of the afternoon, try converted by Darryl Banton.

An injured Betty is helped off the pitch, and as conditions were so good the press gang were unable to spot the clean player and it took some minutes to identify the replacement.

A gift from Butts handed to Benjamin who makes ground with Ian ‘Happy’ Gilmour in support to take the glory, try converted.
After a period of scrappy play, Burton release Samtastic for his 4th try, conversion missed.

Lots of oohs from the crowd coincide with the return of Burton’s Optimus Prime, Tom Harris, to the field, who then drags a Butts player into touch. More scrappy play but a second attempt to the try line by Benjamin is successful and he makes it 5 tries for the afternoon. Conversion missed.

More champagne rugby form the Burton backs and Benjamin again mixed up in the play, taking the ball from deep he passes to Briggs who is tackled close to the try line but manages to offload back to Sam Benjamin for his 6th try of the afternoon. The conversion is missed.
Final score Barkers Butts 0-60 Burton

Burton 1st XV take on Derby RFC in the Midlands One play-off for a place in National League next season. Game kicks off at 3pm on Peel Croft, Saturday 26th April.

By Sarah Langford.