A brave performance from an inexperienced Burton side had their considerable band of supporters believing they could edge ahead of Longton for their first victory of the season. Sadly it was Longton who got the decisive score leaving Burton to battle unsuccessfully for a losing bonus point.
Burton kicked off and both sides struggled to maintain possession. Ed Henry and Joe Briggs made turnovers before Jack Neal’s attempt was deemed illegal and Longton missed a kick at goal.
On loan Number Eight Liam Hucknall made a strong run from the base of a scrum to take play the Longton twenty two for a line-out. Burton were awarded a penalty which Sam Smith struck over assuredly to make the score 3-0.
Joe Gazzard caught the ball from the kick-off and made good ground before Henry took over. Burton knocked on and were then under pressure at the scrum conceding a penalty. Longton kicked to the corner but Gazzard stole the ball and the pressure was relieved when Skipper Harry Titley chased his own kick and held the player up to earn a scrum.
Longton were awarded a penalty at the next scrum and kicked to the corner. Burton managed to slow the driving maul, however Longton expertly implemented a second drive and Wareham emerged with a try which was converted by Serukeitoga.
After an exchange of kicks Burton put themselves under pressure before somehow Daryl Banton managed to recover the situation and make ground. Burton then spun the ball across the backs but knocked on.
From half way Longton produced their most fluent move of the day resulting in a try for Fowles beside the right touch line. The kick slipped wide. Ken Archer replaced Dom Musetti at Prop.
Pressure from Henry at a breakdown earned a penalty and Burton mounted their first real attack. Neal, Nick Oxley, Dewi Williams, Briggs, James Davies, Titley and Hucknall were all involved before a knock-on allowed Longton to clear to the Burton 10m line. Craig Dutton replaced Briggs.
Burton conceded a penalty which Longton kicked to the corner. Burton braced themselves for a repeat catch and drive but instead the front lifter passed the ball back to Hooker Wilson who scored in the corner. The missed kick left the score at 3-17.
After a better scrum, wingers Alex Nesbitt and Williams made carries in-field. Burton kicked a penalty to the corner before transgressing themselves. Banton made a promising break and Longton were caught off-side. In stoppage time Titley chose to kick for the corner and receiving the ball after the lineout cross-kicked to Williams, who scored beside the right-hand corner flag. Smith’s excellent conversion attempt sadly hit the bar.
Longton started the second half with several phases in the Burton half before conceding a penalty which Dutton took quickly and made good ground. Smith then made a good kick to touch beyond half way.
After seven minutes, crisp accurate passing by the Burton backs gave Oxley the chance to join the line crossing twenty two and he cleverly ghosted through for a try. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful however at 13-17 down Burton were now in the ascendancy and playing with renewed confidence.
Titley, Williams and Smith made line breaks. A Titley chip went into touch in the corner rather than sit-up for Williams but Longton over-threw and Banton took the ball. Longton dived over the ball and Burton kicked to the corner. Dutton and Tom Murphy took the ball on before a long spell of pressure ended with Burton not having capitalised. Eddie Nicholls replaced Banton.
Whenever the chance arose Longton now began to use diagonal kicks to relieve pressure and take the pace out the game. Musetti, back on the field, made a carry but Burton lost the ball during the next phase.
Longton kicked a penalty to the Burton twenty two and were then awarded a penalty. The kick missed the target. Play stayed in the Burton twenty two until Nicholls kicked beyond half way which was retuned diagonally to within 10 metres of the try line. A Burton clearance was charged down then another penalty was conceded but once again it was missed.
Longton kept up the pressure and a driving maul looked all set to cross the line but Burton held it out. Longton used their backs before Oxley intercepted and made a half-break. Burton then missed several tackles on the Longton Fly Half and after scramble defence made a turn-over and cleared their lines.
It was now twenty five minutes since the last score and both sides had spent extended periods on the attack. Longton were able to end theirs with a try by Healey from a driving line-out which Serukeitoga converted.
There were eight minutes of normal time left and Burton threw everything they had into them. Nesbitt scragged the kick off receiver. Longton cleared their lines before Titley made thirty metre break and kicked ahead. Longton scramble but play was taken back for a late challenge on the Burton Captain.
Jack Brooks made a strong run through the centres but try as they might Burton couldn’t close the gap to seven points or less for a bonus point which would have some reward for their considerable efforts.