Burton produced perhaps their best performance of the season but still left Nuneaton empty handed. The second-placed side were soon in the Burton twenty two and using their powerful pack to apply pressure. A knock-on gave Burton the put-in, but the ball wasn’t channelled properly hence Nuneaton won it and crossed the line, only to be held up. Nuneaton were awarded a penalty at the scrummage and then spun the ball across the backs to score a try which was converted.
Sam Benjamin and James Burrough were involved as Burton made their first positive steps in the game. In a scrappy period of play Ken Archer stole a lineout, but then Burton were turned over before Liam Hucknall was taken out in a line-out. Sam Smith went very close with the kick at goal.
Nuneaton attacked next but this was halted by a shuddering tackle from Jack Brooks in the centre. Play stayed around half way until Hucknall broke towards the right wing finding Daryl Banton in support, Banton kicked the ball to the opposition twenty two. Benjamin stormed up his wing and was unlucky with the bounce but managed a hack in-field. Craig Dutton and Jono Parkinson were on hand but again the ball wouldn’t fall into Burton hands. Play stayed in the Nuneaton half and Burton produced a fluent attack with Nick Oxley, Alex Nesbitt and Jack Neale making ground before a penalty was given and Smith collected three points.
Burton were unable to capitalise on their next period of territorial advantage and Nuneaton made their way up the field and applied their own pressure. A powerful driving maul took them to within five metres of the right hand corner and they then spun the ball. Burton forced the ball across towards the left wing before Nuneaton set up a ruck, from which the Scrum Half skipped over to score a try. The conversion was missed leaving the score 12 -3 with half an hour gone.
Just before the break Burton conceded two penalties in quick succession and with the final act of the half, Nuneaton kicked a penalty.
Tom Murphy replaced Dom Musetti at Loose Head for the start of the second half.
The Nuneaton Fly Half liked to sit in the pocket and send long kicks to turn the Burton wingers. Oxley fielded one such kick and fed Benjamin, who made twenty metres though heavy traffic. Play went to the Nuneaton twenty two before the ball was lost and cleared by the home side. Harry Titley and Murphy made runs as play went back up the field. Nuneaton broke out and got behind Burton but good scramble defence created a ruck. Joe Gazzard stopped the next run with a crunching hit and Burton were awarded a penalty at the break down. Smith found touch ten metres out on the left wing. Burton drove the ball from the line-out to seven metres out, before Dutton broke away on the blind-side and scored in the corner, silencing the fans of his old club in the process. The conversion slipped wide, but were now within seven points of Nuneaton.
Eddie Saunders and Eddie Nicholls replaced Jack Neale and Daryl Banton respectively.
Burton failed to capitalise on two Free Kicks from scrummages as they knocked on soon afterwards on each occasion.
From a line-out thirty metres out Nuneaton produced a text-book driving maul which made twenty five metres before being halted. From a second ruck the home side scored a try which went unconverted.
A penalty gave Nuneaton the chance to find touch and employ their line-out drive once more. Initially Burton produced a counter drive but after a long advantage period, a penalty near touch was awarded. Nuneaton drove forward this time and as they crossed the line Dutton worked his way through the maul and the Referee credited him with holding the ball up.
Burton took play to beyond half way before a diagonal kick in the now greasy conditions was scooped up by Oxley who was scragged by his opposing winger. Oxley found Nicholls who raced over half way. Smith got on the outside to create a two on one and Nicholls supplied the scoring pass. Smith bisected the uprights with his kick making the score 25-15 with fifteen minutes to play.
Nicholls and Benjamin combined to take play to half way but the ball was knocked on. Nuneaton attacked and missed a penalty before a kicking duel ended with Burton conceding a penalty for obstruction. Nuneaton found touch fifteen metres out but then conceded a penalty which Titley put to half way. The line-out had functioned very well for Burton but on this occasion ball coming from ‘off- the top’ was knocked on. This was decisive as the Nuneaton Blind-side and Fly Half each burst through would be tackles and made thirty metres a piece resulting in a try. The conversion took the game away from Burton.
In the dying moments there were two penalties for Nuneaton and a yellow card for Burrogh. The final kick made the score 30-15.
Burton had played with great spirit and no little skill, leaving the home supporters unable to fathom why the visitors sit at the bottom of the league.