This game fitted the formula of many this season as victory was within reach for Burton but ended in defeat.
Burton kicked off and held Sutton on their twenty two but conceded a penalty. The game was then played between the two twenty twos for several minutes with neither side gaining the ascendancy. As ten minutes approached Burton were awarded a penalty thirty metres out which Dave Archer struck over sweetly.
Craig Dutton caught the re-start and made ground but Burton lost the ball and Sutton countered. Kelvin Browne then turned over and Daryl Banton kicked to half way. Sutton again lost possession and Harry Titley found Sam Benjamin on his inside and the winger raced over the opposing ten metre line before being swamped defenders. Burton were awarded a penalty and Archer did the honours again.
A scrappy period of play followed and Burton conceded a couple of penalties, the second of which Sutton kicked to fifteen metres out. Burton managed to steal with a tap but the loose ball was knocked on. The first scrum took place with a quarter of the game gone which Burton took against the head and Titley kicked clear. Burton then made ground through Liam Hucknall, Dave Archer and Alex Nesbitt.
Neither side threatened a score as events were played out in the middle of the pitch before Sutton used their backs and attacked on the left wing. Burton slowed the attack down but the Sutton forwards then made a series of short carries to score. The conversion was missed.
Sutton kicked deep into the Burton half from the kick off. Banton made the catch and hoisted his own kick which he chased well and forced the Full Back to kick into touch. From the lineout Loz Betty crashed through the centre but Burton lost the ball at the breakdown. The Sutton Full Back hoisted a high kick into an area where Burton had little cover. Josh Cartwright managed to catch the ball over his shoulder outnumbered by opponents but Burton got men in support and secured the ball.
At the break Will Roach and James Davies replaced Craig Dutton and Liam Hucknall, with James Burrough switching to back row. Roach and Banton made a blind-side move from the first breakdown. An exchange of kicks followed and Sutton put a great kick into the Burton twenty two and Nick Oxley was bundled into touch five metres out. Burton won the lineout but were under pressure and conceded two penalties in quick succession and Roach was yellow carded. Sutton elected the scrum and attacked from the base but met with good defence before moving the ball to the right wing and being held up over the line. Burton conceded a penalty at the scrum and Sutton moved the ball to the left wing and had a man over who scored in the corner.
Sutton box kicked after the re-start and Banton caught the ball on his ten meter line before throwing a pass inside to Oxley. The Full Back set off on a diagonal run towards the left hand corner covering over sixty yards beating at least six defenders and scoring one of the best tries seen on the Croft this season. The kick was unsuccessful but Burton led 11-10.
Burton were soon under pressure from a long diagonal kick into the corner and lost the lineout but Browne dropped on a loose ball to allow Banton to clear. Sutton attacked again but spilled the ball which Dave Archer hacked and Sam Benjamin then won on the floor. Burton played through a few phases before an attempted chip went straight into the hands of a Sutton blocker. Burton scrambled and were then on the move up the blind-side through Banton and Benjamin. Sutton then had possession in their twenty two but Burton pressed well and Jack Neal forced a penalty which Dave Archer knocked over.
Nick Oxley was injured and replaced by Luke Peach prompting a re-shuffle in the backs. Sutton went on the attack and were held up over the line. From the five metre scrum Burton were under pressure and from a second of these the Referee awarded a Penalty Try. The conversion took Sutton into a 17-14 lead with just over ten minutes to play.
Sutton were soon on the attack again and Betty was penalised for a dangerous tackle. The penalty was kicked to the corner and as Sutton moved the ball into centres, Peach was penalised for a dangerous tackle and yellow carded.
Sutton then used the additional man in the scrum to their advantage and shoved Burton back. A tactic they then utilised repeatedly as it earned a series of penalties. With four minutes remaining the Sutton backs eventually got a look-in and scored in the corner.
Burton rallied but were unable to sneak a bonus point which they would have been worthy of. A break from league action next week allows Burton to entertain Tamworth in the County Cup semi-final.