Burton ran in four great tries to gain a bonus point win over fellow strugglers Dudley Kingswinford. The Burton defence was resolute, even when down to fourteen men and came away with a first clean-sheet of the season.
James Davies tapped the kick-off back to Tom Murphy and then Harry Titley kicked into the DK half. Over eagerness resulted in a penalty which DK kicked to touch only for Jack Neal to steal.
After just 6 minutes Titley received the ball under pressure on his own 10 meter line but he managed an off-load to Full Back Nick Oxley who made over twenty meters near the left wing. Oxley found Davies the Hooker in support who then raced forward and had Craig Dutton available for a two on one but cut inside and then galloped over for his maiden 1st XV try. Dave Archer drilled the awkward kick over the bar.
Burton were under pressure from the Kick Off and Archer did very well to buy time for support to arrive as he dealt with a tricky ball on the ground inches from the try-line. Daryl Banton kicked clear but DK pressed again and their woes were summed up when their three-quarters butchered a good opportunity to score. Burton lost the five metre scrum but DK spilled the ball and Burton were able to make the length of the field through a couple of kicks utilising the wind. From the drop-out Burton employed a direct approach with Murphy flattening a defender and both Josh Cartwright and Neal crashing it up. Burton then squandered a good position by conceding a penalty.
An error strewn period of play ended as a DK player charged towards the line but Kelvin Browne tracked him and made a try saving tackle. Titley then boomed a 50 metre kick back into the opponents half. Jack Brooks, Sam Benjamin and Loz Betty combined in an excellent midfield play but the ball was lost and DK mounted a break-out. Burton conceded a penalty on their twenty two which DK tapped and ran to within five meters of the Burton line. Burton counter-rucked and won a penalty. In the process Brooks took a knock and his back went into spasm, requiring Sam Smith to take his place.
After an exchange of aerial kicks, Browne fielded one facing his own try-line on the Burton 10 meter line and a sweeping move followed through Betty, Dutton, Smith and Titley who found Archer on the left wing. Archer went outside the Winger and inside the Full Back and although tackled near the line was able to ground the ball. He then negotiated the now strong wind to make it 14-0 on the half hour mark.
Burton were soon attacking through a strong run from Liam Hicknall, however no one followed up at the base of the breakdown and DK seized on the opportunity to counter-attack up the left wing. Banton pulled of a try saving tackle five metres out, but in slowing the ball up was yellow carded. Dom Musetti gathered a loose ball to stem the attack but play stayed in the Burton twenty two and DK threw everything in including some mighty driving mauls. However Burton held brilliantly out until the interval.
Will Roach replaced Dutton. Browne recovered Archer’s pin-point re-start and Burton were on the front-foot however the move broke down through a knock-on. Play went into the Burton half before Neal made a strong carry and then Browne, Murphy and Titley made yards quickly and Betty then broke clear and rounded under the posts for a great score. The conversion was formality for Archer.
James Burrough replaced Davies. DK rallied but conceded a penalty for off-side in the Burton twenty two. There was little to note for a long period before Hucknall sustained a nasty looking ankle injury and Dutton returned to replace him at No. 8.
Benjamin lit up proceedings bursting up the right wing, running over his opponent, making 40 meters but eventually being forced into touch. This gave Burton a spark and they regained the ball and piled on the pressure. Archer almost made it through on the left wing, but Banton then fed Titley and the skipper ghosted through to score under the posts to secure the bonus point. Archer hoisted his own tally to thirteen points with the kick.
DK attacked but Browne took a line-out one handed at the tail and then the Burton backs hit the gas. Archer and Benjamin combined elaborately and DK did well to bring a 50 metre move to a halt and then take play back up-field.
DK battered away at the try line but the home side were in no mood to concede and rode it out until full time to take five points from the game. Nearest rivals Bourneville and Longton both lost and will play each other next week. Burton face a tough assignment away to Hinckley who have gone third in the leagues thanks to a win at Bromsgrove.