Relegation is all but inevitable but Burton showed great pride and no little skill in defeat against Nuneaton who sit fourth in the league. To avoid relegation Burton need four bonus point wins and Longton need to pick up no points from four games.
With a strong wind blowing across the field there were several handling errors in the opening minutes before Nuneaton took the lead with a penalty. Burton then put together some good play with Will Roach, Nick Oxley, James Burrough and Sam Benjamin prominent before the latter was pushed into touch five metres from the try line. Nuneaton launched a huge clearance which Dewi Williams and Jack Brooks did very well to deal with and find touch on half way.
The game was played with real tempo. Burton were under pressure in the early scrums but their defence was solid until the 19th minute slick inter-passing after asset put Honey through under the posts. Chapman converted and Burton trailed ten points to nil.
Burton were on the attack soon after the re-start with Benjamin and Oxley releasing Sam Smith. Unfortunately the Nuneaton Full Back was the first person to get to Smith’s chip over the three-quarters.
A kick exchange ended with a good chase from Burton and after the line-out Burton were awarded a penalty which Craig Dutton took quickly and was supported by Jack Neale, Williams and Kelvin Browne. Sadly the ball was then lost before Nuneaton relived pressure and took play into the Burton half.
A fluent Nuneaton attack seemed to have been stopped on the left wing but the ball was re-cycled quickly and a numerical advantage was exploited with Brown scoring and Chapman then converting.
After the kick off the Burton front row of Dutton, Burrough and Musetti combined with some silky handling before Nuneaton conceded a penalty. Burrough found Liam Hucknall in the lie-out but Nuneaton drove Burton away from their line.
Harry Titley kicked superbly to touch, Nuneaton took a quick throw lost the ball and Titley found touch in the twenty two but the first half ended with no reward for Burton despite them playing some decent Rugby.
Nuneaton started well but Browne forced a penalty and Burton advanced after a line-out take from Roach. Ed Saunders crashed through the centres and another penalty was awarded to Burton. Dutton took it quickly but the move broke down through a handling error. Nuneaton kicked deep into Burton territory, Oxley ran the ball back but then lost possession. Nuneaton kicked again and but Daryl Banton, playing his 251st game for the First XV was there to relive the pressure.
After some scrappy play Jack Brooks broke through in centre-field on half way. As he approached the twenty two it seemed he would be engulfed by defenders but he threw a long pass out to his left. Williams managed to take the ball near his feet, then bumped his opposite winger and touched down in the corner for a fabulous try.
Nuneaton went on the offensive but great defence from Burton held the attack off only for a Penalty Try to follow from a scrummage.
Nuneaton were offside after the kick off and Titley made a long kick to touch. A promising attack from Burton ended with them conceding penalty at the breakdown. Joel Briggs replaced Saunders and Adam King came on for his debut at Tight head in place of Dutton.
Neither side could maintain possession for a period before a great scrum from Burton resulted in a penalty. Sadly the line-out malfunctioned and Nuneaton relived the pressure.
The game was still being played at a great pace. Roach and Musetti made good carries but Burton kicked away possession. However Burton were on top and Oxley made a scything run forward and as he was tackled by the last defender he produced a wonderful off-load to Banton who crossed for a try and smartly drop-kicked a conversion. Burton were within ten points with ten minutes remaining.
Luke Peach replaced Sam Smith. Nuneaton employed some driving mauls to use up time before sealing the game with a push-over try. Oxley and Hucknall typified the Burton spirit with good runs but the game was to end in defeat for Burton.
Next week provides a break from league action before Burton travel to play Old Halesonians on the 21st March.