With forty-seven players to pick from for this and the ‘Babas’ game against Melbourne Vets it was hardly surprising that Burton Bees romped home 48-17 victors in the fixture against Newcastle. After a selection meeting that saw Burton’s coaches mixing and matching all the players the Bees team, that included newcomers, returning injured and regulars, then had to wait an extra twenty minutes for their opposition who arrived late. But once all these hurdles were jumped it then evolved that Newcastle had lost a car on the way and only had eleven players so four Burton players became Newcastle ones for the afternoon

After an initial forward battle Burton soon showed their try scoring abilities as Alex Reeve showed the opposition a clean pair of heels after fullback Alec Jardine gathered a clearance and burst forward to feed Reeve. Then new scrumhalf Danny Campbell showed his skill and pace as from the base of a scrum he picked up the ball darted between two or three Newcastle players and raced sixty metres to touchdown under the posts for Adie Varney to convert.

Burton were totally dominant with the front five performing very well winning their fair share of ball, the back row of Spud Taylor, Jason Knight and Zach Mears-Davies chased, supported and harried all match while the backs continually used their skill and pace to run in tries. A great break by Karl English saw him streak passed defenders to score under the posts after a forty metre run. Varney again converted and Burton led 19-0 with barely twenty minutes played. Then not wanting to be left out of the action Danny Jansic burst over for a try after good work by Ben Stone and Taylor created an opening for him to exploit. So after four tries and two conversions Burton went into halftime leading 24-0.

At half time Burton took advantage to change things around by switching players from both sides to enable them to see as many players as possible, but this did little to stop Burton’s deluge of points although it did produce a few points for the opposition.

Campbell was quick to show his ability as he raced around several would-be tacklers before turning on the power to streak over for his second try of the day and mark a very impressive debut and end Burton’s scrumhalf famine. Once again Varney laded the conversion.

But after this two lapses in Burton’s defence saw the visitors get two tries of their own to take the scoreline to 31-10 after Stu Hutton had powered over for two tries. More changes were made by the Burton coaches and this was soon rewarded by Jason Knight and Alex Reeve both getting tries to take the score to 41-10. However, the changes to the Newcastle side also saw them start to press the Burton line and with Chris Atchsion, Ben Waldron and Ian Baker urging them forward Newcastle were awarded a penalty try as Burton deliberately slowed the ball. With this converted Newcastle now trailed 41-17 but Burton were to have the last say. A great take by Jardine saw him feed Adam Clayton. He burst forward to link with Campbell who dummied passed two opposition players before linking with the ever present Spud Taylor who raced over the line to mark his return from active service in Afghanistan with a great try that Varney converted to take the final score to 48-17 for a thoroughly entertaining and deserved victory.