A TITANIC Leicestershire Invitational County Cup semi-final clash between Burton Colts and rivals Derby produced a shuddering encounter that the hosts won with the last kick of the game.
Within a few minutes of kick-off it was clear that Derby posed a challenge as a big set of forwards tried to set a platform to release quick and incisive backs.
However, a pattern was set early on that deprived the visitors of quality ball from their set pieces, and they failed to win clean ball at a single line-out for the whole game.
After five minutes of fruitless effort, Derby found themselves inside their own 22, scrabbling in defence, and the first of several misdemeanours at the ruck was spotted by the referee, and Sam Jordan-Turner slotted home the penalty.
The visitors’ defence was as effective as Burton’s though and few other clear-cut opportunities came their way.
At half-time, Derby threw on their Nottingham academy players in what was a desperate bid to alter the pattern of the game and though they did bring extra penetration to the attack, Burton had the next opportunity to score.
Yet another penalty was awarded at the breakdown and Jordan-Turner stepped up and struck the ball bounced back off the crossbar.
After a series of silly mistakes Burton found themselves defending 10 metres out and a missed tackle resulted in an inevitable score by Derby.
With 10 minutes to go, skipper Alistair Weedon showed his maturity when yet a penalty was conceded as, with the crowd baying for a kick to the corner, he calmly gave the ball to Jordan-Turner and asked him to put Burton back within a point – and he duly obliged.
As the game reached its climax, Derby cleared to touch, thinking the game was over, but Burton caught the line-out and, as they drove towards the Derby line, won a penalty for offside, and despite the pressure, Jordan-Turner settled into his stance and won the game.
