BURTON A tasted defeat as Lichfield avenged a heavy loss at Peel Croft earlier in the season.
For the first 25 minutes Burton appeared to be on track for another win but Lichfield gradually took control and the Crofters' share of possession was reduced to a trickle.
A lacklustre second half display saw the opposition get two tries, one converted, and a penalty without reply to seal victory.
Play started evenly with both sides competing for control but after 10 minutes a good blindside break by the Lichfield scrum-half saw him race clear to touch down and give his side a five-point lead.
This early lapse was soon overcome as from the restart Burton’s forwards — led by Damon Varney, Steve Cross and Jono Edwards — tore into the opposition and overturned the ball to allow Will Peach feed Lee English, who raced down the touchline to score in the corner.
each’s excellent conversion attempt sailed between the posts to give Burton a 7-5 advantage after 20 minutes.
More pressure and domination by the Burton pack saw an attempted clearance by Lichfield swallowed up by Ken Archer and, as his pack gathered round him, a rolling maul took play 20 metres towards the home line.
Sean Green spun out of the maul and drove over the line to score Burton’s second try. Peach again put his kick over the bar to increase his side’s lead to 14-5.
Lichfield came back in numbers and only great defensive work by the whole Burton side kept them at bay.
Gavin Worth put in a try-saving tackle as their winger raced clear and stole the ball for Peach to clear his lines.
However, the pressure from the hosts was relentless and despite more heroics by the Crofters' overworked defence, Lichfield spun the ball out wide and their winger just managed to ground the ball for an unconverted try in the corner.
Lichfield continued to gain ascendancy as they began to control set plays, but with Simon Paupe, Varney, Cross, Edwards and Archer all putting in some great tackles. the opposition could not pierce the Burton defensive set-up.
And Worth put in another try scoring tackle to keep out the final Lichfield attack of the half to ensure his side went into a half-time lead of 14-10.
In the second period, Burton still struggled to get possession as the scrum found it hard going against a more dominant Lichfield pack.
As the game wore on, Lichfield became increasingly dominant and another good scrum saw them spin the ball out down the line for their winger to get his second try of the day to give his side a lead they never relinquished.
Fifteen minutes later Burton failed to deal with a clearance that was allowed to bounce, and Lichfield took full advantage to grab the ball and storm over the line for a converted try.
Lichfield kicked a penalty goal in the closing minutes to give them a 25-14 victory.
