OADBY WYGGS 7
BURTON A 22
BURTON A put their defeat at rivals Lichfield behind them with a 22-7 win at Oadby Wyggs.
The Crofters — who travelled with just 15 players — outscored their opponents by four tries to one after a solid all-round performance in a physical encounter.
They took 10 minutes to take the lead after a flowing move along the threequarter line allowed flanker Tony Wallbank to take the final pass and dive over for a try.
The normally reliable boot of Will Peach missed the conversion, though, and he ultimately only managed one successful kick all afternoon.
Oadby hit back after a spell of pressure on the visiting line.
From a maul 15 metres out, they broke clear and blasted their way over the line, despite heroic defending from Wallback, Jason Knight and first-team veteran Jono Edwards.
The conversion gave them the lead at 7-5.
From the restart, the hosts piled on the pressure but excellent defending by the English brothers — Karl and Lee — and Felix Phillips and Ali Eastwood kept them at bay.
The Burton pack then responded with an irresistible 50m rolling maul and with George Wright at the reins they surged upfield for Edwards to crash over the line.
Then, in the dying moments of the first half, another superb forward effort saw Adam Brookes burst from a maul 10m from the home line and he carried three defenders over the line with him for an excellent try.
The Crofters were in total control and took a 15-7 lead into the break.
The second half contained very little open rugby as it became a battle of attrition with both sides putting in big hit after big hit.
Once again, the superb tackling of the English brothers stopped the home threat, while the Burton forwards matched fire with fire in a close physical battle.
A line-out to Oadby on halfway was superbly stolen by Edwards to set up another rolling maul which saw Sean Green touch down for the visitors’ fourth try.
Peach at last found his kicking boots to put the conversion attempt over the bar and give Burton a well-deserved 22-7 victory.
ASHFIELD 2ND 5
BURTON BABAS 0
BURTON once again fielded a ‘Babas’ side to give senior experience to the club’s colts players.
The Crofters travelled to Ashfield with five seniors and 12 colts to play the hosts’ 2nd XV.
Ashfield scored the only try of the game after 15 minutes when hesitancy around a ruck on the visiting five-metre line allowed the home scrum-half to go over.
Burton gradually got some momentum and were impressive in the scrum against a heavier, more experienced pack.
Steve McRobbie and James Hunt, who was having an excellent game out of position at scrum-half, both went close to crossing the line after half-time The Crofters battled hard but could not score against a determined Ashfield defence.
