Crofters looking for 10 out of 10

RUGBY

BURTON will be looking to extend their unbeaten run to 10 games tomorrow when they meet Stratfordupon- Avon in Midlands One (West) on Peel Croft, kick-off 2.15 pm.

And the table-topping Crofters are expecting a tough examination of their title credentials by opponents lying in third place in the table.

The game ushers in a pre-Christmas run of fixtures they may well go a long way to deciding the outcome in the battle for honours.

After the visit by Stratford, the Burton hopefuls have games against Sutton Coldfield (away), Bourneville (home) and Whitchurch (away) and will be looking for a clean sweep of victories as they seek to enter the New Year still on top of the table and installed as the firm favourites for promotion to National League Three Midlands.

Over the last two seasons games between Burton and Stratford have gone the way of the team with home advantage and the Crofters will be hoping that theme continues tomorrow.

Last season, Burton won on Peel Croft by 28-22, but in their dismal run in the New Year they lost heavily, 39-10, when visiting Loxley Road.

So far this season Stratford have lost three league fixtures with two of these being away from home, at Leamington (10-6) and Whitchurch (41-21).

In their last home game they lost 15-8 to second-placed Bournville to lose their unbeaten record at Loxley Road.

And to add to their woes, last weekend saw them unceremoniously dumped out of the Warwickshire cup by lowly Bedworth 17-10.

They will be very keen to get back on to a winning track and Burton will need to come up with the goods to ensure that their losing streak continues.

Stratford have been hit by injuries, with their recent teamsheets showing the absence of their two most potent scoring forces, Simon Brain (65 points) and Jake White (42).

However Florian Vialen, a seven-try second row, is included and will clearly be a threat.

In any event, the Crofters are fully aware that Stratford usually field a hard, physical side that runs the ball from any position and is capable of scoring tries from any area.

However, given Burton’s much improved forward play of late, coupled with the pace and power of the back line, a home victory should be on the cards to give supporters even more to cheer about.

With no game last weekend, club coach Karl Ashfield and his selection committee have chosen the side that previously defeated Stoke, with the exception of Dominic Taylor who replaces Simon Spencer at flanker.

Having been injured in that game, Spencer will start this match on the bench accompanied by Jon Edwards and Jason Hooper.

Although this selection means that no back replacement is carried, Ashfield is confident that the squad possesses players who can step into those positions, if needed, and that this bench selection gives him better options against a side that is normally very mobile and strong up front.

While the first team had a weekend off, the rest of the Burton club had a busy time.

The under-7 and under-8 teams held a very enjoyable and successful Children in Need function on Friday evening with games against Barton, Tamworth and Market Bosworth and raised £965 for this worthy cause.

Then on Saturday, Burton’s other teams recorded three excellent victories.

The A XV again scoring heavily to defeat a young but lively Coalville side 51-6 in an eight-try romp, the B XV scored six tries in defeating hosts Uttoxeter 2nd 40- 0 in a game dominated by the Burton pack.

Burton Colts rounded the day off to move into round four of the National Colts Cup with a satisfying and well-deserved 20-12 victory over visiting Stourbridge.

Tomorrow, the A and B teams play their opposite numbers from Lichfield, away and at home respectively, while the Vets XV travel to play Notts Moderns and the Colts play at home to Leek.

All of these games kick-off at 2.15 pm.

WEEKEND LINE-UPS Burton home v Stratford, meet 12.45 pm: J Philliskirk, D Archer, L Betty, T Bartram, D Smith, I Gilmour, D Banton, C Neethling, R Wilton, R Wakelin, J Cartwright, D Eastwood, D Taylor, J Carpenter, C Dutton, J Hooper, J Edwards, S Spencer.

Burton A away v Lichfield, meet at 12.30 pm: R Peverill, R Banton, J Leason, W Peach, K English, L Peach, D Poole, T Murphy, C Atchison, R Paupe, I Baker, W Brooks, S Cross, B Cook, D Varney, C Cooke, A Eastwood.

Burton B home v Lichfield, meet at 1.15 pm: A French, T Gill, T Suggate, B Stone, S Paupe, C Lycett, G Tyrrell, S Waddell, S Hodge, T McHardy, J Collett, J Low, J Parker, I Fitzgerald, A Baker, I Gibson, T Mumford, B Cotton, P Mason, M Topliss, D Paling, D Noon, R Mawbey, C Owen, L Carter, N Gilbert.

Anyone unavailable should contact Roy Bradley on 01283 539106.

Burton Vets away v Notts Moderns, meet at 12.15 pm: D Brown, P Hulland, S Collier, C Samways, R Furner, R Cookson, M Tolley, A Betteridge, R Tyres, R Ridlley, C Bateman, I Pullen, M Molloy, I Weakford, A Bullock, K Gaunt.

Anyone unavailable should contact 01283 538370.

Burton Colts home v Leek, meet 1pm: M Boden, S Cooke, N Wrathall, H Titley, A Lloyd, B Marshall, B Hunter, J Watruss, M Simpson-Smith, O Shand, T Beardsmore, T Myles, J Briggs, L Kirkham, H Clarke, C Wainman, S Heptonstall, J Coetzee, J Manning, Z Mears-Davis, D Williams, A Reeve Anyone unavailable should contact 07917 265970.