Crofters aim to avenge defeat

by ROY BRADLEY

BURTON will be looking to extend their unbeaten run to nine games tomorrow when they travel to take on Stoke at their Hartwell Lane ground in Barlaston, 2.15pm kickoff.

The Crofters have set their sights on another try-scoring spectacle to consolidate their position at the top of Midlands One West.

Stoke have so far managed to win only one of their 10 league fixtures — and that was by 13-7 against bottom club Solihull.

They did run third-placed Stratford very close before losing 20- 18, but had previously lost 41-13 at Sutton Coldfield, 21-18 at home to Walsall and 58-6 away to Bourneville.

Nonetheless, the game will not be taken lightly by the Crofters against one of their bogey sides.

Burton struggled to overcome the Potteries side 20-17 at Peel Croft a year ago and, worse still, crashed to a humiliating 50-15 defeat at Hartwell Lane in April.

Given the way they are currently playing, however, there is no reason why Burton should not banish that result from the memory to record a comprehensive victory.

Last week’s win over a struggling Solihull team produced another 11 tries to boost Burton’s season total to 67 in 10 games.

But although Burton’s coach, Karl Ashfield, was delighted with the victory, he was very unhappy that his side did not keep the intensity up for the full 80 minutes of the match.

He felt a 100-point win would have been possible if the team had started the game with the same intensity with which they finished the contest.

Supporters will probably agree with that assessment, but I feel sure they are enjoying the current run of victories and are more than happy just as long as the wins keep on coming.

With Gavin Cole injured and Chris Atchison unavailable from last week’s squad, Ashfield and his selection committee are forced to make two changes for the fixture against Stoke.

Matt Tivey comes in for Cole on the wing and Jon Edwards fills Atchison’s place on the bench.

Steve Cross and Luke Peach complete the three players allowed on the bench.

In other games this weekend, Burton A travel to Walsall, while the B team and Vets host Sutton Coldfield and Longton respectively.

The Colts visit Lichfield, and all these games will kick-off at 2.15pm, Meanwhile, the club are delighted with Rose Jay’s selection for the England under-20 ladies squad.

Jay began her career in minirugby with the under-9 team and quickly earned the respect of her male counterparts.

Last season she was selected for England Colleges and played against her Welsh counterparts.

She is currently studying at Hartpury College TEAMS Burton away v Stoke, meet noon: J Philliskirk, M Tivey, L Betty, T Bartram, D Smith, I Gilmour, D Banton, C Neethling, R Wilton, R Wakelin, J Cartwright, D Eastwood, S Spencer, J Carpenter, C Dutton, J Edwards, S Cross, L Peach.

Burton A away v Walsall, meet 12.15pm: R Peverill, S Cramp, K English, J Leason, D Archer, W Peach, S Edwards, T Murphy, C Cooke, R Paupe, I Baker, P Mason, B Cook, D Varney, J Morris, R Banton, O Cooke, S Benjamin, D Poole.

Burton B home v Sutton Coldfield, meet 1pm: D Noon, R Mawbey, C Owen, B Stone, S Paupe, C Lycett, G Tyrrell, T McHardy, S Shuttleworth, M Topliss, J Collett, J Low, P Winter, I Fitzgerald, A Baker, I Gibson, S Hodge, T Mumford, S Cooke, B Cotton, A French, J Parker, A Damant, T Suggate.

Players not available should contact Roy Bradley on 01283 539106.

Burton Vets home v Longton, meet 1pm: J Wood, K Wraithall, S Collier, C Samways, R Boden, R Cookson, R Furner, A Betteridge, R Ridley, M Tolley, R Tyres, I Pullen, M Molloy, R Jones, S Cox, A Taylor, C Grice, K Gaunt, P Hulland, D McIver, A Belsey.

Anyone not available should contact 01283 538370.

Burton Colts away v Lichfield, meet 12.15 pm: 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.

Players not available should contact 07917 265970.