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Sat 22 Jan 2022 · Midlands Premier
Broadstreet
1st XV
22
30
Burton Get Maximum Points On The Road
Robert Nesbitt23 Jan 2022 - 12:10
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Another Tight Game But Burton Get A Great Win At Broadstreet
Burton travelled to Broadstreet knowing that a win would consolidate their position at the top of the bottom half of the Midlands Premier League. The home team kicked off playing into a slight breeze, on another cold but sunny January afternoon. Burton started the game well and a couple of early penalties saw them progress up the pitch for lineouts on the home 22-metre and then 5-metre lines. The forwards won the lineouts with ease and the ball was moved to the right along the back line but a knock on brought this promising start to a disappointing conclusion. Broadstreet surprisingly ran the ball out of their own “22”, which signalled their tactics for the remainder of the game. Burton soon had possession again and moved the ball well again, this time to the right where Will Simpson was forced into touch just short of the try line.
A delay for a Broadstreet injury rather took the wind out of Burton’s sails and the home team then demonstrated good handling ability and powerful running at speed to get back up to the half-way line, where they too knocked on. A penalty in favour of Burton at the scrum led to Chaz Bunting converting the kick from just inside the Broadstreet half, for the opening score of the game after almost 10 minutes. Broadstreet 0-3 Burton. Broadstreet hit back just 3 minutes later, when following a scrum on the Burton 5-metre line they drove over the resulting maul and scored the opening converted try of the game. Broadstreet 7-3 Burton.
Although Burton returned quickly to the Broadstreet “22” they made several errors which meant they were struggling to get any real momentum or rhythm into their game. However, this changed when their next handling move from right to left took play well into the Broadstreet half. The ball was recycled, and Burton were awarded a penalty as Broadstreet did not release in the tackle. A good kick up to the 5-metre line and a very well executed line-out saw James Davies break off the maul but was forced into touch just short of the try line. Joe Gazzard was quick to react when he charged down an attempted clearance kick and followed up to touch down for Burton’s first try of the game. A difficult conversion was missed but Burton had re-taken the lead after 28 minutes. Broadstreet 7-8 Burton.
Another penalty to Burton following the re-start set up an attacking line-out on the left wing just on the “22”. However, this time Burton lost the throw and in a subsequent maul Gazzard was shown a yellow card which was a further blow to Burton’s chances to make something of their territorial advantage. The home team cleared their lines although Tristan De Jaeger launched a counterattack as the ball did not go into touch. His kick through past several defenders was, unfortunately, just too long and the ball went dead. Ben Smith replaced Tommie Collingwood in the front row but he would return later in the game, as part of a rotation system aimed at keeping Burton’s forwards fresh for the whole game.
A short period of scrappy play from both teams resulted in neither making much in the way of progress and eventually Broadstreet also received a yellow card as a result of foul play, perhaps borne out of frustration at not being able to break through the solid Burton defence. With 14 players on each side, it was Burton who then looked most likely to add to their score but there was no way through the home defence either. However, for the final couple of minutes of the half Burton had a numerical advantage as Gazzard returned and great handling by the Burton backs found De Jaeger in space on his wing and he scored an unconverted try to increase Burton’s lead further. Broadstreet 7-13 Burton. The half time whistle blew very shortly after this and the big question on Burton supporters’ lips was “is that a big enough lead to hold out against an increasing wind and a well organised and dangerous looking opposition?
A further change was introduced during half-time as Will Derry replaced De Jaeger on the wing. Broadstreet started the second half much better than Burton as the penalty count against the visitors mounted, although the Burton defence, was, in fact very good. Broadstreet took advantage of this, and it was just three minutes into the half that saw them reduce the lead with a converted penalty kick. Broadstreet 10-13 Burton. With Burton, strangely, trying to kick the ball against the increasing wind they seemed to be pinned in their own half and were guilty of putting themselves under pressure rather than Broadstreet doing it.
Both teams were finding it difficult to catch the ball when fielding kicks and it was Burton who came under increased pressure next as Broadstreet used the wind well through tactical kicking deep into Burton’s half. The Burton defence was again very strong and kept their lively opponents out with gritty determination. Corey Beck came on for Matt Tivey and the scrum continued to function well. Burton then quite sensibly turned to a more handling based style of play and were able to relieve the pressure somewhat. Unfortunately, Simpson was injured in one of these moves and was replaced by De Jaeger.
With the scrum continuing to operate very well, Burton began to win penalties and as a result of one of these Bunting was able to restore the 6-point advantage mid-way through the half. Broadstreet 10-16 Burton. There was then another lengthy delay for an injury to Jamie Dutton, which seemed to assist Broadstreet, as they then retained possession for several phases and eventually were rewarded with a converted try to the right of the posts after 28 minutes. Broadstreet 17-16 Burton. The re-start was well won by Burton but a knock-on in midfield halted a promising attack. Broadstreet won the scrum and kicked to full-back Alfredo Bergada on his 10-metre line who weaved and dodged his way very impressively into space on the right and scored a wonderful individual try with just 7 minutes remaining. Bunting added the very difficult conversion against the wind to give Burton a 6-point lead once again. Broadstreet 17-23 Burton.
A knock on from the re-start did nothing for the nerves but once again put Burton under pressure immediately. Broadstreet were not about to let Burton off the hook. They secured the scrum and scored in the left corner just 2 minutes later. The kick was off target, so Burton now had the narrowest of leads. Broadstreet 22-23 Burton. Collingwood returned for Davies in the final front row rotation and Burton were able to retain possession for several phases. A no-arms tackle resulted in a Burton line-out on the right side of the “22” and a further penalty set up a final chance to put the game to bed with a Burton throw on the 5-metre line. A great catch and drive then ended with Collingwood touching down for the bonus point try, which Bunting again converted from wide out and against the wind. The referee blew his whistle to signal the end of the game with the score standing at Broadstreet 22-30 Burton. Man of the match was Alfredo Bergada for an assured performance and brilliant try. Burton remain in 8th position in the league table but have begun to close the gap on struggling Scunthorpe above them.
A delay for a Broadstreet injury rather took the wind out of Burton’s sails and the home team then demonstrated good handling ability and powerful running at speed to get back up to the half-way line, where they too knocked on. A penalty in favour of Burton at the scrum led to Chaz Bunting converting the kick from just inside the Broadstreet half, for the opening score of the game after almost 10 minutes. Broadstreet 0-3 Burton. Broadstreet hit back just 3 minutes later, when following a scrum on the Burton 5-metre line they drove over the resulting maul and scored the opening converted try of the game. Broadstreet 7-3 Burton.
Although Burton returned quickly to the Broadstreet “22” they made several errors which meant they were struggling to get any real momentum or rhythm into their game. However, this changed when their next handling move from right to left took play well into the Broadstreet half. The ball was recycled, and Burton were awarded a penalty as Broadstreet did not release in the tackle. A good kick up to the 5-metre line and a very well executed line-out saw James Davies break off the maul but was forced into touch just short of the try line. Joe Gazzard was quick to react when he charged down an attempted clearance kick and followed up to touch down for Burton’s first try of the game. A difficult conversion was missed but Burton had re-taken the lead after 28 minutes. Broadstreet 7-8 Burton.
Another penalty to Burton following the re-start set up an attacking line-out on the left wing just on the “22”. However, this time Burton lost the throw and in a subsequent maul Gazzard was shown a yellow card which was a further blow to Burton’s chances to make something of their territorial advantage. The home team cleared their lines although Tristan De Jaeger launched a counterattack as the ball did not go into touch. His kick through past several defenders was, unfortunately, just too long and the ball went dead. Ben Smith replaced Tommie Collingwood in the front row but he would return later in the game, as part of a rotation system aimed at keeping Burton’s forwards fresh for the whole game.
A short period of scrappy play from both teams resulted in neither making much in the way of progress and eventually Broadstreet also received a yellow card as a result of foul play, perhaps borne out of frustration at not being able to break through the solid Burton defence. With 14 players on each side, it was Burton who then looked most likely to add to their score but there was no way through the home defence either. However, for the final couple of minutes of the half Burton had a numerical advantage as Gazzard returned and great handling by the Burton backs found De Jaeger in space on his wing and he scored an unconverted try to increase Burton’s lead further. Broadstreet 7-13 Burton. The half time whistle blew very shortly after this and the big question on Burton supporters’ lips was “is that a big enough lead to hold out against an increasing wind and a well organised and dangerous looking opposition?
A further change was introduced during half-time as Will Derry replaced De Jaeger on the wing. Broadstreet started the second half much better than Burton as the penalty count against the visitors mounted, although the Burton defence, was, in fact very good. Broadstreet took advantage of this, and it was just three minutes into the half that saw them reduce the lead with a converted penalty kick. Broadstreet 10-13 Burton. With Burton, strangely, trying to kick the ball against the increasing wind they seemed to be pinned in their own half and were guilty of putting themselves under pressure rather than Broadstreet doing it.
Both teams were finding it difficult to catch the ball when fielding kicks and it was Burton who came under increased pressure next as Broadstreet used the wind well through tactical kicking deep into Burton’s half. The Burton defence was again very strong and kept their lively opponents out with gritty determination. Corey Beck came on for Matt Tivey and the scrum continued to function well. Burton then quite sensibly turned to a more handling based style of play and were able to relieve the pressure somewhat. Unfortunately, Simpson was injured in one of these moves and was replaced by De Jaeger.
With the scrum continuing to operate very well, Burton began to win penalties and as a result of one of these Bunting was able to restore the 6-point advantage mid-way through the half. Broadstreet 10-16 Burton. There was then another lengthy delay for an injury to Jamie Dutton, which seemed to assist Broadstreet, as they then retained possession for several phases and eventually were rewarded with a converted try to the right of the posts after 28 minutes. Broadstreet 17-16 Burton. The re-start was well won by Burton but a knock-on in midfield halted a promising attack. Broadstreet won the scrum and kicked to full-back Alfredo Bergada on his 10-metre line who weaved and dodged his way very impressively into space on the right and scored a wonderful individual try with just 7 minutes remaining. Bunting added the very difficult conversion against the wind to give Burton a 6-point lead once again. Broadstreet 17-23 Burton.
A knock on from the re-start did nothing for the nerves but once again put Burton under pressure immediately. Broadstreet were not about to let Burton off the hook. They secured the scrum and scored in the left corner just 2 minutes later. The kick was off target, so Burton now had the narrowest of leads. Broadstreet 22-23 Burton. Collingwood returned for Davies in the final front row rotation and Burton were able to retain possession for several phases. A no-arms tackle resulted in a Burton line-out on the right side of the “22” and a further penalty set up a final chance to put the game to bed with a Burton throw on the 5-metre line. A great catch and drive then ended with Collingwood touching down for the bonus point try, which Bunting again converted from wide out and against the wind. The referee blew his whistle to signal the end of the game with the score standing at Broadstreet 22-30 Burton. Man of the match was Alfredo Bergada for an assured performance and brilliant try. Burton remain in 8th position in the league table but have begun to close the gap on struggling Scunthorpe above them.
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