Sat 15 Jan 2022
Burton entertained North at their new purpose built facility and took the lead after only five minutes with an unconverted try. The visitors hit back with an Elliott Murphy penalty and were in a strong attacking position when a lost line out resulted in the hosts running the length of the pitch to touch down under the posts for a 12-3 lead. Loti Molitika was then sin binned for a tip tackle and Burton took advantage to extend the lead with another converted try. With North back to full strength they got a vital score just before half time when Patrick Smallman touched down and Murphy converted to make the score 19-10 at the break.
Early in the second period a deliberate knock on saw the Burton winger sit out 10 minutes in the bin. A penalty under the posts allowed scrum half Gareth Bladen to catch the home defence napping with a quick tap penalty and touch down for a converted try. With the home side still a player down good hands through the backs saw Jordan Burgess score out wide for the visitors to take the lead for the first time. An altercation between both sets of forwards saw a player from each side visit the sin bin, Zac Xiourouppa seeing yellow for North. This seemed to affect the visitors more than the hosts who retook the lead, driving over from a line out, the conversion making the score 26-22. North skipper Jonah Boyce left the field with an injury to be replaced by Joe Cave and after several line outs on the hosts line Cave powered over for an unconverted try which proved to be the winning score with the game finishing 26-27.
North will be delighted to gain a winning bonus point on a day when their line out malfunctioned and some sloppy defence let in some soft tries. The mounting injuries will also be another concern ahead of next weeks game when North host Doncaster.
