Sat 24 Sep 2022
Bridgnorth travelled to Burton with the knowledge that their opposition had taken a maximum 15 points from their first three games and so they knew they were in for a testing afternoon.
The size of the task facing them was made clear after 40 seconds when Bridgnorth knocked on from the kick off and Burton's impressive right winger broke away to score for an unconverted try.
Burton continued to play an attractive brand of attacking rugby and with good ball retention Bridgnorth were hanging on in the game for the first 15 minutes. Indeed, it was only the honesty of the home touch judge that denied the Burton right winger another try.
After 20 minutes Bridgnorth exerted good pressure of their own and this was rewarded with two successful penalty kicks for Elliot Murphy to make it 5-6 after 30 minutes.
However, any satisfaction was short lived as the Burton fly half set off from in his own half and dummied his way over for an impressive converted score but Bridgnorth would be looking at their own defence with the score 12-6 at half time.
The first half started with Burton knocking on the ball and despite playing against a strengthening wind, Bridgnorth applied good pressure and with replacements George Bvuma and young prop Ben Morris on the field this pressure was rewarded with a converted try for captain Jonah Boyce.
Bridgnorth continued to play a sensible brand of ball retention rugby and only a loose Bridgnorth kick allowed Burton to relieve the pressure.
The Burton scrum was creaking with a converted second row starting at prop and when he was replaced by a younger player the Burton scrum was under severe pressure and conceding turnovers. This resulted in an excellent unconverted try for the Bridgnorth no 8 Connor Nicholls.
The last period of the game was a nervous one for the travelling Bridgnorth support with Burton being awarded numerous penalties which were kicked to the corners for attacking line outs. Excellent Bridgnorth defence repelled these attacks time after time and with their impressive scrummage Bridgnorth held out to secure an excellent away win with numerous contenders for man of the match.
Bridgnorth will need to carry this form on to next week when they welcome Derby with their 100% record to the Edgar Davies Ground.
