South Leicester too strong for Crofters

A powerful South Leicester side put Burton through a very difficult opening home game in National 3 Midlands and a second consecutive defeat.
Burton applied pressure from the kick off and produced a mighty first scrummage driving the heavier south pack backwards. South absorbed the pressure and broke out of their half, before being awarded a penalty. Ricki Aley stroked the kick over the bar but could not repeat this two minutes later.
Burton then pushed forward, the Fly Half stepped the first onrushing South defender and raced towards the posts and found Nicholls on his shoulder to take the scoring pass. Daryl Banton found the target and Burton led 7-3.
Burton executed a perfect exit play from the kick off with Sam Smith smashing the ball beyond half way. However South were soon attacking and Harry Titley made a try saving tackle before the visitors moved the ball out to Lee Robinson on the right wing for a try which Ricki Aley converted.
Burton exerted some pressure for several minutes but lost ground, a lineout in their twenty two allowed Andy Gates to cross. Ricki Aley’s conversion made it 7-17.
South pinned the Crofters inside their own twenty two for a spell before a strong scrummage earned a penalty. Gilmour made a good touch from the next play and Dom Musseti gathered a stray throw and bundled forward. South were able to recover the ball and made ground quickly before squandering an overlap, however their forwards recovered the situation and Wesley Cope touched down just inside the left touchline. Ricki Aley’s kick hit the bar.
Burton got turned over from the kick off and despite Danny Smith stopping Lee Robinson on the wing, Wesley Cope was on hand to take the off-load and score a try which Ricki Aley converted.
South were soon on the attack again and with Burton missing tackles Lee Robinson was able to score in the corner. Ricki Aley made a great conversion.
Burton scrambled to halt another attack from South but prop Ed Hopkins was able to continue the move and score under the posts. Ricki Aley again converted.
Tempers frayed as a mass brawl broke out in front of the dug-outs. The Referee chose not to use any cards but issued a yellow to Archer minutes later as Burton were out scrummaged for the only time in the match and the Lock was penalised at the breakdown after Henry had tidied up at the base. South picked up their own yellow card
Alex Nesbitt made a good break in the centre but South were able to contain the attack South launched one of their own from which Wesley Cope scored. Ricki Aley missed the kick on this occasion. A driving maul shortly afterwards led to a try for Scrum Half Kris McFedries. Ricki Aley bisected the uprights to hoist the tally to 55
South Leicester picked up another yellow card, followed by another for a high tackle
Nesbitt made an excellent run into the twenty two before Burton used quick hands to reach Banton who scored the try and then the conversion.
Final score 14-55 (Report from Burton web site)