Try for Tristian but defeat in new home for Crofters
TRISTIAN De Jager went over for Burton’s first league try at Battlestead Croft, their new home.
But visitors Sandbach were the ones celebrating at the end, winning this opening encounter of the Midlands Premier campaign 31-10.
This first competitive match at Battlestead Croft was always going to be a challenge for Burton, led by a new coaching team and featuring several new players.
Games against Sandbach have been traditionally close, too, and there was little to choose between the teams in the opening exchanges.
Alex Nesbitt broke through the Sandbach defence to take play from halfway almost up to the 22-metre line but the move broke down and the visitors were awarded a penalty at the resulting maul.
An excellent kick set up a line-out deep in home territory but the Crofters won it before clearing.
The contest continued to swing from one end of the field to the other before Sandbach opened the scoring in the 20th minute.
Following a line-out, Burton were penalised for not rolling away in the tackle area and Sandbach were able to kick to the home side’s five-metre line.
And Sandbach took full advantage of this position, winning the line-out and driving the ensuing maul over the line for the first score of the game, although the conversion was missed.
Burton re-started and immediately put the visitors under pressure, which eventually led to a penalty kicked by Will Simpson.
However, Sandbach scored their second try before the break, this time converted, for a 12-3 lead.
Burton’s defence stood strong early in the second half before Harry Titley cleared to the 10-metre line following a scrum.
The Sandbach throw was not straight, giving Burton a chance to regain possession and territory.
They seized the opportunity, moving the ball through the backs to De Jager on the right wing, who touched down for a try converted by Simpson.
But the home side could not add any more points and a Sandbach attack went far too easily through a gap in the middle for the visitors’ third try, which was converted.
With 10 minutes remaining, Sandbach were awarded a penalty try to lead 26-10 and then in the closing stages an interception led to them touching down again, although the extras were missed.
Although the defeat was disappointing for Burton there were still plenty of positives for the home side, including an impressive allround performance by man of the match Nesbitt.