Crofters have to settle for bonus point in away loss
BURTON picked up a losing bonus point after falling short in the closing stages away against Sheffield.
With six minutes remaining in the Midlands Premier Division clash, the Crofters closed the gap to only two points with their second converted try but third-placed Sheffield held on for the win.
It was an intense game, littered at times with penalties, but the home side were always in front, building a 16-7 half-time lead.
Sheffield were first on the attack but Burton held firm, winning a lineout before clearing.
Midway through the first half, Sheffield were awarded a penalty in front of the posts after the Crofters were adjudged to have been offside and opened the scoring.
Shortly after the re-start, Burton’s Tristian De Jager was taken out in the air, resulting in a penalty for the Crofters and a yellow card for Sheffield.
Burton were able to secure possession from a line-out deep in Sheffield territory and the ball was moved into the centre, where Harry Titley kicked all the way into the right corner and it appeared that the chasing winger Will Simpson touched the ball down for a try, only for the referee to disallow it for a double movement.
Sheffield scored the first try in the 29th minute, converting as well for a 10-0 lead.
But the Crofters responded with a spell of pressure leading to the home side miscuing an attempted clearance.
De Jager picked up the loose ball on the left and sprinted away from covering defenders to score Burton’s first try of the game.
Chas Bunting added the conversion to make it 10-7.
However, Sheffield were awarded two penalties before half-time which they opted to kick for goal and extended their lead to 16-7.
An injury to Harry Titley just before half-time saw the introduction of Elliot Grant on the wing for Burton, while Alfredo Bergada moved to centre.
Ben Sanderson replaced the injured Callum Donnelly for Burton in the second half and the contest continued to be a tight affair.
Bergada showed some neat moves to make a break from his own 22 for the Crofters but the attack ended with a knock-on before the action swung from one end to the other, without any further scoring.
Burton pressure finally told in the final 10 minutes when a Sheffield player dropped the ball between the 10-metre line and the 22. Alex Nesbitt was first to react, sweeping up the ball and sprinting to score Burton’s second try of the game under the posts.
Bunting added the conversion and Burton had closed the gap to only two points with six minutes remaining but they couldn’t deliver the winning score.