Crofters ready to push for upset away to leaders Scunthorpe
BURTON RFC are confident of causing an upset as they begin the second half of the Midlands Premier season away to leaders Scunthorpe.
The Greens are unbeaten this season on their home patch, Heslam Park, and have lost only twice in all but Burton go into the contest fresh from an excellent 44-13 win over Nuneaton last Saturday.
When the sides met earlier in the season at Peel Croft, Burton had the better of the first half but could not breach the Scunthorpe defence and the large pack of the away side took over after the interval to deliver a comfortable 36-3 win.
The Crofters felt that, had taken their chances, it could have been a lot closer game and team manager Jono
Edwards says they will certainly not feel overawed as they head into the return fixture. “I think the boys are going to take the game to Scunthorpe,” he said.
“We have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Our attaching options have been working for us recently and I expect us to try to run their big pack around the park.
“At some point this season I think we are going to get a result against one of the big boys which will make the rest of the league sit up and take notice.
“I honestly believe, if the lads apply themselves well, we can upset the form book.”
Burton moved up to 10th place and ended a run of two defeats by beating Nuneaton and the league table is still very tight, with 11 points separating seventh and 12th places.
With 13 games to play, it looks as if the Crofters’ target of survival could go right to the end of the season and their expectation is that they will have to at least match their performance in the first half of the campaign and win another five games to give themselves real hope of retaining their RFU level five status.
But following morale-building victories against Syston, Derby and Lichfield following a tricky start, Burton feel they are adapting to the demands of the higher standard and that they have nothing to fear.
Lewis Sturgess is unavailable owing to personal commitments and there are injuries worries around Ken Archer (calf) and Nick Oxley (shoulder).