High penalty count so costly for Burton
HEAD coach Harry Titley was unhappy with the number of penalties Burton gave away as they slipped to their third defeat on the trot in Regional 1 Midlands.
The Crofters almost returned to winning ways but Kenilworth went over for an unconverted try at the finish to take the spoils 20-19.
Titley had been hoping to see an improvement in his team’s discipline but instead mistakes proved costly.
“We conceded 16 penalties and we know through our stats, over the last two seasons especially, that if we give away under 10 penalties we are going to be in with a good chance to win the game,” said Titley.
“But if we give away around 15 it’s going to make it very difficult.
“We spoke about it in analysis last Tuesday and we were aware of that. It was the message again at half-time because by that point we had already given away nine or 10 in the first half. I spoke to the referee and relayed the message to the lads.
“It doesn’t matter how well you play, if you are giving the opposition 16 opportunities like that it’s going to make it very difficult.
“I’m really pleased with the way we tried to move the ball and we scored some lovely tries, one that was particularly pleasing off a setpiece that was pre-planned.
“Kenilworth didn’t trouble us too much in general play, it was just us giving away penalties that they took advantage of.
“It’s really frustrating because we know in this league the games are often so close that one penalty can swing it either way.
“Some of the penalties that we are giving away are really needless.
“At the end we were in the lead by four points with Kenilworth needing a try and we were in their 22. We were in full control of the game.
“But we lost a line-out and gave away a penalty. Then we gave away another penalty at halfway followed by another one just outside our 22 and they have an opportunity to score.
“So with 60 seconds to go to full time we have got the ball in the opposition’s 22 but by the time the final whistle has gone they are over our try line.
“It’s just down to ill-discipline and the boys were really frustrated at the end.
“But unless we sort our discipline out we are not going to get back to winning ways.”
Kenilworth kicked a sixth-minute penalty to take the lead but Burton were in front when Alex Nesbitt chased Will Simpson’s grubber kick to run through for a try.
Simpson converted and the Crofters led 7-3.
The home side went over for an unconverted try in the left corner for an 8-7 lead but Burton’s response was immediate as a good re-start kick was well chased by Will Derry and, having caught the ball, he sprinted clear of a shocked home defence to score just to the left of the posts, although the extras were missed.
Burton extended their lead in the second half with a converted try following some great inter-play between forwards and backs which ended with Chaz Bunting scoring under the posts.
Simpson’s conversion made it 19-8 to the Crofters.
Kenilworth closed the gap to 19-15 with a converted try but Burton enjoyed a prolonged spell in the home side’s danger zone in the closing stages.
However, penalties proved costly again and Kenilworth snatched the win when their winger touched down after a grubber kick.
Although the extras were missed the home side finished a point clear at 20-19.
There is a blank weekend ahead before the Crofters return to action against county rivals Lichfield at Battlestead Croft on Saturday, November 26.