It was a beautiful day for champagne rugby as my old teacher Mr Rees used to say.

Stags were coming off the back of a defeat not worthy of reporting on and hungry for performance worthy or Leicester road.
But, many of the stags old guard have been here before, so we know what can be achieved in after first week woes.

The game begins.

Stags kick off, one of few that made it past the dotted line.......................

Not long into it stags mount a good scrum and a silky strike move for George Marsden to break away and Tutt dotting down in the corner for the first of the afternoon.

A solid attack from Burton finds them deep into the stag half where the outside centre finds himself with lots of mullet but little options so opts for a risky little grubber. No risk, no reward as burton winger somehow manages to sneak a try from the grasps of the stags 15 to their utter dismay.

Play continued with both teams having passages of the ball, few penalties dotted here and there for those still getting used to the tackle height laws but eventually stags find good field position and mount an assault. Forwards trucking on the middle making thundering carries with the backs poised to strike. A final carry from the back and quick ball and miss pass to the outside channels is finished off with lovely hands and Sam Ev under the sticks.

Possession in burton hands, but the hooker neglects the power of the slanting pitch resulting in an overthrow. Caught by Leonard, swings out wide where Johnno makes excellent ground. Quick ball round the corner and some slick tikka takka play in the backs is finished off with a try for Everett.

Burton respond with a strong driving maul and dot it down.

This is followed by an excellent burton clearing kick after the kick off, pushing stags to the outside of their 22m. Stags line out continues to be a strength and the some phases played up the middle before a lovely inside ball from Spiers to Everett sees a 40m or so break, a George Marsden offload brings stags within 5m off the burton line. A risky hard blitz by burton paid off as they forced the intercept and although great effort by Rackers on the chase back, there was little he could do to prevent the Burton try.

Bit of a tussle before the half’s end and an excellent defence lead by who else but Robbo and Johnno. Stags get one last shot and a lovely line out move finished with Dom in the corner is deemed out and the half done.

Second half starts and a few errors lead to a number of scrums, Hinckley staying solid giving the perfect platform the backs to do what they do. A less silky move that normal standards still works out and makes its way to Tyler in space who uses his trade mark speed and an NFL style slide into the corner for a try.

This is shortly followed by Hinckley showing some dominant defence, forcing penalties and set up a line out on the burton 5m.
A solid set piece creates and unstoppable force and the maul walking over to add the next try scored by Ames

Play continues for the most part in the middle of the field before burton go for a little chip giving Sam Everett the opportunity for easily the try of the game. Everett storms through, snatching the ball like he’s a year 11 stealing a year 7s ball and dives over the line for another stags try.

The struggle for field position continues, both sides pushing for one final positive moment in the game and it’s the stags who come out on top. Stags step up another maul on the 5m but this time it’s defended well and results in a carry off by Robbo. A quick ruck and ball out to the backs make the most of a bouncing ball and down the line for another Tyler try in the corner.

Some great performances and quality team tries.

Sam Everett has a notable mention for MOM however the coaches were unanimous in giving it to Johnno who is relentless in defence and strong in the carries.

UTS

Report by Josh Leonard