It was a second defeat of the season for the Nuns as they went down 39-31 to Burton in a game which again they created enough to take a win but ended up collecting just a try bonus point. They scored five tries through a Travis Bennett-Allcock brace plus one each for Harry Beverley, Tom Smitham and Tom Aherne. Joe Wilson added 6 points from three conversions.

The Nuns kicked off with a strong wind at their backs and within the first minute won a penalty and a chance to open the scoring, unfortunately Wilson’s penalty went wide.

They didn’t have to wait long though and on 4 minutes, from a set scrum 25m out the backs put together a lovely strike play to go from one side to the other allowing Bennett-Allcock to cross for the first try which was up graded giving a 0-7 lead.

Just three minutes later they extended their lead from some more deep pressure on the host’s line. The ball was moved wide for Beverley to step inside his man and cross for the second try which was unconverted but a lead of 0-12 after 7 minutes.

The Nuns maintained the pressure on the hosts and Wilson was using the strong wind well to keep them pegged back deep in their half. Then, on 15 minutes they scored their third try of the game after more continued pressure. This time Smitham sniped on the fringe of a ruck to dot down with Wilson adding a second conversion, 0-19.

Burton worked themselves into the game and from a set piece attack their winger wriggled through a couple of tackles before running in for a try to pull the score back to 5-19 after 20 minutes.

The game carried on in good fashion with both sides playing some good rugby but defences also being well marshalled.

The Nuns had the next chance to extend their lead in the 33rd minute but a second penalty at goal was missed.

A Burton break away late into the half lead to a 5m scrum to the hosts. From this, their number 8 picked up from the base and scored by the posts to allow a simple conversion to bring the score to 12-19 on 36 minutes.

Things went worse from the Nuns when, from the kick off, Martin Wood picked up a yellow card for a high tackle on the receiver.

Burton got the first points of the second half in the 45th minute from a converted try after working the ball down the short side, 19-19.
And they followed this up with an immediate response with another converted try to take the score to 26-19 after 46 minutes.

The Nuns regrouped when back to 15 men and dealt with some more pressure whilst also showing some glimpses in attack but the wind allowed the hosts to release the ball long with the boot.

Another sustained set of attacks saw the Nuns pick up a second yellow card, this time for Wilson, and Burton crossed for their 5th try out wide to extend the lead to 31-19 after 57 minutes.

The Nuns battled well when down to 14 men and then in the 67th minute secured their 4th try, picking up a bonus point. After recycling the ball a number of times in the hosts 22m Aherne crashed through a defender and for a try wide out which was difficult to convert into the wind. The score was now 31-24.

Direct from the kick off the Nuns showed what they could do. A couple of strong carries around their own 22m then saw the ball released to Beverley. He attacked and got his hands free to offload to Kirby who in turn took the ball on, drew his man and fed it to Bennett-Allcock 60m out. Haring off down the touch line he beat three men and finished under the posts for a superb team try. Wilson added the extras to bring the scores level on 70 minutes, 31 all.

With the wind in full effect, the Nuns struggled to clear up field again and when Burton secured possession they scored another try on 74 minutes to take the score to 36-31.

Continuing their pressure they were awarded a penalty on 78 minutes which they chose to kick at goal which was successful taking their lead to eight points.

With one final push the Nuns worked hard back up field and on 80 minutes worked a penalty in the hosts 22m zone. The decision was made to go for goal and secure a losing bonus point but unfortunately Wilsons kick went across the face of the posts and the final whistle blew.

This was a game that again showed the Nuns can threaten a top 4 team from last season. Improvements were made but more fine-tuning to be carried out with plenty of positives to take away.

The Saxons went down 31-7 to Hinckley in the league, if they could turn more of their pressure into points then they could have swung the game their way in the first half but again they are showing positive signs.

This weekend sees a home game against Derby for the Nuns and also a home game for the Saracens against Leamington.

1 James Redman 2 Louis Addleton 3 Ben Dawes 4 Nick Walton 5 Tom Aherne 6 James Lloyd 7 George Wallis 8 Martin Wood 9 Tom Smitham 10 Joe Wilson 11 Travis Bennett-Allcock 12 Ryan Preston 13 Harry Beverley 14 Tak Chawadya 15 Ben Kirby; 16 Ryan Marsh 17 Jack Iles 18 Rhys Astin