Home to Cheddar Valley, Burnham started with the intent they had agreed to play with during the warm up.  It was not long before a forwards break up the middle of the park was neatly finished off by Jake Harding, playing this week at No. 7. From receiving the pass he beat the last defender and was able to place the ball down one handed to complete the move close to the posts. Alex Watkins converted his try.
From the restart Cheddar had woken up and began to disrupt Burnham’s pattern of play. This forced Burnham into rushing their decisions and it resulted in the balance of play going towards Cheddar. They pressed hard into Burnham’s half and came away with an unconverted try. This was finished off by their hard running winger.  For the rest of the half Cheddar tried to take the upper hand but could not turn their possession into points as the Burnham defence was resolute. Scrum Half Toby Fear and Jake Harding consistently felled the much larger Cheddar ball carriers. Against the run of play hooker Nick McKen made a line break up the middle of the park only to be tackled short of the line. The ball squirted out but went backwards for Tim Piper to gather and finish off the run in a try. Alex Watkins had brought his kicking boots this week and was on song to convert. The first half saw Alan House return to a Burnham shirt but an awkward twist to the knee following a barn storming carry saw him replaced by Andy Fear. Full of pride he took to the field to play alongside his two sons, Jake and Toby. At home this was a Fear First……
On the change round Burnham started to provide clean ball for their backs and they soon started to make an impression on the game. Alex Watkins released Mason Shaw to go over and around a number of defenders to go in close to the posts for a converted try. He straightened the line, used his trademark fend and carried well  to go over the line.
Ben Stacey replaced Jake Harding and he soon got in on the action by being on hand to take the ball from the backs as they broke the Cheddar line. Perfect back row play by Ben to be on hand to finish off a move with a try. On to the pitch came Burnham flyer Brandon Pettitt at centre. It was not long before  he was in the thick of it and on receiving the ball he  stepped three defenders to go in close to the posts. All three trys were converted by Alex Watkins  with the last bouncing in off the post to finish out a successful game.
Excellent result Burnham.
The next game is home to Martock on 19th March.