In near perfect conditions for running rugby Burnham produced their first win of the season at home to North bristol.

The game did not start as planned as north bristol put burnham under pressure straight from the kick off with burnham knocking on, the following scrum for north gave them possesion and from 2 or 3 phrases north bristol where able to draw the defence and score in the corner. Conv missed.
Minutes later north again added to their scoreline with a penalty to make the score 0-8.
This seemed to finally get burnham into gear and with the forwards asserting their authority in the set piece against a pack that was probably a stone heavier per man (except for streeter) burnham were able to drive them off their own ball creating space for the backs to link with forwards alike and work a well worked move for richard muskett to score under the posts with tim piper adding the conversion the score was now 7-8.
With burnhams forwards now in a dominating mood and the backs starting to interlink with them as well they were able to create the try of the game, they were moving the oppositions heavier forwards from one side of the pitch to another gaining meters every time the gaps started to appear in the defence and inevtibly burnham scored through jordan paul who is starting to mature into a fine young player (as long as he doesnt trip over his own feet). 14-8
A penalty deep into north’s 22 where the opposition scrum half was sin binned burnham chose the option of a scrum and drove north back at a rate of knots to create a pushover try for No8 stuart blake to have an easy touch down.
half time 19-8.

Again the second half started the same as the first with north starting the stronger and scored a converted try to make the score 19-15.
burnham were not prepared to throw this game away like the previous week and decided to change up a gear with the forwards dictating the game they were able to score another pushover try through blake.
Straight after the re start a strong break and run from rich (kiwi) muskett saw him have to leave the pitch injured with an old ballet injury that has still not healed due to him still doing ballet, he could not hide his dissapointment as he was helped from the field in tears wondering if he could dance to swan lake ever again.
With players in a little bit of shock due to the horrific injury of kiwis ripped finger nail they rallied together and decided to play on.
From the scrum burnham produced their next try through a piece of magic that came right out of the Mike hocking top drawer, sporting his new robbie savage haircut hocking evaded a couple of tackles only to be stopped short of the line by 3 players he managed to squeeze a pass out of the his hand and into his mentor tim piper who swallowed dived into the corner to make the scoreline 26 -15 and give burnham their bonus point.
The game then went a little scrappy as the opposition tired and burnham were forcing off loads and passes that weren’t going to hand through sloppy backs handling it ended up with a try eventually scored in the corner by new captain this year Russ pike to make the final score 36-15.

Man of the match was stuart blake
sponsored by bob wirght.

Forward dominance was the foundation for this win but the score could of been more if the hands and simple ball skills were better, nethertheless a win and a bonus point win against a strong physical north bristol side was still comforting and the ideal platform for burnham to get their season rolling.
Coach Elisi said afterwards “we were strong in passages but weak in others but if the right application is applied at training then we shall continue to improve”.

Next week burnham are away to old bristolians who came up from gloucster premier last season.
The coach will be leaving the club approximately 12-12:30 if any spectators are interested in coming along.
Burnham is always on the look out for new players, volunteers, supporters and sponsors if anyone is interested please contact our chairman caine harding or club captain russ pike through the rugby club website.

team: paul, hewlett, piper, muskett, pike, vunipola, tuttiet, coles, hocking, streeter, house, kekkers, webb, gowan, blake. reps all used. mcken, vigar, love.