Burnham 2nds travelled to Bridgwater to play the league leaders in a   friendly match, the Burnham League fixture being cancelled due to the opposition’s withdrawal from the league.
Burnham had not fared well in the previous encounters it was therefore imperative that a good squad was fielded to take on the quality of the side that it was anticipated that they would face. It did not start well with call offs and call ups to the first XV; skipper Matt Slater was scratching his head on who was to fit in and where. Never the less it was an accomplished fifteen players who took to the field.
Bridgewater fielded a formidable side, many experienced heads were out there waiting, Bridgewater depend a lot on their scrum and rucking platforms to wear down their opponents and Saturday was to be no different in the pack Burnham was giving away at least 8kg per player in the scrum, it certainly looked a daunting task especially to the Burnham young blades who were in the side.
We all knew what was expected and as the game got underway it was apparent that the expected tactics were to be in force. Burnham was not phased by Bridgewater and it showed in their attitude right from the word go. In the scrums Burnham held strong and forced Bridgewater off the ball Glen Cutter playing at Hooker won the ball against the head time and time again enabling Mike Edwards to link up the backs providing Will at standoff to set the centres off at pace. It was from one of these set pieces that in the tenth minute Rob Lewis broke out and scored in the left corner. The conversion was missed. Bridgewater were stung into action; and replied almost immediately with a try under the posts, which was converted. Very soon after the restart the game was held up due to a serious injury to the Bridgewater winger who was attempting to break out and was brought down by George Scott. After a very long wait the game restarted with the first of many replacements for Bridgwater.  The play flowed around the midway area with both sides attempting to make the break for the line Bridgewater were very good in the loose play Burnham were resolute in their tackling and defence, this frustrated the opposition who were well organised it was during one of phases of play that Bridgewater’s no 8 got loose, fed his inside centre who made it to the line. Try!  Converted.
Much of the credit to the containment of Bridgewater must be accredited to Tom Stevens and Peters who were playing on the Flanks and Caine at No 8.
Bridgewater was on a high and added to their tally with a conversion before half time.
Burnham were loosing it and it was confirmed at half time just what had to be recalibrated to get back into the game. It was with a new found pride in the Burnham Squad that the game commenced, our opponents had made a plethora of changes in the backs and forwards the new blood were hunting for much of the same as the first half, at Burnham’s expense.

From the kick off the ball was collected by the Burnham forwards recycled out by Mike Edwards who found Ryan at full back who immediately converted defence into attack in what is now his trade mark run, with a kick into the opponents half. Burnham won the line out and proceeded up the Bridgewater half with a number of well organised pick and go before unleashing Peters who linked with George and Will who fed Ginge to score in the corner sadly unconverted. This brought on a fine phase of play by Burnham that saw backs and forwards link up with some aggressive clearing up by forwards Matt Slater  and  Mark  Coles, which after a number of fine phases of play resulted in Peters crossing the line. Burnham was back in the game.

By this stage Burnham had made some changes; in the pack Ashley had moved to hook and continued in the same mould taking ball against the head, Glen had moved to loose head, Will had retired through injury and Peters stood up to the mark with Mark Coles who had been a stalwart in the second row moving to flank. Bridgewater mounted another attack on the Burnham Line down the middle and again succeeded in crossing and converting.
As the game was beginning to die down Ryan at Full   back decided to attack the Bridgwater defence almost single-handed and nearly succeeded foiled by the bounce of the ball. This however put the pressure on Bridgewater, the line out was won by Burnham who again drove up the field resulting in a outstanding try by the scrum Half Mike Edwards who had put in a near international performance during the game.
At this stage with the game drawing to a close Bridgewater pushed very hard to extend a very slim lead, unsuccessfully, due to the never say die attitude of the Burnham players. As the game ended it was fifteen Burnham warriors that emerged from the field of play.
The scoreboard showed who the point’s winners were, in the heart of hearts of all players it was Burnham who had won. All the players are to be congratulated on an outstanding display of guts and determination that so nearly won the day.
All players are to make themselves available for 19 Mar a  fixture  is  yet  to  be  organised.