Burnham-on-Sea 2nd 98 North Petherton 0
“Try Avalanche sends Pethy home in Tatters”
Burnham Seconds hosted North Petherton in a league clash in Somerset 3 South on Saturday. To say that Petherton were not flavour of the month in Burnham RFC is an understatement in the aftermath of the highly charged cup game of the senior side’s a week previously. There was enormous club pride at stake and a steely resolve in the second squad to restore honours to Burnham. The hype started early on Saturday morning as the fibre optic waves graphically mapped out just how this encounter would go.
Skipper Matt Slater had a magnanimous squad of players to select from which was very rewarding to see. This enabled him to select almost the “dream team”
A very well constructed, and well structured pre game build up was orchestrated by Mark Watkins which laid the plans of overcome and dominate in the minds of all players.
The official got the game underway; the weather was good; the ground was good; and so was the rugby that was about to come.
The lessons of the last week had been read out; Burnham were to shown more commitment from the start at the breakdowns and in the loose; better drills were required to secure loose ball. The ball was to be moved around thus creating scoring opportunities.
As the game got going it was apparent that every player was focused on exactly what was required of him. Burnham launched themselves at Petherton the ferocity of this attack stunned Petherton who must have felt that they were under a cruise missile bombardment. Within minutes Burnham had moved into Pethertons 22 via a series of drives and follow up by the forwards and penetrating carries into the defence from Dan Berry and Rob Lewis. This resulted with the Scrum Half Lee Berry capitalising on the space afforded to him to cross the line. Score! Unconverted by Mike Whitfield.
From the kick off following a collection of the ball by Ryan Jones who travelled the best part of thirty meters, before he was eventually brought down, fed to Tom Hocking who finished the job for the second try of the afternoon this was converted by Mike Whitfield. Chris Jones and Mark O Reagan quickly enhanced the try count securing the bonus point within fifteen minutes of the kick off.
By this stage Burnham were on fire; all departments were working as planned, sterling work by Tom Stevens Glen cutter and Ben Bowkett in the forwards were allowing the backs to ravage the Petherton defence who were putting up a valiant effort but could not stem the tide of running rugby that they were confronted with, further tries came from Lee Berry, Chris Jones, Ginge Somerhaye and Alex Watkins. Dan Berry had left the field to have an injury attended to his replacement Chris Warner stepped in and slapped a try onto his belt as a trophy almost immediately.
The half time whistle was welcomed by a shell-shocked Pethy side that had really taken so much and defiantly held on.
The skipper rang the changes on came Mike Smith, Ash Morris, Alex Bowkett and Mike Nash.
The game resumed and it was a rejuvenated Petherton Side that set out their stall and began to drive into Burnham’s half however it was not to long before the Burnham replacements got into their stride and started to impact on the game. The forwards dominated in all aspects of the forward game in the scrum they were taking ball after ball against the head in the line out Tom Stevens was jumping like a gazelle. It was from a well placed kick from Mike Whitfield resulting in a line out won by Tom and the subsequent drive over the Line that gave the Burnham high scoring machine of Mike Whitfield his first blood of the game and the first try of the half.
As the game progressed it became a series of skirmishes as the forwards edged themselves up the field to provided a platform to release the backs, tries came from Dan berry who had returned to the field, Alex Bowkett, and Ginge Somerhaye and Mike Smith, the latter that had come from a backs move created by Rob Lewis on a penetrating carry of some twenty metres, who of loaded to Tom Stevens who was brought down only to pop to Mike Whitfield who delivered an inch perfect pass to enable Smith to score under the posts. This was hailed as the try of the match, but this accolade was declined by this very modest player!!
The score card reads as follows; Chris Jones 2; Tom Hocking 2; Ginge Somerhay2; Ryan Jones2; Lee Berry 1; Mark O Regan1; Alex Watkins1; Chris Warner1;Dan Berry2; Mike Whitfield1; Mike Smith 1.
Mike Whitfield converted 9 of the tries.
It was a weary Petherton side that retired to the bar and all credit is given to a side that did not lie down at any time. Special mention must be made to Ed Lewis who in the true traditions of rugby pulled on a Pethy vest for this game.
An Epic performance by all who contributed to this fine display of Rugby. The skipper needs this size of squad for the rest of the season’s league games.
Training on Thursday for those who can make it; make your availability known to Matt for Saturday soonest.