It was on a pleasant sunny afternoon the   Burnham 2XV faithful took to the field against Wyvern RFC. Wyverns have had a good season and were currently sitting third on the League. The previous  encounter  which  was  the  first  game  of  the  season was decimated  by  the  lack of players  due  to  other  commitments in the  First  XV. Burnham  had  it  all  to  play  for;  a win  on this the  final game  would  see the  side  climb  two places in the  league table.
Skipper  Matt Slater had  a  challenge from  the  off set  due  to  injury  of  some key  back  row  players and  others  on  First  team  duty although he  had  a  strong  squad it  was a  bit  of  a Chinese  puzzle  to  fit  all  into  a  playing position.
With  the  shock  of  selection in certain alien positions  to some  players  the  official  got  the  game  underway. It was  clear  by  the  size  of  the  Pack  where  Wyvern  wanted to  play that  said  they  were capable  of some fast  back  moves orchestrated  by  the  scrum half and  standoff. It  was  after  a  sustained period  of  pressure that  the  visitors open  the  scoring  through the  No 9 to  the inside  centre  who  after some  pass  exchanges  scored  in the  right  corner, this  effort  was converted. This  as has been the  norm of late stung  Burnham into  action and  what  followed  was  a  period  of  hard aggressive  rugby engaging backs  and  forwards that  saw  some very  determined efforts  from Will  at  No9 Matt Salter,  Cain Harding and  Podge  at  no 8 really  making their presence  felt. This took the home side down to camp on the visitor’s line.
It  was  during  a respite  from  this  pressure  and  against  the  run  of play  that  the  visitors  broke  and  scored via  their  winger on the  left  side a  failure  to  convert left  the  score  at 12 nil.
Burnham had already demonstrated what they were capable off  and  took the  fight  right  back  to  Wyvern, the  big pack  were  beginning  to  feel  the  cutting  edge  of  the  Burnham blades  as  they  worked  the opposition very  hard. It  was  from  a number  of  set  pieces with  Matt  Slater, Matt Coles and   Podge driving  forward  that  resulted in a  break  out down  the  left  wing enabling Bobbie the  Full  back  to  cross left  of  the  uprights this  effort  remained unconverted as half  time  loomed  with  the  score  at 12-5.
The restart  saw  a  number of  changes with  Andy  Norman coming on for  Mike  Smith on the  wing  and  Gilly  being  replaced  by Paul in the  front  row. From  the  restart Burnham threw  down  the  gauntlet picking  up  from where  they had  left  off. Wyvern  were  finding this  hard  to  contain with The Burnham Flank  forwards  in the  form  of  Tom  and  Adge  were  really making  their  presence  felt  with  some  great  gain line  advantage supported  by  Podge was  really telling  on the  opposition. This did  take its  toll with  Matt Coles  and  Paul  having  to  retire  from the  fray with  injury, being  replaced  by Mike  Smith  and  Gilly. This  phase  of play  was  rewarded with  a  scorching  run up  the  left  wing  by  Bobbie  supported by Glen  and George  Scott on the  left  wing  and  finished off  by  Podge. Up stepped Dave Harris to slot over the upright and level the score.
Unfortunately Burnham could not sustain this  fine  effort and allowed  the visitors  to  score  a  further  three  times  through  their  lock forward, centre  and  standoff. At  the  close  the match  official brought  the  game to  an  end  with  Burnham getting  the  last  run  of  play. It was an enjoyable game well refereed.
The  story of  the  game  has  been  repeated  throughout this season its  one  of  stability  within and  total  commitment  from  all without. All  players  on  the  field cannot  be  faulted  on their  commitment  and  if  we  had  held  our  composure after  working  so  hard  to  equalising  the  score the  final result may  well  have been different. This  game ends  our  league  campaign  this season which  has  seen  some  mixed  results  and  some  very  positive played  rugby. Be prepared for a call to play in some friendly matches.