Hot george keeps burnham warm.
Burnham returned to winning ways on saturday against a young talented yatton side in bitterly cold wet conditions, credit must go to both sides for trying to play an expansive game in such adverse weather the game was also helped by ex world cup referee Tony spreadbury who’s constant encouragement and talk throughout the game was very welcoming to all the players (can we have him every week?).
Captain russ pike was able to call upon a strong side with Mike nash starting at 9 after last weeks impressive performance, Stu blake was able to play this week after getting a note from his teacher and Ross mckekhan was moved into the back row to improve their looks and to accommodate george scott going into the second row.
Burnham started strongly with the forward pack asserting its authority on yatton and with elisi once again probing his kicks into the corners they were camped in yattons 22 for the 1st 20 minutes. After several mauls and opportunities to score burnham’s first try came from their most potent weapon the scrum. With such pressure on yatton at this set piece burnham were awarded a penalty try. 7-0.
Again with elisi pinning the opposition back into their half it was only a matter of time before the inevitable happened again with burnham getting their 17th try of the season from a scrum as another penalty try was awarded. 14-0
Yatton to their credit tried to run everything and were a threat with ball in hand specially their centre/scrum half who had a fine game dealing with what ball he had. Burnham’s next score came young jordan paul who would be the first to admit he’s had a quiet season but after a clearing kick was caught by him near his halfway line he showed what he is capable of and what burnham are used to seeing from him he cut through the defence with his sheer pace and after beating several defenders he scored yet another fine try under the posts. piper conv score 21-0.
Yatton proved what threat they were by scoring a well worked try into burnham’s corner after burnham had once again switched off thinking that it would be an easy day.
halftime 21-5.
The second half saw a more open as it could be game from both sides as they looked to entertain both sets of supporters who braved the elements to watch. Burnham stepped up a gear and were starting to get runners carrying the ball from deep and at pace most notably from george scott who was burnham’s battering ram on more than one occasion, along with a strong game in defence george earned himself the man of the match with this performance. It was from such phase play that burnham’s next try came, after six or seven phases from the forwards the ball spilled out to tim piper who showed he’s still got it with quick foot work and weaved his way in from 15 metres leaving defenders in his wake. 26-5.
Next up on the score sheet was burnham’s very own casanova Mike hocking who scored after a fine lineout move from the burnham’s forwards. It was said that he was seen late on in the night celebrating with a fine wine wearing a smoking jacket and surrounded by a bevy of beauties. 31-5.
Burnham had plenty of opportunities to put the game away but with the weather getting extremely colder and the pitch churning up mistakes were getting more and more frequent and from such pressure on yattons line that yatton scored with a breakaway try from their quick outside centre who beat several lacklustre tackling from burnham to score into the corner.
Final score 31-10.
A fine win by burnham who have now all but sealed their status in this league for another year and with another young side out it again showed they have great strength in depth along with a good mix of experience then they will be at this level and higher for many years to come.
There is no game this weekend but burnham return to playing on the 5th of april against league leaders and champions elect hornets.