BURNHAM BACK TO THEIR NEAR DOMINANT BEST

Burnham got back to winning ways in fine conditions at the basc on saturday afternoon. Captain russ pike had a full selection of players to choose from apart from the unfortunate george scott who had to pull out at the last minute.

The players took to the pitch with a somewhat score to settle after their performance in last weeks game against avon and also to the previous performance against cirencester earlier on in the season and from the off burnham flew out of the blocks and immediately applied the pressure onto cirencester and from a lineout on the oppositions 5 metre line and several phases later the ball was spun back out to the blind where piper was lurking to score in the corner. 5-0
Cirencester came back into it with some pressure of their own to land themselves 3 points after burnham gave away a cheap penalty in open play, it wasnt long before burnham were back up to other end to land a pen of their own to put the score to 8-3.
Now burnhams dominant forwards started to come into their own at the set piece securing clean ball at both lineout and scrums, it was from a scrum where burnham scored their next try after several pushes to the line and reset scrums from infringments by cirencester resulted in burnhams 15th pushover try of the season. stu blake the scorer with piper adding the extras the score went to 15-3.
Not for the first time this season burnham switched off and let ciren back in at the other end to score in under the posts taking the halftime score to 15-10.
With points made by both coaches elisi and shaun the points were made to keep control and focus and apply the pressure straight back onto the opposition and with that a lineout on the halfway saw burnhams impressive forwards lay the platform with a strong maul, from this piper peeled off the back to draw in the defenders and release kiwi muskett who stormed in form 45 metres (not 90 as he was saying in the bar after) beating off 4 defenders to score under the post piper conv 22-10.
But straight from the kick off poor decision making and soft tackling led to cirencester getting straight back onto the score sheet through their centre to keep them within touch. 22-15.
With this, burnham uncharacteristicly went straight back down the other end with strong running through backs and forwards alike ended in sam coles who showed why alot of clubs are after him (but has commited himself to burnham for next season to keep the vultures away) bulldozed his way over from 5 metres. piper conv 29-15.
Changes were made in midfield with young josh making way for our very own hot chocolate matt love and henry bigwood making way for the ever energetic ben stacey who is still improving with every game. It was with these changes that brought the next try scorer in matt love, from great vision by elisi to spot the space behind he made the call to piper who put in the chip for matt love to win the race to score in the corner to the joy of george tuttiet. piper conv 36-15.

Now with 15 minutes remaining it should of been a formality for burnham to see the game out and control it but again they found the panic button and pressed it conceding penalty after penalty and stupid mistakes resulted in 2 yellow cards for stu blake and jordan paul it was in this period that cirencester came back into the game wit 2 tries to take the score to flattering 36-27.

A great 65 minutes from burnham resulted in some great tries from both forwards and backs along with some resolute defence specially kiwi muskett who in the first 5 minutes broke his thumb but carried on playing putting in hit after hit and scoring shows the committment that is installed in the players to finish strongly for the rest of the season. Special mention to Alan house who was celebrating his 42nd bday and still playing at the height of his game.

This saturday burnham play host to wells rfc along with their old boys reunion day and sponsors day a big crowd is expected kick off is at 2:30pm