With  the  seconds  without  a game  and  the  first  on a  weekend  off the  Sun shining on a  glorious  day  for  some   running  rugby, and  the  final  day  of  this  years six  nations championship it   would  have been  an  injustice  not  to  play a game  of rugby. The Second team skipper Matt Slater at the last moment secured a fixture against a Tiverton Side. Due to  the  late  call up  a mixed  side  of  predominantly  seconds  bolstered  by  a few  firsts  took  to  the  field. As  is  now  the  norm a  sizable  crowd  had turned  up  to  watch  this  precursor  to  the  six  nations  extravaganza scheduled  for later in  the  afternoon. The Home  Crowd  were  soon  to  be  entertained  to  a  fast  game  of  flowing  rugby.
From the kick  off  it  was  apparent  that  the  Tiverton  side were  to be  no  walk  over. This  side  was  well  balanced they  had  a  good  set  of  well  drilled  forwards and  sharp  backs  who  were  prepared  to  be   enterprising when  the  opportunity  arose and as  the  game  proceeded  they  exploited  this  at  every  opening
Burnham had decided to experiment tactically in some  areas which was  to prove  interesting as  the  game  proceeded, it was  nevertheless a strong  side  that  formed  up. In the early stages the game  ebbed around the  middle  areas with  both  sides  attempting  to  take advantage of any  gaps in each  others defence,  it  was  Burnham who  showed  the  most  aggression with  some  very  close  failed  attempts by  Matt Love Rob Lewis  and  Ginge, this was  ably  assisted  by  Stuart  Blake whose  commitment  throughout  the  entire  game was  exemplary.
It  was  the  visitors  who  finally  opened  their  account  with  a   try  unconverted around  the  15 Min mark this  came  from  a   well  worked  forwards and backs  move  brought about  by  Burnham  being  over committed  at  the  break down thus  allowing  the  overlap  to  cross the line. The  visitors’  were  on high and drove  hard  into  the  home  side such  was  the  ferocity  of  these  attacks  that  within a   short  period  they  had  crossed  the  line again try  converted score 12 nil. They  added to there  account  with  a penalty  from  an  infringement that  was  certainly  kickable. 15 nil
This stung Burnham into life who replied almost immediately with a fine try by Rob Lewis. This  was  converted by  Hot shot  Harris although is  was one  of  his  less inspiring  conversions! Burnham had  the  bit by this  stage and  through some excellent  pack  work which  saw Stuart Blake  penetrating deep  with cleaning  up  from Mike  Smith  George Scott  and  Tom Stevens provided  an attack platform  this  was  launched  by Hayden Tuttiett through an exchange of  passes  resulted in a try, scored by the  Stand off Will  Conway converted by  Hot  shot Harris half  time score 14-15.
The second half saw Much  of  the  same it  was  noticeable  that  from  any  score against  the  visitors they retaliated very strongly and  in  most  cases  made  inroads  to  their  score board. Burnham  had  made  a  number  of  changes; on came  Andy  Norman  and Ed  Lewis  to  the  pack  Dave  Harris went off for  a rest  and  re-emerged  as  full  back, Nick  McKen who  is  recovering  from injury  came on  the  wing in place of Ginge  who  had  a splendid  game, and  departed  the field    nursing  an ankle  injury. The visitors meanwhile had established a lead and were dominating in the forwards. Burnham again got their heads down  and with a  spontaneous  burst  of play led by  Matt Slater involving forwards  and  backs saw  Nick  McKen burst  over  in the  corner  for  the  first  of  his  two  tries  of  the  afternoon. This  brought  the  score  line  to  24 -25  with  the  clock  ticking  down, the  visitors  again mounted  a  successful  attack  which  saw  them draw  away once  again. It  was  a very  disgruntled  Burnham  side  that  once  more  dived  into  the  fray, to  find  themselves 10m out  with  a  penalty  quickly  taken by Caine  Harding  to  Nike  Mcken score!!  Job done! The home support almost had a pitch invasion the tension was snapping.
As  has  been mentioned  in  this  report previously  the  visitors were now  well  known  to come  back  very  strongly  and  this they  did. There  efforts  were  rewarded  just  before  the  full  time  whistle  by a  drop  goal  from  their  no  10 who  was  the man  of  the  match undoubtedly.
Burnham had  made  mistakes  and paid for it, what  cannot  be  faulted  was  the  effort put  in  by  all  who  played, the spoils  go  to  the  victors with  the  clubs  thanks  for  conforming  this  late  fixture.
Next  Sat  is  a  League  game  against  St  Bernadette’s it  also  sees Burnham  play  host  to  our  Sponsors, a  big  turn out  is  expected by all players  and  spectators.