Wanderers End Season With Defeat By Burton

Wanderers finished the season with a defeat to Burton RFC by 21 points to 15. Both sides scored 3 tries in an entertaining game.

Burton started the game much the stronger, dominating possession for most of the first quarter and scored a converted try to take a deserved lead. This seemed to spur the Wanderers on and they came back strongly creating chances before they benefitted from a driving maul for Simon James to score the first of their tries, Ned Anderson missing the conversion.

The sides traded tries, Burton converting one, to lead by 14 points to 10; Anderson having failed to convert his own try.

The loss of Captain, Ally McLaughlin just before half time led to a reshuffle of the Wanderers back line. Chris Jenkinson scored an excellent try, showing good strength and determination to crash over wide on the left for the Wanderers, who took the lead for the first time.

The Wanderers pressed forward for the fourth try but, Burton defended stoutly to deny them; indeed it was Burton who capitalised on a Wanderers unforced error in their 22 to set up a number of pick and drives to earn the winning converted try.

With 5 minutes remaining the Wanderers poured forward but, Burton contained their efforts comfortably to record a deserved win and consign the Wanderers to a losing bonus point!

This was a good game, played in good spirit by two sides who gave their all in the last match of the season.

It just remains for me to thank everyone involved; players, coaches, volunteers, management and groundsman, for making this such a successful season both on and off the pitch!

Stuart James
DoR