Tarleton 64 Burnley 24

Burnley run out of steam

Burnley lost heavily, however showed they are not about to collapse going into 2018 as they battled to the end and scored with the last play of the game to gain a losing bonus point with four tries.

How a year changes in sport as these two teams only 10 months ago were battling for top spot in the league below, there were large numbers watching, the bar was open - this week it was half a dozen die hards from both clubs - how times change !

Back to the game and the referee seemed to be the one to help decide the game, never one to mention the man in the middle, the assessor did instead as the game poised at 17 - 12 to the home side and seconds from half time the ball shot out whilst Burnley were ready with an overlap and somehow a Tarleton player got it went length of field and scored 24 - 12 at half time when surely the away side should have been 19 - 17 up or at least a penalty.

Anyway things happen and you move on - everyone makes mistakes and that's what lads did - in the first half Ben Healy scored the first try for the away side a nice move with Rick Griffiths, and his brother Adam Healy got the second from a great team effort of carrying into the oppositions half, Joe Parkinson converted. Tarleton were good for their money and scored some nice tries.

Into the second half and the home side upped their pace and Burnley looked off the pace in some positions, the line out functioned slightly better and the scrum took a few against the head, but defensive shape and line speed up needs a big work on. "Again it only takes twelve months for things to change as pushing for the title lads we're committed to training and trips to Chorley for fitness training, now when low down in the league this area is massive to this side, a league higher after fifty minutes some positions people looked very tired". Burnley's try scorers in this half were Rick Griffiths and Joe Haley one converted by Parkinson.

Overall not a bad run out after Christmas whatever the score shows, but to move up this tough division more work during the week is needed or the side will continue to sit in the bottom three. Big game Saturday as the side travel to Eccles one place above Burnley in the league.
Simon Finnan