Burn were keen to put on a show and push for a big win and they certainly did that as they secured a bonus point within 13 minutes and by the end of the match they had ran in 15 tries.

From the start Burn were on the attack and they scored after just 2 minutes, from a line out 5 metres from the try line they caught and drove before Wilf Whittle peeled off to score. Leon Fifield kicked the conversion. Burn’s second try came on 8 minutes, they dragged De La Salle from side to side and as the ball was spread wide again, Josh Reilly found himself in plenty of space enabling him to stroll in. The conversion was missed. From the kick off Burn gathered the ball, it was passed into the backs, Sammy Russell made a break from his own half and made it to the 22 before passing it back inside to Sam Gale who ran on unopposed to score under the posts. Leon Fifield added the extra points. Burn secured a bonus point on 13 minutes, this time it was Corey Logan who broke out from his own half, he made it to 30 metres out, he then passed outside to Jack Edwards who outpaced the retreating defenders to score on his debut. Fifield again kicked the conversion. On 15 minutes a De La Salle prop went off injured, this resulted in going to uncontested scrums and the Salford side being reduced to 14 men. Burn didn’t take long to score a further try as Leon Fifield found space out-wide to touchdown. He then nearly converted, but his kick hit the post. Another try came straight from the kick off, Scott Richardson gathered the ball, all the De La Salle forwards seem to run past him, Richardson took advantage and set off, he made it into the away sides half without anyone close to him and as he reached 30 metres out he still had enough pace to go round the outside of the last De La Salle defender to score after a 60 metre break. Fifield kicked the conversion to make the score 38-0. After this De La Salle managed to get a little ball, the uncontested scrums enabling them to have a base to mount attacks, however they could not make any meaningful breaks and Burn were able to keep their opponents out. Despite De La Salle efforts it was Burn who scored next on 36 minutes, the ball was spread out-wide, Leon Fifield looped round before switching with Josh Reilly who then passed to Nathan Sewell who ran around to score by the posts. Fifield added the extra points and the half finished 45-0.

Burn scored after just 5 minutes of the second half, they managed to keep the ball alive through several phases which took them deep into the De La Salle 22, the decisive pass came from Phil Baines as he created space to put Jack Edwards in by the posts. Leon Fifield added the conversion. After this the game became a little scrappy from a Burn perspective, while De La Salle had some more ball, but just couldn’t make any real ground. However, on 58 minutes Burn got back in try scoring mood, Sammy Russell made the initial break and his pass then found a charging Tom Lavelle who just had enough pace to run in from 30 metres out. Fifield added the extra points. Next try came from Phil Baines as he made a break 40 metres from the try line and left the De La Salle players in his wake to score. The conversion was added again. A further try was added by Leon Fifield as he scored in the corner, he was then unable to kick the conversion. The tries kept coming, this time a pop pass put Scott Richardson in space and it was his turn to run in from 30 plus metres out and evade the last defender. Fifield added the conversion. Sam Gale was the next try scorer as he took the ball just over 5 metres out, it looked like he may be stopped just short of the line, but he used his long arms to good affect as he stretched to touchdown. Leon Fifield kicked the conversion. On 74 minutes Burn took their score into the 90’s, Phil Baines made the initial break, Corey Logan made a few more yards and carried hard dragging in defenders before offloading to Jack Edwards to score his hattrick. With the last play of the game Sam Gale also secured a hattrick, Corey Logan again drew the attraction of several defenders, he offloaded this time to Gale who went on to score. The conversion was missed, but Burn still had a fairly comfortable 97-0 victory!

On the whole Burn were fairly ruthless in this game, but credit should go to De La Salle as they never gave up and remained positive to the end. Burn’s faint hopes of catching Carlisle appear to be fading as the Cumbrian’s don’t look likely to slip up, however this win for Burn secures a play-off spot as they are guaranteed second place now, which is the highest league finish in the club’s history. The coaches and players will not be easing off as they will be keen to try and ensure a home fixture in the play-off. Next week will be a challenge as they travel away to Penrith.