Burn and Aspatria started the day in third and fourth spot respectively, so a tight match was expected, however by half time Burn were in total control with at least a bonus point secured for scoring 4 tries. They never looked like giving up this lead and went on to score another 4 tries in the second half, with Matt Hughes having a personal match tally of 4 tries, this left him as Burns top try scorer, with 12 tries in just 9 matches.

Despite playing into the wind Burn had most of the early ball and that resulted in a try on 9 minutes and it was an excellent one. Aspatria had kicked clear, it was caught by Sean Hall just outside his own 22, he had a wandering run across the pitch where he found the support of Owen McDermott, McDermott went through a gap before drawing the last man and passing to Matt Hughes, he then had enough speed to then canter in and touchdown from 30 metres out. Sam Morgan kicked the conversion. Burn’s second try came on 15 minutes, although this time it was a little less dramatic. The try came after Aspatria had the put in to a scrum 5 metres from their own line, Burn got a bit of a nudge on and the ball came shooting out, Sean Hall was the quickest to react and managed to gather the ball and just drop over the line. Sam Morgan kicked the extra 2 points and Burn had a 14 nil lead. Matt Hughes scored his second try of the game on 24 minutes, Burn were pulling Aspatria to the left before releasing back the other way and by the time the ball reached Hughes he was 5 metres from the line, he darted for the corner and just managed to stretch out an arm and touch down before going into touch. Sam Morgan was unable to kick the conversion. The bonus point was secured after 29 minutes, the ball was passed along the backs, Sam Morgan fed Owen McDermott, he went for a gap and a good handoff enabled him to go through the gap and he just had enough pace to sprint to the line from just outside the 22. Sam Morgan was again unable to kick the conversion. There were no more scores in the half, this meant that Burn had a 24 point lead and Aspatria had hardly been out of their own half.

The away side now had the extra problem of the wind in their faces, however this seemed to help them and they were a lot more effective than in the first half. They were beginning to find their way through the Burn defence, however Burn managed to re-organise and cut out any real danger and despite Aspatria having much more of the ball they never really threatened the Burn line. Instead it was still Burn looking like the most likely to score and they nearly did, but Matt Hughes was unable to gather a cross field kick in the try area. After 20 minutes of the half Aspatria still were having the majority of the ball, as they struggled to breakthrough they began to make mistakes and Burn managed to capitalise on a loose ball on their own 22, as the ball came loose Sean Hall hacked it on, Matt Hughes was the quickest to react and he followed it up and was 10 metres ahead of the closet opponent as he gathered the ball 35 metres out and no-one was going to catch him from there and he went on to secure his hat-trick. Sam Morgan added the 2 extra points. Just 4 minutes later Burn scored another try and again this was after turnover ball, Owen McDermott stepped and went through a gap, he knew it was unlikely he could get through the remaining defenders, so he intelligently slowed his run weaved to the left and then to his right, by that time Matt Hughes had caught up and McDermott flipped the ball over the defender enabling Hughes to sprint in and score his fourth try. Sam Morgan missed the conversion. Burn’s last 2 tries came from Anton Garcia, the first of which was on 72 minutes, Sean Hall had made a break, the ball was re-cycled and a long pass from Sam Morgan found Garcia just on the 22, he took the ball with pace and at a good angle enabling him to cut through the defence to score. Sam Morgan was unable to convert. Garcia’s second try came with the last play of the game, again he received the ball in the 22, this time he was standing still, but managed to jink one way and then the other to beat men and then just having enough pace to reach the line. Sam Morgan kicked the final conversion and Burn had a 48 nil victory.

Burn’s first half performance was excellent considering they were playing into a stiff breeze, they played some real flair rugby with both backs and forwards involved. Aspatria never looked like scoring in the half, maybe it could be said that they had one eye on their upcoming semi final, which if they win would see them playing at Twickenham, however this would be unfair on Burn who thoroughly outplayed their opponents with free flowing rugby.

As both Eccles and Bolton won, Burn’s faint hopes of promotion were extinguished, however finishing third in the league was a big improvement from last season and maybe next year they will take the next step and gain the promotion they desire. This will be difficult as they will be losing some key personnel including players and coaches, so the hard work starts now to find suitable replacements in time for pre-season and then start the new season in good order.

We wish Aspatria well for their semi-final next week against Leek. We would also like to thank all the clubs sponsors and also the supporters who come down to Ramsgreave Drive to cheer on the boys and also the merry band who not only support at home, but also make the long journeys to show their support away as well, the players really appreciate all your support.