Despite Burn outscoring their opponents 6 tries to 1 they never completely dominated the game as their Lancashire rivals showed real spirit, this coupled with Burn showing signs of rustiness after close to a month without a game kept Burn from running away with the game. However, once Burn got 2 scores ahead they did not look in any significant danger.

It was the visitors who were quickest out of the blocks as after just a minute they broke through the Burn defence and had it not been for a covering tackle from Luke Cunningham Fleetwood would have scored in the corner. After this Burn composed themselves and started to build some possession and on 10 minutes they scored their first try of the game. From a line out 15 metres out Burn caught and drove on, as they approached the try line Jordan Pearson peeled off and crashed over. Sam Morgan was unable to convert. Fleetwood responded well as they had their best phase of the game, this started with a penalty kick on 13 minutes, then 4 minutes later they scored a try and conversion to take the lead. The try came as the visitors kept control of the ball and as they reached the Burn 22 they broke through the defence allowing the winger to run on to beat the last man to score. Burn levelled the scores on 20 minutes, from a scrum in their opponents 22 the ball was feed to Sean Hall who took the ball at pace and he cut a good line to go between 2 defenders to score. The conversion was unsuccessful. Not long after Burn thought they were in for another try, but the final pass to Rick Maudsley was forward. However on 26 minutes Burn had another try, the Burn pack managed to disrupt a Fleetwood scrum within their own 22, Craig Aikman then stole the ball, this put Burn on the front foot, the ball was recycled as the home side kept the pressure on before the ball was released to Sean Hall, he was 10 metres out and he no right to find a way through the defence, but somehow he did and he went on to score his second try of the game, the conversion was added by Leon Fifield and Burn now had a 17-10 lead. However, Fleetwood hit back again with a well taken penalty kick from 30 metres out. For Fleetwood this was as good as it got as they were unable to score anymore points, while Burn continued to add tries, the next of these came on 39 minutes. The ball was kicked on and Leon Fifield chased it, his opposite man managed to gather it, however the Burn flanker brotherhood combined to score, first Sam Parkinson managed to steal the ball from the Fleetwood winger before popping it up to the well supporting Luke Cunningham who just had enough strength to score in the corner, this was Burn’s fourth try which secured a bonus point. Fifield was unable to kick the conversion, but Burn had a 22-13 half time lead.

Burn had the better of the second half, however 20 minutes in they had been unable to break down Fleetwood, this was mainly due to a combination of knock on’s and penalties. Burn were then nearly made to pay as Fleetwood attacked the Burn 22, however Burn managed to withstand the pressure and on 63 minutes they went down to other end and were awarded a penalty 30 metres out. Leon Fifield’s kick hit the post, Burn quickly pressurised their opponents and were awarded a penalty, they elected to take a scrum, the pack got a good push on before Jordan Pearson picked and went, at first he was stopped, but he managed to twist and then stretched to score. Leon Fifield added the 2 extra points to make the score 29-13. On 78 minutes Jordan Pearson scored his third try of the game and Burn’s sixth. Pearson received the ball 30 metres out, he first showed good pace to create space for himself, he then brushed off defenders as he made it into the 22 and he managed to power on to score as he was able to hold off the remaining defenders as he crashed over the try line. Leon Fifield added the 2 points to make the final score 36-13.

Burn will be pleased that they secured a bonus point win, they were not at their best, but with this being their first game in a month and an interrupted training schedule due to the Christmas festivities they will take the 5 points which all help in the title chase.

Burn will face an away trip next week as they travel to Heaton Moor.