Burn were ahead early in the match and never let that lead slip, while never running away with the game, they were in control for extended periods and eased their way to a well deserved win.
It took Burn just 5 minutes to score their first try. From a 5 metre scrum the ball was released to the backs, it reach Jack Swarbrick, he jinked inside, as he was brought down he did well to pop the ball off to Leon Fifield, he then found Marc Maher out wide who went over to score. Fifield was unable to kick the conversion. After the try Broughton Park were awarded a string of penalties and managed to spend some time in the Burn half, however they were unable to come away with any points. Instead it was Burn who scored the next points. On 22 minutes Burn had worked the ball across the pitch and then back, with the ball in Marc Maher’s hands he made a half break before a cheeky little flip out the back of his hand was taken on the 22, by a charging Wilf Whittle, he powered through a Broughton Park man before outpacing the recovering defenders to score under the posts. Leon Fifield added the conversion to give Burn a 12 nil lead. Again after the try Broughton Park came back at Burn they pressured the Burn line, this saw Jamie Brookes being penalised and shown a yellow card. From the penalty Broughton Park elected to scrum, while their first drive was rebuffed by Burn, they regrouped and this time drove over. The conversion followed to reduce Burns lead to 5 points. The rest of the half passed without anything notable which meant that score remained 12-7 at half time.
Burn got off to a flying start in the second half as they scored after just 2 minutes, they had worked their way into the 22, the ball was then passed along the line, again Marc Maher pulled the strings as his delayed pop pass helped Leon Fifield crash through the defenders to score from 5 metres out. Fifield then added the conversion to take the score to 19-7. Burn remained in the Broughton Park half following the try, but without pressuring the try line, a penalty and yellow card for Oli Yates allowed Broughton Park to clear their lines. Then a nasty ankle injury to George Skofic on 52 minutes saw a delay in the game. When the game resumed a loose kick from Broughton Park was gathered by Leon Fifield 35 metres out, his looping run took him round the advancing Broughton Park player’s, as he closed towards the try line he drew the last man and passed back inside to the supporting Jamie Brookes who went over to secure a bonus point. Fifield was unable to kick the conversion. On 68 minutes Burn scored an excellent team try, it started within their own half, they had been under pressure on their own line, but Luke Edwards stole a Broughton Park line out, then a charging run from Ed Sinclair took play towards half way. The ball was kept alive and spread along the back line, it reached Leon Fifield 30 metres out, he saw a gap, he backed himself and went through it and went all the way to score. The conversion was missed, but Burn had a 29-7 lead. The game ended in a disappointing fashion for Burn as Broughton Park scored from a quick tap penalty from 5 metres out on 75 minutes, this was following a second yellow card for Jamie Brookes. The conversion was added to make the final score 29-14 to Burn.
This was a good team performance by Burn, with all 18 squad members contributing. The main down side of the day was the injury to George Skofic, we wish him well for a full and speedy recovery. Next week Burn have a long trip to Anselmians.
# | Team | Pl | Pts |
1. | Carlisle | 26 | 105 |
2. | Blackburn | 26 | 100 |
3. | Birkenhead Park | 26 | 82 |
4. | Northwich | 25 | 78 |
5. | Broughton Park | 26 | 74 |
6. | Douglas (I.O.M.) | 26 | 71 |
7. | Stockport | 26 | 70 |