1st XV - Match center

Blackburn
Northwich
Sat 19 Jan 14:15 - Northern Division - North One West Full time

Burn keep winning run going

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Burn notched up their seventh win in a row as they beat Northwich 32-12 at Ramsgreave Drive.

An impressive first half performance from Burn, which saw them take a 25-nil lead, all but secured this win. While the second half was a much closer affair Burn did score their fourth try to earn the crucial bonus point.

Burn had a dream start with a try after just 2 minutes, they kicked a penalty to the corner, they caught and drove, the initial drive stalled, but they regathered and went again, the ball was then spread wide, a miss pass found Leon Fifield, faced with a number of defenders he went low from 5 metres out to score in the corner. Fifield’s conversion attempt then hit the post and bounced out. After this much of the play was between the two 22’s with neither side threatening a try, it was not until the 23rd minute that there were more points and it was Blackburn again who scored them, but this time it was a penalty kick from Leon Fifield from 25 metres out. Fifield kicked another penalty on 27 minutes, this time it was from 35 metres out after good work from Jamie Brookes to turn over the ball. 5 minutes later Burn had their second try, they had a scrum close to the touch line and 10 metres from the try line, Sam Gale went from the back, he was brought down, Alex Evans made some more yards, the ball was recycled again and fed to Scott Richardson, he popped the ball to Jamie Brookes who went over to score. Leon Fifield kicked the extra points to make the score 18-0. On 36 minutes it looked like Northwich were in for a try, they took a quick tap penalty from 35 metres out, this caught Burn on the back foot, but as the Northwich player went for the line a last-ditch tackle managed to pressure the Northwich player into knocking on and the chance was gone. Burn came back hard at Burnage, first Leon Fifield was just inches from a try following a kick through, but he was just beaten to the touch down in the try zone. Then with the last play of the half Burn gathered the 22 restart and too easily created numbers out wide, Sam Gale took full advantage of a gap and ran in from 30 metres out. Fifield added the conversion and Burn finished the half 25 points up.

In the second half, Burn nearly replicated the first half with a try within 2 minutes, but the final pass was forward. Northwich responded well and looked far more threatening than they did in the first period, they went close to scoring in the corner, the ball was then recycled and a cross field kick was gathered and it looked like they were in for a try, but the two players out wide had strayed offside. On 58 minutes Northwich finally had a try, they had pressured the Burn line through the forwards, before spreading it wide where they had an overlap. The conversion was well kicked. Hope of a come back was all but extinguished 4 minutes later as Burn scored their fourth try to secure a bonus point. From a scrum 25 metres out, Sam Gale went from the back and passed to Marc Maher, he made a half break before a little chip over the top, Scott Richardson took this on the full and ran on to score under the posts. Leon Fifield kicked the extra points yet again. Sam Gale was sent to the sin bin on 65 minutes and Northwich took advantage, a couple of catch and drives had Burn battling to keep them out, but Northwich kept going and managed to crash over. The conversion was missed. Northwich kept pressing in the closing stages, a forward pass saw a try chance going begging and despite their efforts there were no further scores in the game and it finished 32-12 to Burn.

This was a very controlled and disciplined performance from Burn, especially the first half. As the season has progressed Burn have learnt to be patient and they are a better team for this. Their recent good run has seen Burn establish themselves in the top half of the table, they currently sit in second very much in the play off mix, but in such a tight league they can’t let their standards slip. The next test for Burn is Burnage away, which will no doubt be a tough game as Burnage battle to get out of the relegation zone.

Team selection

Nickson, Frank Nickson, Frank
Reilly, Josh Reilly, Josh
Taylorson, Alex Taylorson, Alex
Baines, Phil Baines, Phil
Fifield, Leon Fifield, Leon
Maher, Marc Maher, Marc
Nicholls, Greg Nicholls, Greg
Gale, Sam Gale, Sam
Brookes, Jamie Brookes, Jamie
Richardson, Scott Richardson, Scott
Evans, Alexander Evans, Alexander
Logan, Corey Logan, Corey
Corless, Ben Corless, Ben
Burtonwood, Tom Burtonwood, Tom
Lavelle, Tom Lavelle, Tom
Blackburn

League round up

Standings

# 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

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