1st XV - Match center

Blackburn
Birkenhead Park
Sat 9 Feb 14:15 - Northern Division - North One West Full time

Impressive win for Burn

By

Burn bounced back after a disappointing loss last week with a 29-14 bonus point win over Birkenhead Park.

The strong wind blowing at Ramsgreave Drive was always going to be a factor in this game and it was just going to be a matter of which team scored more points with it behind them. And it was Burn who did this as they scored 22 points in the first half with the aid of the wind, while in the second half their defence did well to restrict Birkenhead Park to just two late tries.

From the start Burn used the wind to their advantage, as on 5 minutes they kicked to the corner, they caught and drove, Alex Evans had a couple of drives for the line, the ball was then recycled and fed to Scott Richardson, he saw a slight gap and went between 2 defenders to score. The conversion was missed. On 11 minutes Burn added their second try, following another catch and drive Burn went through several phases, they kept it tight before spreading it wide, Alex Taylorson stepped back inside enabling him to cut through the defenders to touch down. Taylorson then added the extra points. Taylorson added a penalty on 18 minutes to take Burn’s lead to 15 points. Burn kept the pressure on, with Birkenhead Park rarely out of their own half and had it not been for a knock on out wide Burn would have scored another try. Birkenhead Park continued to struggle to break into the Burn half, but they were retaining possession which helped stem the flow of Burn points. However, 5 minutes from the break Burn did manage a further try and conversion, initially it was Corey Logan who broke through, it looked like he may go all the way, but a last ditch tap tackle saw him fall just before the line, but Burn kept the ball alive enabling Alex Taylorson to go over for his second try. Despite pressing for more points the half ended 22-0 to Burn.

With the wind now behind them, Birkenhead Park came hard at Burn and had Burn pinned in their own 22, however the home sides defence remained organised and kept rebuffing Birkenhead Park’s advances. Whatever the visitors threw at their opponent’s, Burn were able to handle and soaked up the pressure for half an hour and then Burn scored a great try on 71 minutes, they had kept it tight as they worked their way into Birkenhead Park half, Corey Logan then made a decisive break, he made it to the 22 before passing it back inside to Tom Burtonwood who in turn passed to Scott Richardson who ran on to score by the posts. Alex Taylorson added the conversion to make the score 29 nil. This all but sealed the win for Burn, but whether Burn eased off or Birkenhead Park stepped up, the visitors finally scored a try and conversion, they caught and drove, as they sucked in Burn they then went blind to put the winger in unopposed. Before the end of the game there was still time for a yellow card for Tom Lavelle and a very bizarre passage of play. With seconds ticking away a Birkenhead Park man broke through and as he neared the try line he knocked on, the ball was regathered by the visitors and touched down, the referee seemed to have sustained an injury and was behind play, he appeared first to award a try, but this then changed to a scrum for Birkenhead Park. From the scrum Birkenhead Park were able to score and followed up with the conversion. It was a strange end to an otherwise good day for Burn.

This was a strong performance from Burn, especially in the second half, with the wind making it hard to clear their line, their defence held strong as Birkenhead Park pressed hard, then to nick a try and secure a bonus point just sealed a great victory. Burn remain second in the league, but with other results going Burn’s way, Burn now find themselves 6 points ahead of third place. There is another big game next week at Ramsgreave Drive as Stockport visit.

Team selection

Nickson, Frank Nickson, Frank
Reilly, Josh Reilly, Josh
Taylorson, Alex Taylorson, Alex
Baines, Phil Baines, Phil
Yates, Oliver Yates, Oliver
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

Other North One West results

7
32
Broughton Park
31
18
Douglas (I.O.M.)

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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Club sponsors