Burn run riot

Burn put on a display as they beat Douglas 85-0 at Ramsgreave Drive.

Burn started this game with one goal, to secure a home play-off, they first needed a win, followed by a bonus point, followed by a better points difference than Scarborough and they did this with style as they ran in 13 unanswered tries.

Burn got off to a flyer as they scored within 2 minutes, Sammy Russell made the initial break, Burn kept the momentum going, Tom Burtonwood then took the ball from just outside the 22 to run on to score under the posts. Leon Fifield added the conversion. A further try followed on 8 minutes, from a catch and drive they were awarded a penalty 2 metres from the line, Corey Logan seized the chance to take a quick tap to go low to score. Fifield was unable to add the conversion. Burn’s third try came on 16 minutes, Leon Fifield took the ball from Marc Maher at a good angle to break the defensive line, he then drew the last man before passing back outside to Maher who went on to score, Fifield then added the extra points. Soon after Burn had their fourth try and bonus point, this time it was Leon Fifield who scored. The conversion was kicked and Burn led 26 nil. Another 7 points came for Burn on 25 minutes, from a 5-metre scrum the ball was feed to Sammy Russell who crashed forward at first it looked like he was stopped short, but he managed to twist and score under the posts. The tries kept coming, Douglas had been trying to keep the ball in hand, but just outside their own 22 Sam Gale ripped the ball and then passed to Leon Fifield who scored in the corner. The conversion was missed. After this Douglas managed to get a little more ball and had a couple of forays into the Burn 22, but came away with nothing. Douglas then lived to regret this as Burn managed another try in the corner on the stroke of half time which made the score 43-0 at half time.

All the pressure was from Burn at the start of the second period as the forwards were on top in the scrum resulting in a penalty try. Burn’s momentum was checked as Josh Reilly was shown a yellow card. This helped Douglas get a little more ball and they showed good spirit, but this did not bring any points. On 60 minutes Burn got back into try scoring mood as Sam Gale went from the back of a 5-metre scrum to score. The conversion was added. Another try came within 5 minutes, Leon Fifield took the ball on the wing about 45 metres out, he skipped around his man before passing inside to Scott Richardson who went on to score by the posts. Fifield then added the conversion to make the score 64-0. On 67 minutes Josh Reilly scored out wide following an initial break by Frank Nickson, he then passed to Reilly who managed to out pace the treating defenders. Fifield added the conversion to take Burn’s score to 71. Leon Fifield was the next to score as he touchdown again to secure his hattrick, the try came from a backs move as a miss move saw Josh Reilly join the line before passing out to Fifield who fended off his opponent and ran on to score in the corner. Fifield then kicked excellently from the far touch line. Burn then scored for a final time with the last play of the game, Burn won a scrum against the head within the Douglas 22, Sam Gale had a drive before the ball was feed out to the backs, an excellent one handed pass kept the move going allowing Frank Nickson to force himself through a gap to score. Fifield converted again, making the final score 85-0.

Burn needed a big win and this built pressure on the players, but you would not have known as they dominated the game from start to finish and got the job done. The win now gives Burn home advantage against Scarborough in the play-off as they compete on 27th April for the prize of promotion to North Premier. Scarborough will be tough opponents and Burn will need to be at their very best to win. Whatever happens in the play-off game Burn should be proud of the season they have had. The players and coaches have made history by securing the clubs highest ever league finish.