Burnham-on–Sea 52 - 26 Nailsea & Backwell
Nailsea came up second against second in the League, having travelled a few regular players short.
The Ravens initial got off to a dream start! Scrum half, Joe Reed, slipped three or four tackles from a quick ball inside the home side’s 22 to go over out wide with just four minutes on the clock. The conversion was missed.
The euphoria was short lived though as the home teams Blind Side Flanker ran in a try from 30 yards to give them a 7 -5 lead. This was followed shortly after by a second try out wide to make it 12-5. The second try was the result of a poor clearance kick, of which Nailsea were guilty in the First Half along with their penalty count.
From one such infringement Burnham went over under the posts to make it 19-5, and on the half hour with Nailsea falling off tackles they fell further behind. From the restart lost ball saw Burnham run in a try from 60 yards out to make the score 33-5. If not for some good tackling by James Cleave it could have been much worse.
The home fans had further reason to celebrate as with Nailsea receiving a yellow card, the Ravens conceded a further try to end the half 40-5 down despite finishing stronger for the last five minutes.
The visitors had the better of Burnham in the second half and pressure on their 22 told after ten minutes when Alex Jones chipped over the defence and gathered his own ball to go over under the posts.
Then having kicked away possession Burnham’s Winger ran one in down the wing. It was only a try saving tackle from Harry Marshall that stopped them getting another almost immediately, sadly picking up a shoulder injury in the process.
Reed’s distribution and kicking from hand was now finding it’s mark. From a lineout deep in Burnham’s 22, young Prop, Will Marley, was tormenting the defender’s and the ball was popped up to Cleaves to go under the posts.
Despite a growing injury list, Nailsea continued to press and the bonus point try was a result of a team effort, with the ball passing between forwards and backs before Marley crashed over in the corner, converted by Jones. With five minutes remaining, Burnham got their second try of the half from a lineout.
Final score 52 – 26.
