Burley II XV Versus Roundhegians II XV
15th March 2008
1 Pete Shaw 2 Julian Broster 3 Peter Leeman
4 Mike Taylor 5 Alex Gerrard
6 Elliot Viles 7 Jim Griffin 8 Andy Lacey
9 Jonny Baker
10 Tim Betts
11 Kenny Parsons 12 Gavin Leeman 13 Marcus Peel 14 Karl Heywood
15 Paul Wheeler
The Bench
16 Aaron Ralph 17 Darren Grey 18 Dan Morrell 19 Stuart Nichols 20 Danny Bates
21 Jon Bowskill 22 Matt Morgan 23 Tom Barnes 24 Fraiser Stuart 25 Rob Stone
A great turn out for the 2nd team this week as Burley lined up with 25 players ready for action against Roundhegians seconds. A long warming up period saw all the boys prepared for what would be a test of mettle against a strong opposition. Jim Lewin donned the Referees uniform as not to disappoint 41 lads.
The 2nds were playing on the second pitch due to the 1sts also playing at home against Yarnbury (a game which they lost!). A few players were disappointed about playing on the Rollercoaster pitch to which Jim Griffin pointed out the advantage "They're used to playing on flat pitches not up-hill". The game began with Roundhegians kicking to Burley who won the toss and opted to play downhill for the first half. The ball was put high and caught by Mike Taylor who charged in followed by Alex Gerrard, Jules Broster and Pete Shaw. Early plays showed that Burley had the edge on the Hegians breaking the line on a number of occasions. One such break in the first ten minutes saw Jules Broster steam through Roundhegians like a Grizzly Bear hunting his first meal after a long hibernation, he touched down for what would be Burleys first and only try of the game, Tim Betts stepping up confidently to add the extras.
From the restart Roundhegians put the ball straight out for a scrum back on the halfway line. Solid scrums in the first half from Burley saw the ball hardly turned over which added to Hegians frustrations. Although Roundhay were playing uphill this did not stop them charging the Burley line using their rather large forwards to try and power their way to the Maroons line big tackles from Jim Griffin, Jonny Baker and Andy Lacey made sure they knew their place in the game.
More breaks followed for Burley with strong runs from Kenny Parsons, Gav Leeman and Marcus Peel all were stopped by a rigid Roundhegian defensive wall. A Penalty to Burley near the end of the first half saw Tim step up to try and give the Maroons more of a points cushion going into the 2nd half, he gave it a mighty kick only to watch it blown past the far post by the wind. Half Time blown saw Burley leading 7-0.
Some changes of personnel for Burley at Half Time saw Pete Leeman give the No3 shirt to Matt Morgan (who had turned up to the game 20 minutes late after his appointment at the Beauty Salon ran over), Pete Leeman taking over from Jim Lewin as the Referee also. During the break team captain Jim Griffin reminded the boys that Hegians were where with a point to prove after Burley had beaten their 3rds earlier in the season and they were going to play hard.
2nd half began with Burley now with the disadvantage of playing up-hill but one look at the team saw they were up to the challenge. Tim kicked off; the ball was caught by their number 4 and a maul was formed by the Roundhegians who used their weight to boss themselves 10 yards up the field. The pitch at this point had decided to become a bog-like entity with slippy, deep pockets of mud waiting to spoil the game at hand. Some more changes to the Burley line-up saw Aaron Ralph, Danny Bates and Darren Grey come on to the pitch and show their work with excellent tackling and strong defensive work. Karl Heywood and Paul Wheeler showed good kicking skills when it mattered most clearing the Burley line constantly and reliving pressure from Roundhegians. Burley were under constant pressure from Roundhegians, who had suddenly found their feet now they had the upper hand but no matter how hard they tried the Burley wall would not cave and relinquish the try they so desperately craved. Some time into the 2nd half Roundhegians got a penalty and rather than try to break through they went for the attempt at goal which was scored and saw the game 7-3 with 20 minutes to go.
Despite the pressure Burley, not to be out-done also secured a Penalty just inside the Roundhegian 22, up stepped Jules Broster who attempted to secure points but just missed adding to the total. From then on Burley knew what was at stake, another victory would take the winning streak to 4 games unbeaten and the Maroons would not give it up easily. More changes to the team saw Tom Barnes, Rob Stone, Frasier Stuart, Dan Morrell and Stuart Nichols enter the fray and a re-worked Burley 15 stood tall and firm against the Roundhegians Horde, battering them back time and time again. Roundhegians set up camp in the Burley 22 for the last 10 minutes trying to get that elusive try only to be disappointed. A certain try was stopped when Stuart Nichols defied gravity to get himself underneath a Hegians drive to hold up the ball and a 5 meter scrum given which Burley turned over by wheeling it 90 and subsequently clear the ball.
The last 5 was more of the same, pressure from Hegians, defiance from Burley. A final attack from Roundhegians saw them spread the ball wide with an overlap it looked like a certainty they would score, only for the number 12 to chuck the ball past his player and into touch. The final whistle was blown to give an ecstatic Burley the victory they so rightfully deserved and earnt. Man of the match was Andy Lacey who like his team mates showed fortitude and determination during the match.
Respect due to Roundhegians who had a very strong game and chucked everything they had at us. Burley showed their mettle against these 15 men and I for one hope that they continue to do so till the end of the season.
P.Shaw