Burley V Leeds Corinthians
29th March 2008
Burley 3 - 5 Leeds Corinthians
Burley were back to League action after two succesive friendly defeats, with a Home game against Leeds Corinthians.
With Div. 4 status assured and three games remaining Burley were hoping to finish their League campaign on a high.
Kicking off down the slope, but into a strong wind, the Home side were dominant for the first 20mins. Winger Will Broomfield going close after a barnstorming run down the flank. A penalty attempt by Richie Parrish was on target but blown back by the wind. Five minutes later however after continued Burley pressure, Parrish was successful with a penalty in front of the posts.
After 30mins. Burley were only 3-0 in front and Corinthians were defending stoutly.
In a rare attack by the visitors a kick through was not dealt with by the Burley defence and the Leeds Winger dropped on the ball to score near the corner.
Back came Burley and Centre Andy Bissett broke clear but was stopped by an ankle tap, on getting to his feet and off loading the referee penalised him for not releasing, with no defending player within metres.
Burley finished the half as they had started, but found themselves 5-3 down. Greater effort would be needed in the second half to overcome determined opponents.
Corinthians started the half strongly but never looked likely to improve on their five points.
Burley pressed for most of the half, the ball moving along the backs at regular intervals ,but as hard as Centres Bissett and Henry Bisson tried they could not breech a determined Leeds defence.
The visitors had a different game plan prefering to retain possesion through their pack, and rarely risking handling in the wet and windy conditions. Tactics possibly Burley should have adopted as the ball was frequently spilled in midfield.
A penalty attempt by Parrish hit an upright and it seemed that luck was not with the home side. Burley were awarded another penalty in front of the posts, and at 5-3 down the decision was obvious, kick the penalty and were 6-5 in front and looking strong enough to see the game out. Unfortunately with no one grasping the situation Scrum Half Mark Walton took a quick tap (Possibly remembering a similar incident in the first half when a kick was taken and he was told he should have tapped) which came to nothing.
Without being over critical either the Captain, V/Captain or Goal kicker should have indicated a kick at goal, and we would have won the game.
With the last kick off the game Parrish tried an optomistic long range penalty attempt which went wide.
The visitors played the right game and defended well, but this was a game Burley threw away.
Next week another Home fixture against Rotherham Phoenix in the Y.S.T.
J.Sanderson