Burley V Garforth
10th November 2007.
After two close away defeats Burley welcomed Garforth, who had last week held Old Otliensians to a 6-6 draw, in another tricky League fixture.
Missing injured Prop Paul Pinder, Second Row Milosz, and unavailable Dan Johnson, Burley had the experienced duo of Martin Zielinski and Neil Robinson on the wings, Alan Henderson at Full Back, Adam Wider at Prop, and returning after injury, powerhouse Flanker Eddie Sommerville, and Second Row Alex Short.
Playing up the slope Burley had much the better of the early exchanges showing a confidence previously missing. With the forwards driving into their opponents Garforth were finding the Home side difficult to contain.
After 20 minutes, the inevitable score came, quick hands across the backs and an insertion into the line by Henderson released Robinson who scorched up the wing before passing inside to the supporting Full Back, the ball was quickly recycled through six pairs of hands to the opposite flank and the loitering Hooker Sean Robertson, who strolled in at the corner for an excellent try. Fly Half Richie Parrish was just wide with the conversion attempt.
Not deterred Garforth made ground into the Burley half and from a scrum their Fly Half took advantage of some lazy tackling to score a converted try under the posts.
Although well on top Burley now found themselves 7-5 down, but immediately struck back. A switch move had Centre Henry Bisson releasing Co Centre Andrew Bissett who raced through the middle of the Garforth defence, only a desperate tap tackle prevented Bissett from scoring but he skillfully passed to the ever supporting Flanker Richie Christie to score a converted try by the posts. As the half drew to its end the visitors Second Row was Yellow Carded for dropping on to Robertson with his knees. With a lead of 12-7 and with the slope to come Burley reached Half Time in confident mood.
An early injury to impressive Full Back Henderson introduced debutant Centre Brad ?,
with Bisset moving onto the wing and the versatile Zielinski to Full Back.
After their First Half dominance Burley were finding the going tough against a Garforth side that had not giving up this game.
In a moment of madness Bissett and the Garforth Winger were Yellow Carded for a disagreement. The hard working Christie was replaced by Matt Hutchinson
Burley were having to defend against strong pressure from Garforth and there were some strong tackles from Wider, Sommerville and Scrum Half Mark Walton. With Second Rowers Short and George Curtis strong in the set pieces, and Captain Jamie Ferguson and Vice Captain James Palfrey-Smith leading by example. With an excellent First Half and a Second Half less so, this was a good overall performance by Burley.
With 10mins of the game left Burley were awarded a penalty converted by Parrish this fortunately gave them an 8point cushion as Garforth scored a late unconverted try in the corner. A final score of 15-12 and a welcome win.
Part of the tradition of Rugby Union is for clubs to provide after match catering for the opposition. A recent trend is for some visiting teams to leave the clubhouse straight after a shower and not even set foot in the home teams social area after the game.
This is disrespectful to the home club and to the people who provide the food, and a situation that will never occur when any Burley teams are visitors.