Burley RUFC

In their final away League fixture Burley took on Harrogate Pythons hoping to improve on their last League encounter at Garforth. Burley welcomed back hard working Fixture Secretary Richard Schmidt into the Second Row, but missing leading scorer Andrew Bissett, Big Si Meadmore,Rich Christie, Dan Johnson and new Father Martin Zielinski. Veteran Paul Wheeler coming in at Full Back, Gavin Leeman on the Wing and Neil Robinson reverting to Centre. Playing on the main pitch Harrogate had the appearance of a formidable outfit, compounded by their unbeaten home record, this had the makings of another tough game. Burley however were the first on the scoresheet, a high ball from Fly Half Richard Parrish caused problems for the Pythons Full Back allowing the quickly following up Robinson to hack on and score by the posts. Parrish converting. The Harrogate backs were strong and pacy and from an attack in the Burley 22 their Centre scored out wide. Half time arrived with the visitors hanging on to a 7-5 lead. Hoping to generate some more purposeful play, Coach Paul Bissett gave the team a Half time tongue lashing. Playing in the Burley half the Pythons pack drove over the line only to be held up. From a similar sorty Harrogate moved the ball quickly from right to left, and with the Burley midfield in dissaray the winger strolled in at the corner. With the conversion missed the visitors were now 10-7 behind. Back came Burley with the pack lifting their game for the first time of the afternoon, and cheered on by their multi national partisan supporters. Fom a 15 metre line out Schmidt drove for the line but was unable to touch down. With time running out and Harrogate defending strongly a second League defeat looked a probability, until with five minutes remaining the Pythons failed to secure the ball at a five metre lineout, and ever alert Flanker James Palfery-Smith dropped on the ball to score for a relieved Burley. With a final score of 12-10 Burley had produced a flat performance and ridden their luck, they had however, defeated a side who were previousley unbeaten at home.