Burley V Hemsworth
1st December 2007
Burley 31 - 5 Hemsworth
In an effort to avoid any fixture congestion, Burley and Hemsworth agreed to play both League and Silver Trophy games as a one off, the winner taking the two League points, and also going through to the next round of the Trophy.
Burley had Matt Hutchinson at Flanker and Adam Wider and George Curtis at Prop and Second Row respectively.
Starting up the slope the youthful Burley pack showed their intensions early, taking the game to their more elderly opponents.
After 10mins a Hemsworth line out on halfway was won by the home side and secured at the back of the line by veteran Prop Paul Pinder. The ball was moved along the backs to Centre Andy Bissett who glided in at the corner.
Hemsworth were finding it difficult to get out of their half and on 20mins from a 10m scrum they won the ball only for Scrum Half Mark Walton to beat the young visitors No9 to the ball and touch down near the corner. Fly Half Richie Parrish narrowly missed both conversions.
On the stroke of Half time after more Burley pressure, from a scrum inside the Hemsworth 22m. Parrish sold an outrageous dummy and strolled in under the posts, converting his own try to give Burley, after an impressive first half, a 17-0 lead.
Now playing with the advantage of the slope Burley were looking to increase their lead with some rampaging runs by the dynamic back row of Hutchinson, Rich Christie and Skipper James Palfrey-Smith. Setting up a position near the Hemsworth line Parrish touched down, once again converting his own try.
Burley were forced to make changes when Curtis came off with a shoulder injury. Palfrey-Smith moving into the Second Row, versatile Centre Henry Bisson moving to Flanker, Brad Stovell coming inside to Centre with Ian Anderson replacing him on the Wing.
The changes no way weakened a confident home side and after 20mins. Bissett shot through a gap to score his second and Burleys fifth try. Parrish adding the extras.
A leg injury by Wider resulted in Palfrey-Smith giving a real Captains lead and moving into the front row, with Charlie Mckinnon coming on for the final 10mins.
A relaxing Burley paid the price when Hemsworth had their best period of the game, and after stretching the Burley defence their Centre scored in the corner. With the conversion missed a final score of 31-5.
A satisfying performance and through to the next round of the Silver Trophy, but more importantly two very welcome League points.
Next week its back to the EDF 5th Round with a difficult tie at Otliensians