Burley vs. Stanley Rodillians 17/02/07
Burley, without a game for two weeks, entertained Stanley Rodillians in a return to League Rugby. Missing key players Burley welcomed back Richie Christie in an unfamiliar Centre role. With Rodillians having a recent turnaround in form, this promised to be a tricky fixture. Burley started up the slope and where soon into their stride, quick hands allowing Flying Frenchman Yann Le Beau to skip round his opposite number for a try in the corner. The Rods where not deterred and their Centre Tom Tooley (the subject of a 1960s Lonnie Donnegan song) scored a fine solo try, assisted by some flimsy defending. As the Rods forwards got more into the game a further try was scored, from a scrum the Fly Half ran straight past the Burley back row and scored by the posts. With the try converted the home side found themselves 12-5 down. With the half coming to an end Burley leveled matters. From a scrum 22, Fly Half Rich Parrish did a dummy scissors with both Centers and slipped the ball to Romanian Full Back Martin Zielinski who took the ball at pace to score a fine try by the posts, Parrish converting. With a Half Time score of 12-12 Burley still had plenty to do. As the second half progressed, Rodillians large, technically sound but elderly pack began to flounder, coupled with the loss of the injured Tooley, Burley gradually began to turn the screw. From a scrum near the Rods line Scrum Half Mark Walton took advantage of his snoozing opposite number, to score a real opportunist try. With Burley now on top another break by Walton gave the supporting Parrish a try by the corner. The home side then allowed Rods to score a sloppy try. From a maul their Second Row peeled off and went blind unopposed. With a fine touchline conversion the score was now 24-19. This slight set back forced Burley to move up a gear, a penalty attempt by Parrish hit an upright and bounced back into play where the ever alert Big Si Meadmore "touched" down, Parrish converting. As the game came to its conclusion further tries by Christie and soon to be married No8 James Palfrey-Smith and one conversion by Parrish leaving the final score 43-19.