'Ringmaster' Vunipola orchestrates 11-try super show

1:42pm Tuesday 11th March 2008

Tribute Somerset One: Burnham 71, Bristol Barbarians 11

FOLLOWING the shock defeat the previous week, Burnham's rugby circus got back to winning ways on Saturday against a large Bristol team who had upset a few sides with their no-nonsense approach to tight and loose forward play.

With Burnham showing all their skills, bravery and dexterity, the visitors were consigned to being also-rans.

After a poor performance the week before, "ringmaster" Vunipola requested a protracted warm-up so that everybody knew what they were doing and obviously it worked, with Burnham running in 11 tries, eight of them converted.

The half-back pairing of Piper and Vunipola provided a steady stream of quality ball for both backs and forwards, enabling Burnham to send their faithful supporters home with the knowledge that their promotion push was back on track.

Barbarians started the match in their usual fashion of keeping the ball tucked up in the pack, eventually forcing Burnham to concede a penalty, which they kicked between the posts.

Not to be outdone, Burnham came straight back and after some good spoiling at a Barbarians' line-out, "Tongan John" forced his way over. Five minutes later, after the forwards had turned over Barbarians, smart inter-play, notably between House and Tasker, ended with Alan House supporting well to finish off the move. Piper converted.

Shortly after this, Burnham conceded a carbon copy of the first penalty, allowing Barbarians to make it 12-6. However, this was followed by a purple patch for Burnham.

Firstly, the forwards won a scrum convincingly enough for Blake to pick up and switch to Vunipola, whose timing of the pass to Dan Ford allowed him to show his strength and pace to score the third try.

Then, yet again, the pack produced quality line-out ball, after Pike had forced Barbarians' winger into touch chasing his own kick. The backs transferred the ball swiftly to Ford, who doubled his tally.

Blake gathered the restart and set up a ruck, enabling House to gain several metres with a clever run on the blind side before slipping the ball for Piper to draw the last defender and put Guy Cooke over under the posts. All three of these tries were converted by Piper, making it 33-6 at the interval.

The second half started with Burnham cleverly stealing Barbarians' line-out, setting up a driving ruck for "Tongan John" to finish in his own bullocking way.

Burnham were now prepared to run everything and after a quickly-taken line-out, followed by swift handling, Russell Pike joined the line, kicked ahead and gathered and raced in for Piper to convert.

For the next ten minutes, Barbarians had their best spell, keeping the ball in among their heavier pack to set up their prop, who charged over for a try.

That was their last effort as Burnham's superior fitness and skill took over. After they had won the ball against the head, a quick pass from Piper to Vunipola allowed him to display his exquisite timing and awareness so that "Kiwi" Muskett could wriggle and shimmy his way over. Piper converted.

Three minutes later, more quality from the line-out went swiftly out to Hill and was recycled to Hocking, then Blake for Piper to support on the outside and score in the corner. He also converted - 57-11.

By this time, Barbarians' tired bodies were unable to match Burnham in any phase and yet another steal was sent out rapidly to Hill, who put David Welland in at the corner. Again, Piper converted.

The scoring was completed when Burnham won very clean ball at the scrum so that Vunipola was able to pick his moment to put Matt Hill over under the posts. Piper landed his eighth conversion.

When Burnham play like this, it is an absolute joy to watch, especially when the referee allows players to get on with it. Great credit should go to official Brian Burdock for his astute control of the game and his witty ripostes to the onlookers.

Only Burnham can deprive themselves of promotion, so they must keep up the good work of the gospel according to Vunipola. Well done!

Burnham scorers: Tries - Tevita 2, Ford 2, House, Cooke, Pike, Muskett, Piper, D Welland, Hill. Cons: Piper 8.