Western Counties West
Truro 20, Burnham-on-Sea 8

BURNHAM-ON-SEA were unable to follow up the previous weekend’s home victory over Torquay Athletic on Saturday, as their long wait for an away win goes on.

The Seasiders last tasted victory in an away league match on April 9, 2016 (18-3 at Chosen Hill Former Pupils, back in their Western Counties North days), and the 16 players who made the long trip to Cornwall were unable to break that run.

They gave it a good go, however, edging a tight first half 8-3.

Scott Beard kicked a penalty to put the visitors ahead, and after Craig Williams did likewise to level, Burnham scored the game’s opening try midway through the first half, as Brett Driver went over.

However, winger Josh Symons tipped the match in the hosts’ favour with two tries, and a penalty try following a scrum sealed the deal for mid-table Truro.

There were certainly positives for the Seasiders, with an improved lineout, solid scrum, and Thomas Harris and James Havercroft both performing well on debut.

Nonetheless, they go into their final game of 2017 in a precarious position.

They are bottom of the table with 15 points, the same tally as Falmouth, with Crediton four points ahead, but both Sidmouth and Tiverton have hauled themselves further clear with wins in recent weeks.

With both Crediton and Falmouth having winnable games next weekend (at home to Truro and Tiverton, respectively), Burnham will be looking for more players to travel to Chard on Saturday in pursuit of a better result.

Chard were 31-13 winners in the reverse fixture back in September, and currently sit sixth in the table, so it will be a far from straightforward task.

Somerset 2 South
Burnham-on-Sea 2nds 22, Wiveliscombe 2nds 19

BURNHAM’S 2nd XV sit second in the Somerset 2 South table after edging past seventh-placed Wiveliscombe 2nds by just three points.

It was a tough encounter for the hosts, but the victory takes them 11 points behind leaders Castle Cary, who were without a match.

Burnham were also boosted by seeing their closest rivals for second, Weston-super-Mare 4ths, go down to a 20-5 defeat at fifth-placed Somerton.

Winscombe 2nds are now third after Burnham, having thrashed Tor 2nds 105-0.

There’s no match for Burnham on Saturday, so they must wait until January 16 to return to the field, away to Chard 2nds.

Winscombe could snatch second spot before Christmas, if they win at Wiveliscombe this weekend.