Somerset Premier
Yatton 12, Burnham-on-Sea 51

BURNHAM moved up to sixth in the Somerset Premier table with an impressive 51-12 win at Yatton on Saturday.

Prior to this season, the Stags had gone 889 days without an away win, but they gave further evidence of their improved form on the road at the weekend.

The hosts began strongly but Burnham countered, and a powerful driving maul set up Tim Piper to dash over for an unconverted try.

Piper added a penalty, and after a strong run by Jude Donnelly, quick ball from Sam Lewis to Piper saw Josh Holder score in the corner.

The visitors had a third try when Alex Watkins made ground down the wing and found Tom Stevens to make the score 20-0.

That score remained at half time, thanks to some strong defence from the Stags and Ryan Beard’s try-saving tackle in particular.

If anything Burnham upped their game again after the break, with quick, flowing rugby and quick-fire tries from Donnelly and Piper to extend the lead to 34-0.

Yatton hit back with a try, but then Sam Chillingworth brushed off several tacklers before being stopped just short of the line, Stefan Pierce following up to score.

The home side pulled it back to 39-12, but again the response was swift – man of the match Birkan Gündüz with more great play, allowing Donnelly to set up Eoghan Westhoff to score in the corner.

Tom Wall had the last word, powering over to complete a superb 51-12 win.

The result sees Burnham sit sixth in the standings on 26 points, only three points off second-placed Nailsea & Backwell.

Burnham skipper Ross McKechan said: “We were a bit slow to get going but we ran riot in the second half despite playing uphill and into the wind.

“We haven’t had a convincing away win like that for a long time, so it is a real confidence boost and gives us momentum to build on.

“Jim Havercroft tackled everything and there was also some very resilient defence from Russ Pike and Ryan Beard.”

The league takes a break this weekend, with Burnham back in action at Imperial on November 17.

McKechan added: “I’m very conscious that we only take it one game at a time, but I think we have the ability to compete with any team in this league.”

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Somerset 2 South
Burnham 2nds 14, Yeovil 2nds 47

BURNHAM-ON-SEA’s 2nd XV lost out to league leaders Yeovil, despite pushing them close in the first half.

Yeovil quickly built a 16-0 lead, but the home side hit back well, Dan Berry crossing and Scott Havercroft converting.

Burnham were then awarded a penalty try, and so they only trailed by two points at half time.

The visitors improved after the break, while Burnham were hampered by injuries, ending the game with 13 men.

Those that remained battled gamely, but Yeovil were too strong.