Western Counties West
Burnham-on-Sea 16, Bude 10

BURNHAM came out on top in a must-win battle with Bude, after a dour and hard-fought contest on a bitterly cold day at the BASC ground, writes John Piper.

With both teams in the bottom four, it was a case of who had the strongest will and desire to come out on top, as the lead changed hands on three occasions.

Bude started strongly, their pack driving forward, but the hosts weathered the storm, drove Bude back and after 10 minutes won a penalty for offside, Will Conway making it 3-0.

Keeping their momentum going, from a lineout 10 minutes later, they rumbled over to score an unconverted try.

Bude came back purposefully, firstly with a long-range penalty from their full-back, and then fashioning their own pushover try to lead 10-8.

Not to be denied after a lengthy spell in Bude’s 22, Burnham worked the ball out to Lee Vaughan to use his strength to force his way over and make it 13-10 at half time.

The second half became a titanic struggle to gain a supremacy, with the only score coming from the boot of Will Conway, to move Burnham into a 16-10 lead, which they hung on to for their first victory since December 3.

This was not the most entertaining match that one could see, but Burnham’s tenacity in defence and a solid lineout were big positives.

This Saturday Burnham – who have moved up to fourth from bottom with last weekend’s win, but are certainly not out of relegation danger yet – travel to St Ives (SW), who are sixth in the table.

***

Somerset 2 South
Winscombe 2nd XV 7, Burnham-on-Sea 2nd XV 24

A TEAM consisting of a fine blend of youth and experience set out to right the balance after a drubbing from a high-flying Winscombe side when they met at home prior to Christmas, writes Chris Jones.

Burnham gained the upper hand early on with some strong running to break the gain line, with Nick McKen leading the charge from the forwards.

An infringement at the breakdown allowed Burnham to take an early penalty lead from the boot of Alex Watkins, and he punished Winscombe again to make it 6-0.

This was a dream start, but they were not going to have it all their own way, as Winscombe got their offloading game going.

Yet when possession returned Watkins found touch deep into the opposition half, and from the line out the ball found Scott Havercroft, who kicked cross-field for Felix Grandfield to gather, step his winger and touch down.

Watkins converted from a long way out for 13-0.

Burnham continued to turn the screw, and no 8 George Pruett made a couple of searing breaks.

A resulting infringement allowed fly-half Watkins to finish the half with another penalty, making it 16-0.

After the break a couple of prop changes by Winscombe resulted in the Burnham scrum going back at a rate of knots, but the visitors soaked up the pressure and Tim James typified their great tackling.

Winscombe were not to be denied for long, though, as their winger popped up amid the forwards to go through for a converted try.

Burnham finally stopped the scrum going backwards, with captain Ed Lewis exemplary at tighthead prop, and two penalties brought three more points, and then a lineout.

The first drive resulted in McKen being held up, the scrum was also held up, but the next penalty brought a well-worked lineout move, and McKen drove over the line for an unconverted try.

Burnham’s win put them three points behind Winscombe in second, with a game in hand.

Man of the match: George Pruett.

They are at home on Saturday, against leaders Morganians (ko 2.30pm).