Hi Guys,

Rugby date 24/4/10 away against Bae Warton score 6-38

Mighty thirds win at Warton

The thirds took to the field knowing only a win do, with a heavy pack we took it straight to Warton. The scrum working well with the addition of Barclay Roberts at loose head, we hope to see a lot more of Barclay next season. But teamed with Rousie a tight head the front row was like a solid corner of England, impenetrable and rock solid. Warton were pushed off the first 2 scrums of the game as the Burn pack showed its dominance in the set piece, however a neck injury to Warton loose head Rob saw the game reduced to uncontested scrums with Rob taking a early exit. Despite the mighty forward effort it was Warton who had the most territory in this period, as they threw wave after wave of attack at us. But some superb tackling from the Burn players managed to hold them at bay, even though they piled the pressure on.

It was Warton who opened the scoring first though, when number 8 Paul Cockram stumbled leaving his leg hanging and the referee deeming he had attempted to trip the Warton player. Captain Carlos argued his case with the ref but once his decision was given it was final, P.C looking sheepish

Warton taking 3 points from the kick, Burn realised they were in a game both sides wanted to win. And from the restart put their own pressure on the Warton side . With winger Marc Grimes going over in the corner to open Burns account, stand off Eddy Holden narrowly missing the conversion. Roused with this effort Burn started to show their dominance, at the set piece and the break down. Driving in hard at the ruck and the maul, Burn trundling the ball forward some 30 meters in one thunderous maul. With the pressure coming on Warton it was their turn to start giving away penalties, Burn using a set move on a couple of occasions resulting in the rejuvenated Richard Bradford going over next to the up rites after selling on his legendary dummies. Eddy slotting the extras with ease this time, the score 3-12 at half time.

As the second half kicked off it was Warton once again who took the early impetus, with a penalty needless given away in front of the posts. Wartons kicker slotting the 3 pointer with simple effort. But Burn where soon pileing the pressure back on with some excellent line out work from Dr Mike Doherty, leaping like a salmon in the middle of the line. Hooker Carlos find his target and a quick ball of the top sending Burns Backline cutting Warton to bits, and center Joe Holden crossing the white wash. Burns backs teaming up well again and again with Dave O'Sullivan crashing through and making ground time and time again. Not wanting to be out done The forwards also piled on the pressure with number 8 P .C . going over from a scrum five yards out the joy of finally scoring his first try of the season showing on his face.

Young center Joe Holden then gaining his second yellow card of the season, this one for stamping on a players behind. Gave Warton a bit of hope as Burn where down to 14 men, but Burn now running the changes managed to thwart the home teams efforts and put the pressure back on. Scott Foster also enjoying his new lease of life in the forwards having a super game once again taking a knock to the head, but the old stagier keeping his cool and still putting in the big hits. Burn where soon threatening again when Joe came back from the sin bin, just in time to link up with brother Ed and his old man Mike now having a run out for fullback Jim Coleman, giving the scoring pass to his dad for Mike to score, Eddy adding the extras again. The team all cried Holden to Holden to Holden score, then substitution of Mike. With the final whistle looming Burn kept the pressure on pinning Warton deep in their twenty two, while trying to clear their lines Mike Doherty doing what all good open side flankers do charged down the kick and scored the final Burn try.

A fantastic afternoon of rugby played hard and in the true spirit of the game, against a really good Warton outfit we look forward to meeting them again next season. I would also like to thank all the players that made the journey to Warton, and all the supporters. It was a great day out for the Burn third team finished off with a good old drinky. But the job is not yet finished with Wednesdays away fixture at Kirby Lonsdale, this is a game we must play the result doesn't matter. But a win would be nice. We have to play as a cry off would see us out of the league, and that would be a catastrophe after a fine season of hard games. So please could all available players let myself or P.G. know their availability as soon as possible thanks. Also the players dinner is set for the 7th of May please let me know if you intend to go, then i can make sure there is enough places booked. I would like also to thank Keith Walmesley for the excellent photos and appoint him as the third team photographer for next season.

Regards Carlos (captain).

Hi Guys,



Rugby date 17/4/10 home against Garstang 2's score 10-25



Frustration at Ramsgreave



Well boys once again the frustration of not finishing the game, or our chances leaves a nasty taste in the mouth. Firstly congratulations to Garstang for topping the league, but our job isn't over with two more games left. This Saturday we took the challenge to Garstang up front, with a tasty looking pack, and a very nifty back line. Although Missing a few regulars the side was filled with talent, and a feeling of expectation hung in the dressing room. We took to the field and immediately put pressure on the visitors from the kick off, some excellent work by the chasing forwards gaining a early penalty chance in front of the posts. Henning playing at inside centre stepped up and coolly slotted the three pointer. Garstang came back hard but the Burn side managed to gain territory, but the first missed opportunity for our backs left us under the cosh, with the visitors bearing down on our twenty two. The burn defence stood strong and some excellent scrummaging and tackling managed to hold the visitors out, however the pressure told with Burn giving a very kick able penalty away for Garstang to level.

From the re-start the Burn forwards managed to get a foothold in the visitors danger area, and a very near chance slipped by from a line out move. The ball crossed the park but Burn unable to put the finish on where held a bay, Gareth Clarke not taking a pass sure to put him in, in the corner. The Burn pack dominating in the scrum where starting to get a nudge on, putting the visitors pack under pressure every scrum and line out. but once again possession isn't enough to win games, Garstang broke free of the strangle hold and were soon putting pressure on the Burn line. Where Burn failed to convert pressure into scores Garstang took their chances. Crossing the line with a missed tackle letting in the visitors for their first try. As half time approached Burn kept up their efforts but never got near again that half.

With the wind in their favour Burn hoped to play most of the second half in the visitors half, but Garstang where not going to let their lead slip. A hard battle evolved mainly in the middle of the pitch, the Burn forwards standing strong in the set piece, but a lack of concentration in defence allowed the visitors to run in their second try. Followed by a very good penalty kick against the wind. Blackburn battled hard and as the game broke up Stand off Eddy Holden scooped the ball up putting Henning in for Burns try converted by Henning. With the score at 10-20 Burn aimed to up their game but a hammer blow after a few decisions going against the home side Garstang came up with the ball and crossed the white wash to make it 10-25. A all round superb performance from all the players, however not finishing the chances we created again did the damage. Some work on tackling maybe in order and a session with coach Steve Llewellyn, who will be down the club on Thursday night 7pm till 9pm. This coming weekend we travel to Bae Warton who are above us in the league and 2 points clear, this is a big game for us and we expect Bae to throw the kitchen sink at us. Can all players let me know their availability as soon as possible thanks. This is our last Saturday fixture with the mid-week game against Kirby Lonsdale the final game in the season. It is also st George's day on Friday 23rd April, and so I have decided that all players will wear a st George's cross somewhere on their person. This is also twinned with the help for hero's band, any player not wearing either of these will be taxed heavily. We aim to have a few drinks in the Lightning club with Bae and then back to our club to finish off, celebrating Adam Williamson's up coming nuptials also.

I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at the weekend,

Yours Carlos (captain).

Hi Guys,

Rugby date 10/4/10 home against Penrith score 19-24

Disappointment at Ramsgreave

The pain of this defeat was etched on every players face after the final whistle blew, stunned disbelief that we managed to boss the game for so long and yet walk off the pitch defeated. The best looking side we have fielded for ages were shocked as the final whistle blew and every man knew that we let a golden opportunity slide, it seemed that the visitors resilience and hunger for promotion gave them a edge and doggedness we lacked. Maybe disbelief that we pressurised the Penrith 22 for the majority of the first half, controlling the set plays with a pack that stood strong and firm. We ruled the line out and the scrum working well, and yet managed to cough up the ball at the break down with an annoying frequency. However the backs who where given the ball at every opportunity managed to run in two early tries with a conversion from fullback Henning. Mike Doherty scoring the opener followed by Matt Elston, both from the wings, it seemed that we really wanted it. Maybe the early scores where to be our downfall, as we stated to loose a bit of discipline and where punished with a number of penalties, awarded by the referee playing his first senior game. The dicisions may not of been right but we have to play what the ref awards, and react better. Penrith twice tapping and going to score whilst we bickered about the dicision. It was a simple fact that the visitors reacted to penalties quicker and better than we did.

The boys realising that we where in a game battled strong and soon where pressurising the visitors line again, a penalty move using Jessie just narrowly going close. but giving a second penalty very soon after, with the ageing scrumhalf Brady showing his silky skills. Selling the biggest dummie ever to the Penrith defence and sailing under the posts unchallenged. the conversion coming from the boot of center Eddy Holden. It was soon aft3er as we pushed hard to score again, not taking the chances created with some superb runs from Nick Archer in the center combining well with stand off Jim Colman. But then disaster as penrith intercepted a pass and ran 95 yards to score under the posts. This was the nail in the coffin and even though the second half was pretty scoreless just a penalty kick from Penrith. We never managed to put the game away, even though we managed again to dominate in every possible way. It was a case of having the ball and the territory just not taking the Chances created.

So we look forward to welcoming Garstang to Ramsgreave next weekend and they are top of the league, but we owe them one as we went so close at their place. It would be great to get the win against them and as this week showed we have the skill, just need to finish the chances off. So availability as soon as possible please guys. And remember training on Thursday night.

Yours disappointingly Carlos(captain).

Hi Guys,

Rugby date 2/4/10 away against Carnforth 2's score 10-24

Euphoria on Good Friday - Disappointment Easter Monday

Well guys it was always going to be a big ask for Burn 3's at Easter, with two fixtures kindly rearranged by the league. First would be Carnforth on Good Friday, followed by Furness on Easter Monday, both away games. Maybe the league could of looked at this and given us some options. However we managed to put a team together to travel the 40 miles north to Carnforth on Good Friday, it was once again a scratch team and would mean players playing out of position again, Not the first time this season. But the feeling of comradeship amongst the players was buzzing. We arrived in dribs and drabs due to the bank holiday traffic on the m6, this wasn't enough to dampen the spirits though. With a hearty number of supporters in tow also, Burn had come to make a statement ad right from the kick off we did. Captain Carlos winning the toss and choosing to play with the wind and the slope, communicating to the team the need to take advantage of this. As Carnforth kicked off taken by lock Martin Jessop, on good form he thundered forward, making good yards over the gain line. This was the way we were going to play the first half, with big runs and hard hits.
The youthful back line were chomping at the bit to get their hands on the ball, as the forwards ploughed their way up field. Joe Holden playing at nine distributing the ball along the the line with effortless accuracy, Burn soon had the territory and where applying pressure to Carnforth which told in the way of the first penalty being awarded to Burn. Eddy Holden narrowly missing from the kick, but Carnforth still pinned down in their half where under pressure again a second penalty from a line out gave tight head prop Stuart Rouse the opportunity to tap and go. Unfortunately for Stu even though just before he was told that the badly marked pitch meant that the second line was the try line not the first, he dived over the first line with all the grace of a swan to find himself 3yrds short. This just rallied Burn and from the resulting scrum they got the nudge on, Danny Khan picking and going at the foot of the scrum, recycling the ball when being held up, then Rousie broke down the blind side and crashed over the correct line giving Burn their first score and points of the day. Eddy making sure on this occasion from the tee.
Burn had their gander up and the forwards were taking the game to Carnforth, then releasing the backs. with super hands from centers Mike and Dave O'sullivan, bringing fullback Munch into the line, Burn where soon threatening Carnforths try line again. With Mike going over to extend the lead, Carnforth who had been lending Eddy their kicking tee until now declined him the tee on this occasion, but he nonchalantly converted the drop kick to rub salt into their wounds. The pressure was kept on by Bur with P.G. leaping salmon like at the line out aided by his lifters, causing havoc on the opponents ball and securing our own. With flankers George and Liam also causing problems with anything that went loose, Burn were soon threatening the Carnforth 22 again. Scrum half Joe passing a cash ball to the marauding Captain Carlos who broke through the defensive tackles to find himself 15 yards out, he pinned back his wings and went for it, with a little shimmy and the slight of foot that any international winger would of been proud of he crashed over the line leaving Carnforth 19-0 down at half time.
The second half started with Carnforth coming straight back hard at Burn, but some excellent defensive tackles from the Burn meant that we held them out for the first 10 minuets. However good pressure from Carnforth and a number of penalties from Burn gave them a long range kick, excellently converted. With a score on the board Carnforth where buoyed and kept on coming, the Burn defence being tested again and again, The game started to get tasty with a number of exchanges becoming hard fought points. A number of penalties followed as the game started to hot up, then the eventual overspill came with handbags being thrown from both sides. The resulting outcome was Joe being yellowed for Burn and two players being yellowed for Carnforth. Burn then pushed hard creating a overlap for Mike to run in his second try and give the final result of 10-24. The game over we then moved down to the railway club for drinks, a very good day all round. With Burn fielding 18 players and everyone getting a run out. New boy Killion, old boys Gooders and Mike Holden, starting on the bench, but getting a fair amount of pitch time. Also another new boy Peter, coming along to play on the wing and having a good game, having played for the colts I hope he sticks with it.
Now the not so good, with one game in the bag we looked at putting out another team for the 80 mile trip to Furness. Due to some minor injuries sustained in Fridays game and the amount of players with commitments of a domestic kind, we were left with no choice but to call off Mondays game. This now leaves us having to fulfil all our remaining games, which starts this Saturday when we welcome Penrith to Ramsgreave. Penrith currently 2nd in the table and we are currently 12th, but if we have the sort of belief and determination we had on Good Friday we can give them a good hard game. Please could all players let myself or P.G. know their availability as soon as possible, and don't forget training on Thursday night 7pm till 9pm.

Yours Egotistically Carlos(captain).