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).