Somerset 2S
Burnham-on-Sea 2nd XV 99
Chard 2nd XV 0

BURNHAM went into this match following a poor run and facing a side that sat higher in the league, but with the old firm partnership of half-backs Saunders and Piper they instantly took control.

Directly from the start Burnham collected a lineout, were awarded a penalty and from the resultant lineout Piper pretended to pass out wide but instead slipped the ball inside for Felix Granfield to canter through and score under the posts, Piper converting for 7-0.

Six minutes later great work by Stacey at the maul released Mason Shaw to hand-off his opposite number, pass outside and then take the return pass to score under the posts; again Piper added the extras to make it 14-0.

Again six minutes later, Piper launched a long clearing kick, Chard failed to reach touch, Ryan Beard took possession and passed outside to Ben Stacey to go round the outside and score under the posts, with Piper again on the mark for 21-0.

Almost instantly constant pressure from Burnham set up Beard, who strolled over the line, Piper making it 28-0, and the bonus point had been secured after just 17 minutes.

Not long after Burnham regained possession on their own 10m line and Shaw set off, knocking back two and handing off four before setting Connor free to score under the sticks for 35-0.

Nine minutes after that Burnham retrieved the ball after Chard failed to find touch from a penalty, releasing Shaw, this time to show his dextrous nature in selling three dummies and then trundling in under the sticks.

shortly after, Burnham turned the ball over, enabling Piper to find a rampaging Stacey on his outside and make it 49-0.

On the stroke of half time Burnham took a quick penalty, after a great chase by Connor, swift ball went out to Piper to draw the defence, allowing him to offload to Shaw to record his hat-trick and a 56-0 half-time score.

Right from the restart Burnham continued from where they left off, continually exerting pressure on Chard until Chris Panayi crashed over.

Three minutes later, after a good Burnham scrum, Stacey picked up from the base before releasing Nick McKen to smash through three or four tackles to go over out wide, the score now 66-0.

So dominant were Burnham that whatever they came up with resulted in a score; this time Nick McKen was the recipient of the final pass for a converted try.

Then, after Burnham's backs hounded the opposition into knocking on, swift hands saw young Connor race away to score out wide for 78-0.

From the restart Burnham regained the ball quickly, releasing Piper to storm through the gap and then release McKen to complete his hat-trick.

It then took Burnham 15 minutes before they got back on the scoreboard, after some spirited defiance from Chard.

Burnham were awarded a penalty, Tim Piper took a quick tap, chipped over the defence, recovered the bounce and then ambled in to score under the posts and make it 92-0.

Finally, after turnover ball, Stacey broke away, passed out to Harding and Burnham recycled out to Shaw to complete a remarkable match, with 99-0 the final result.

Burnham provided an entertaining brand of total rugby. With plenty of first team experience within the ranks, even if some of it was from over a decade ago – namely Lee Saunders and George Wilcox – they totally overwhelmed Chard with their mixture of control, pace and strength.

Shaw, whose hand-offs were exemplary, was deservedly awarded man of the match.