Somerset Premier
Burnham-on-Sea 53, St Bernadette’s Old Boys 0

IT’S a perfect 10 for Burnham-on-Sea, with the Stags recording their 10th straight win with a fine display of rugby at home to St Bernadette’s Old Boys on Saturday, writes Lee Berry.

The hosts were ruthless from the off, with lots of possession deep in the visitors’ half, and the game was only a few minutes old when full-back Alex Watkins finished off a well-worked move out wide for a 5-0 lead.

Watkins soon added a second try on the other side of the pitch, to extend the lead to 10-0 after only six minutes of play.

After a frantic start, the visitors began to settle and tighten up, but they struggled with the Stags’ firepower; the hosts were using the full width of the pitch, going through many phases and hitting the channels at pace.

Next to score was veteran inside centre Richard Muskett, who broke through to score under the posts for a converted try.

Another veteran, Tim Piper, was forced off with a pulled hamstring, to be replaced by winger Louie Jones, and Will Hopkins moved to fly-half.

There were times that Bernadette’s put Burnham under pressure in their own half, but a resolute defence protected the white line.

The Stags’ set-piece was effective throughout the game as they dominated the scrums and lineouts, which gave a platform for their style of play.

With only a few minutes left of the first half, quick recycled ball was whipped out by scrum-half Sam Lewis to Hopkins running at pace, and he broke through to score and seal the bonus point, before converting his own try for a 24-0 half-time lead.

The second half started in similar fashion, as Burnham continued to be ruthless in all areas.

Replacement Ed Lewis made an instant impact with a couple of thunderous runs and was tackled just short of the line, and his brother Sam noticed a large gap at the breakdown, so dived over the ruck to score.

Bernadettes never gave up, but they were struggling to cope with the hosts, and penalties crept in.

Muskett went over for his second try, which was converted by Hopkins, and a lineout catch and drive led to prop Stef Pierce touching down at the back of the maul – Hopkins again converting for 43-0.

The catch and drive was so effective that it produced two further tries for front row players, Adam Peters and Chris Warner, to round things off.

This Saturday sees Burnham – eight points clear at the top of the table – visit eighth-placed Stothert & Pitt (ko 2.30pm).

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BURNHAM-ON-SEA 2nds, who were 31-20 winners at home to Wells 2nds at the weekend, visit Minehead 2nds this Saturday.

Burnham sit ninth in the Somerset 2 South table, and Minehead 10th.