It would be difficult to draw many positives from the game - we competed well for the most of the first half but ill-timed errors such as conceding a try right on half-time proved costly. Playing 30 minutes with 14 men thanks to three yellow cards didn’t help either, especially as at least two were easily avoidable.

Another 80 minutes under the belts of some young players is probably the most encouraging way to look at it and this can hopefully set the foundation for better results in the not too distant future.

Ross Winney and Luke Mallinson traded early penalty misses before Winney opened the scoring with a successful shot at goal after 15 minutes.

We briefly took the lead with a counter attacking try from replacement Zac Southern. Gav Robinson won a turnover on half-way and set Sam Miller galloping away up the left. He timed his pass well to Southern who sped away to touch down in the left corner. Mallinson hit the post with the conversion to leave the score 5-3.

The lead lasted only a matter of minutes as two quick free-kicks helped Burnage deep into our 22 and scrum half Jonny Scholes dove over for a try converted by Winney.

We were lucky not to go further behind when Winney skewed a straightforward penalty wide on 30 minutes and despite having lost Greg Edwards to the sin-bin we maintained possession well without really threatening any points. When we eventually opted to chip the ball through Burnage took full advantage, running the ball back and stretching the defence. Although we initially scrambled back, a few phases later prop Hassam Ben Ahmed crashed over under the posts to take the lead to 5-17 on the stroke of half-time.

It was a blow from which we never recovered and in the second half never looked like getting back in the game. Two penalties from Winney stretched the lead before tries in the final 5 minutes from Ralph Lawson and Nick Scholes put the gloss on the scoreline and ensured Burnage returned along the M62 with the maximum 5 points.





West: Mallinson, Butcher, A Cheslin, C Cheslin, Edwards, Robinson, Painter, Pinchen, Wood, Coates, Robson, Hogan, Miller, D Boatman, J Boatman
Reps: Corbett, Southern, Atkins

Try: Southern
YC: Edwards, Atkins, Corbett

Burnage: Filson, Knight, Wellock, Oldham, Dowdall, Winney, J Scholes, Ahmed, Hammonds, Keane, Edge, N Scholes, Birtle, Lawson, Hewitt.
Reps: Williams, Ascroft, Robertson

Tries: J Scholes, Ahmed, Lawson, N Scholes
Cons: Winney 3
Pens: Winney 3

Referee: Chris Bennett [North]