STRONG RUCKING AND MAULING

urnham Under took the long trip to Ongar on Sunday. Arriving early they set up and prepared. In the previous meeting, an away chance meeting on their Easter tour festival, Ongar pipped Burnham with a final minute try. Things turned out to be a little one sided this time around. Although Ongar won all three matches, 7-0,5-0 and 3-0, it didn’t reflect on the characteristics the under Crouch 10’s are beginning to show. Ongars super pressure in the Ruck and Maul, Burnham’s strong point until Sunday, was to become too much to cope with until the final game. Struggling to keep to their game plan, Burnham, tried to pass out of trouble and were forced into errors. It was to be the final game that Burnham finally matched their opponents. Smiles on faces they began to enjoy the physicality of the game. Super tackling from Cook, Gillett and Barker pushed Ongar back. Quick hands in the Ruck and Maul by Sean, Schembri and Roberts enabled Kelleher, Braybrook and Diss to exploit their pace gaining valuable metres. In the scrum Churchill and Drew were always first in. Coping better with their fitness, than in previous weeks, as the games came to an end and the teams faced each other to shake hands, all agreed there had been good lessons learnt all round and especially good knowledge in that the team were stronger as a result of the days experiences. Joe Petherick was awarded player of the week for his all-round performance.