Although Burnham just missed out on victory it was probably the best performance of the season from the side and provided excellent preparation for this week's away league local derby fixture against Old Brentwoods.

However it was Southend who were to make a dream start when from their kick off, which although not going the full 10 metres, they were able to cut away through the Burnham defences with Southend's superb backs running perfect lines at pace to run in two very quick tries.

The crowd must have feared the worst, but as captain Knapton, rallied his players and reminded them of the game plan, which was at all costs to starve Southend's well drilled backs of the ball.

Hence from the restart the Burnham forwards were to take command keeping the ball tight, with successive charging runs and then, only when the time was right did scrum half Matt Barr pass the ball out to the Burnham backs.

From here Carrington at stand off played a superbly mature game for a 21-year-old, saw the options, and if the move wasn't on would run back into where his forwards were able to take the ball on once again to provide the stable platform for Burnham's attacks.

Burnham then after exerting enormous pressure found themselves with a five metre scrum, and three times powered the Southend scrum back over their own line, as a happy Baker at hooker was supported between his props of Tunbridge and Clark.

With the final scrum resulting in the Southend front row popping up under the pressure and in an attempt to try and stop the push over try.

Southend could count themselves lucky that Burnham were not awarded a penalty try, rather than just a penalty.

However, once again the Burnham forwards applied the pressure with a rolling maul set up by Hylands which resulted in Baker being driven over the line to score.

Burnham then kept the rest of the game as tight as possible, and it was only when Southend were able to get clean ball out to their backs that they looked deadly.

With the start of the second half the now bruised Southend forwards were taught a lessons in tight play, and apart from a Southend wing forward, who put in some crashing tackles on the Burnham forwards, these forwards were made to look much the weaker pack, to the extent that two further tries were to come from forwards Blake and Knapton.

Burnham's backs also played their part with some fine tackling from Gullen and Lovell who was also to put in his first try of the season.

Rob Barr on the other wing also made some good incisive runs, whilst at the same time allowing the ball to be recycled Burnham's way.

Longley played a sound game at the back, and albeit for some unlucky kicks in the windy conditions may have been able to add more points than the one conversion and penalty kick.

When the final whistle came both sides knew they had played their hearts out with neither side feeling they had let anyone down, as they were applauded off the pitch by the spectators who had braved the weather.

Saturday sees Burnham I travel away to Old Brentwood I and Burnham II are at home to Old Brentwood II.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.