Burnham travelled a long distance for an important league game to come away disappointed but not disenchanted, as once again they put in some fine attacks which just lacked that last few yards.

The first score went to Sawston with a penalty kick and shortly afterwards with a maul on the Burnham 22 the referee signalled for a penalty to Burnham.

However, when a Sawston prop broke for the line the Burnham backs fully expected the referee to blow for the penalty that he had indicated in Burnham's favour. They failed to react soon enough to stop Sawston's try which took the score to 8-0.

It later transpired that the referee was in fact trying to instruct the Burnham backs to retreat slightly.

Burnham then went on the attack and were rewarded just before half time with a try from Bennett who, with an overlap, stepped back inside to run a try in under the posts duly converted by Longley to bring the score to 8-7.

At the start of the second half the Burnham pack were much the stronger, as second rows Hyland and Earing got their timing together and this enabled Burnham to take control in the scrums and give Knapton and Murray time to operate more effectively.

The majority of the second half saw Sawston under pressure, but the let-off came when Burnham had a penalty kick taken by Longley which looked suspiciously perfect, but was not given by the two touch judges.

This threw Burnham out of their stride long enough for Sawston to get a breakaway try and conversion to lead 15-7.

Both Burnham replacements Newton and Harwood got on in the closing minutes to try and turn the score around, but despite being involved from the instance they were on the field, the clock was against them. Billericay win battle of 'B's

BURNHAM II..............................6

BILLERICAY II........................22

A mixed Burnham second and third team put on a fine performance against a well drilled Billericay side and, despite the scoreline, the game was much closer.

The game was well refereed by Phil Mounsey who allowed the match to flow while keeping full control of the game, to the enjoyment of both sides and the spectators.

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