Regional 2 Tribute South West: Burnham-on-Sea 5-43 Crediton

BURNHAM-on-Sea RFC lost their final game of the 2023 calendar year at the weekend.

In the match played at the BASC Ground, Burnham lost to Crediton RFC 5-43 in what was a tough game all round for the home side.

Not only were they defeated, but club stalwart Stefan Pierce picked up an injury which is likely to end his career in rugby.

The front row forward broke his arm again in the match, the same arm he broke six years prior.

Currently, he is waiting for a date to have an operation as they will have to remove the metal plate that’s in there and put a new/bigger one in.

Pierce is now done for the rest of the season and he has made the hard and difficult decision to step away from rugby for the foreseeable, even after this season, he doesn’t think he’s going to return to playing again.

Club chairperson Lee Berry said: "It’s been an absolute pleasure watching Stef play, moan and also run in to all tackles upright but the one which ended his playing days he actually went low, how ironic."

There was a fresh face in the side though as Harry Macdonald on the wing showed off his pace to burn in the match.

In the match, Burnham held their own for the first fifteen minutes as neither side were able to break the line for a score.

However in the 16th minute the visitors found a way and crossed for a converted try to make it 0-7.

They doubled their lead in the 25th minute after Burnham's defence missed some tackles to allow Crediton in to score.

Two more tries for the away team before half time saw the score at the break 0-24.

And it was more of the same on the other side of the break too as Crediton were taking every opportunity they got in Burnham's half.

On 68 minutes the score was 0-43 and the match already well and truly over as Crediton were in control.

However a yellow card on 75 minutes for the visitors allowed Burnham the chance to cross for their sole try of the match to see the game end 5-43.

Elsewhere, the Burnham-on-Sea 2nds lost away from home against Chard RFC 2nds, 21-0.

Chard comfortably beat Burnham with three converted try’s in the 2nd half with these coming from Chas O’Shaughnessy, James Grossey, and Huw Edwards. Daniel Twose kicked all the conversion points.