RUGBY UNION: LEAGUE Leaders Burbage proved too hot to handle for Birmingham Exiles as they ran out 3-33 winners following Saturday’s Midland 5 West South division at Old Damson Lane.
The league’s new boys stormed to a 33-point victory as they successfully found gaps in the home defence in the opening period.
Exiles improved dramatically with neither side scoring a single point but the damage had already been done following a game of two halves.
It took just seven minutes for Burbage to post their first points of the match as a cross-kick was touched down in the right corner by winger Standon.
Four more tries followed from Bond, Burke, Peterson and Browne which were all converted by Egginton took the visitors clear.
The only points of the match scored by the home side came right on the stroke of half-time when Andy Perkins successfully landed a penalty goal.
The hosts began the second half on a more positive note and, for just about the first time in the match, went into the visitors’ line but were kept out.
By this point the Exiles were generally winning the set scrums but the Burbage back division defended well.
Things got a bit heated around the hour mark with a couple of players from each side yellow-carded but the game was generally played in a good spirit
In a good all-round performance in the second half at least, Exile’s prop Luke McKinley’s efforts stood out, though he had to come off injured before the end.
