The One Where Burr Wasn't A Knob

The mighty 3's took to the field for their first game of the 2023/24 season in perfect weather conditions for fast flowing rugby. With skipper Jim Finnegan sidelined by some bites (from who we don't know) it was left to the 20 selected to take on Eccles at Headlands Road. With brooding coach Rouban Birch prowling the touchline, it was up to the lads to show that his efforts at training during the off season had not been wasted.

Having won the toss, Stockport elected to receive the kick off and have first use of the ball. Almost immediately the ball was moved around and off loaded into the hands of back row Henry Carolan who strolled in under the posts to score the first try of the game, converted by fly half Rick Morgan. Further great hands from the team resulted in the ball finding its way to No.8 Rowan Birch who scooted over for the team's second try, again converted by Morgan. An act of foul play saw Eccles reduced to 14 men for 10 minutes during which time Stockport scored again (not too sure who but it won't have been Aaron Hussain), also converted by Morgan who then added a penalty to take Stockport out to an impressive 24-0 scoreline. Things then got worse for Eccles as a kick to the corner saw a magnificently organised lineout catch and drive from which hooker Dave Burr was the beneficiary, crashing over for the first of his 2 tries and giving Stockport a 29-0 lead. The only blot on the copybook then arrived as a clearing kick was returned with interest by the Eccles full back who sent his winger over unopposed for a converted try which saw Stockport into the halftime break with a 29-7 lead.

Stockport made some substitutions at half time but this did not change the momentum of the game as they scored immediately from the kick off and then scored again!!! In fact the scoring did not relent and saw them rack up 62 unanswered second half points. I can't remember who scored what and DoR Finnegan decided not to bother recording them however my old man memory does remember tries for prop Joe Rushton, wing Elliott Smith, Birch again, centre Jason Holmwood, a 2nd for Burr, one for prop Jack Booth and many others however the lowlights of the 2nd half centred around the same player as not only did Morgan pretty much miss every conversion he took but he also sacrificed a try for himself. Now ordinarily this would be seen as a great act of sporting teamwork but not when the recipient is second row Dominic Alexander Waterhouse-Kern III. A reflection on how much Burr was not a knob was that people seemed happy for him to score, unlike DAWK III (I'm not typing his full name again)!!!!

The ref brought the game to an end with a 91-7 scoreline which was a mixture of power and precision, with forwards and backs all doing their jobs making the TEAM work however the only remaining question is how do you score 91 points and your star full back scores none????