The best half of rugby this season

OB's Director of Rugby, and ex-England 7s star, Simon Hunt put in a man of the match performance in scoring a first half hat trick and helping his side seal a 5point win over a tough Burnham on Sea side.
Hunt starting at outside centre for the first time this season scored three tries in the first 30 minutes as OBs enjoyed the dry conditions in a fast and open running game. The OBs pack dominated the early set piece exchanges which enabled Kyle Clark, at No8, to make big inroads into the Burnham midfield. With skipper Matt Douglas and blindside Tom Gould creating quick ball from Clark's drives, Hunt was on hand to pick up his first try from 30metres out. Rory Davis converted.

Hunt's second try came from a big driving maul from the forwards following good line out work. Hooker Jon Whiteman broke from the maul bounced one tackle then set quick ruck ball. Hunt went through a gap and ran in from the 10metre line.

His third try followed good defensive work by fellow centre Alex Blackwell who dislodged the ball in a tackle inside the Burnham 22. The ball bounced free from the tackle and Hunt strolled in to finish his hat trick.

Burnham came back into the game with a try of their own before OBs sealed the try scoring bonus point just before half time. Following a 60m kick from fly half Davis the ball landed in the Burnham in goal area and as OBs players descended on the ball the Burnham fullback threw the ball dead. From the resulting 5metre penalty prop Paul Morgan was on hand and scored from a quick tap penalty. Davis converted. The half time score was 24:10.

In the first 20 minutes of the second half the Burnham pack started to get on top in the scrum and as a result came back in to the game with a second converted try. at 24:17 it was anyones game before wing Barney Nelson made a rampaging 50m run before carrying three defenders over the line to score what turned out to be the winning score.

Both teams were out on their feet in what turned out to be a 53 minute second half.

OBs are targeting a third place finish, and with two games coming up against Stroud and a game in hand over Chew Valley everything is possible if todays first half performance can be replicated.