Burnham U9s made the trip to Braintree and delivered a performance full of heart, discipline, and flashes of attacking brilliance. With the referee opting not to play the usual six-tackle turnover rule and no way yet to contest the ball on the floor, this match took on a very different shape—one where patience, positioning, and pure grit came to the fore.

Without the usual turnovers, Burnham were forced into long spells without possession. But instead of wilting under the pressure, they rose to the challenge and put on an incredible defensive display. Time and again, Braintree hammered away at the Burnham line—sometimes stringing together 15 to 20 phases—but they simply couldn’t find a way through. Every Burnham player played their part, putting in tackle after tackle in what became a textbook example of teamwork, communication, and commitment.

When Burnham did finally get their hands on the ball, they made it count. Almost every possession led to incisive breaks and well-taken tries. The contrast was striking—where Braintree struggled to crack the Burnham defence, Burnham’s cutting edge in attack made them look dangerous every time they surged forward. There were moments of frustration—holding on just a beat too long or missing a supporting runner—but it was clear that Burnham’s attacking instinct is among the best around.

This week’s Player of the Week, Harry, was outstanding. Known for his powerful runs, Harry has now added a new dimension to his game—drawing in defenders before releasing beautifully-timed offloads to teammates in space. His unselfish play, vision, and game intelligence lit up the pitch and earned just as much applause as any try. A brilliant all-round performance. Well done Harry!

What Katherine will be most pleased with though, was the growing game awareness across the entire squad. Every week, the signs of progress are more evident—proof of the hard work being put in by both the players and the coaching team.

With just one game left this season—a mouth-watering home clash against local rivals South Woodham Ferrers on April 6th—Burnham will be looking to finish their campaign on a high. On this form, few would bet against them.

Proud, disciplined, and immensely talented—this Burnham U9s side is something special.