Redford settles thriller with late penalty

Burnley started very slowly, and it looked like they were in for a hard afternoon as tackles were missed, line outs lost, and mauls dominated by the home side, which led them to take a 14-0 lead.

With Burnley then losing a player to the bin, the writing looked like it was on the wall , but they knuckled down and got back into the game.

First a penalty, by Redford, then, from another kickable penalty, the team opted for a scrum, which they dominated with seven players, and Adam Wallis broke from the scrum and over he went, converted by Redford.

Burnley were now carrying really well, and Danny Rowland darted over for the first of his two tries, conversion made by Redford to put the locals ahead.

Next on the board was a try from the home wing, well executed, but a wider defence may have stopped it.

Then a magnificent Burnley try as Lee Ferrier took a kick, ran around two would-be tacklers and fed Filipo Alefosio, who moved it onto Rob Lawless, who beat a man and then fed Redford out of the back of his hand.

Redford went round one, drew the full back, chipped ahead and retained his own kick and sprinted in for five points, converting his own try.

Then just before half-time the home team got a converted try and twent in ahead 26-24.

A couple of changes to freshen things up saw James White come on at eight, and from a scrum, he picked the ball up, fed Rowland, who passed it to Redford, who burst down the wing, drew the last defender and played it back inside for Rowland, who secured Burnley’s fourth try and the bonus point, converted by Redford.

Disbury then recaptured the lead. Plenty of tight phases then occurred, but in a high-scoring game you could not keep leading try scorer Ferrier off the scoreboard, and over he went, shortly followed by a home penalty, and the score was all square.

Vice captain Ash Rothwell left the field with a ankle knock, club captain Tom Ives moved to back row and Redford returned.

Burnley continued to press and were awarded a penalty, and up stepped Redford to slot over the winning points.

Tomorrow, only the third team are in action, at Fylde for a cup semi-final.

On Sunday the Under 7/8/9/11/14 and 16s are home to Orrell and Garstang at 11 a.m., with all other sides training at the club.