05/09/2010
Lam-Sam slam puts Old Collegians to the sword
Print by Adam Holmes.
The second half heroics of Burnside winger Nigel Lam-Sam have propelled Burnside into the SA Rugby Premier grade preliminary-final after their 13-6 win over Old Collegians on Sunday.
In a match where try-scoring chances were at a premium, Lam-Sam was on the end of a rare string of passes to cross for a crucial try before following up with a try-saving tackle in the dying stages of the semi-final.
Old Collegians came into the match full of confidence having beaten Burnside in their two meetings this season, including just a week earlier, but the muddy conditions at Kilburn made for a completely different ballgame.
Burnside made most of the running during the first half through the skilful Steven Kim and powerful Matt Smith, but the match remained deadlocked at 0-0 until Kim capitalised on a crucial fumble by Old Collegians to score the only points of the first half.
Both sides appeared content to play a kicking game as the conditions made slick passing almost impossible, with neither side able to put together more than two phases without a fumble as the second half quickly became bogged down with scrums.
The only real scoring opportunities of the second half came through penalties as neither side genuinely threatened the opposition’s try line, as the match laid in the balance at 8-6 in the dying stages.
With just minutes remaining, Lam-Sam’s impact proved the difference as Burnside finally found a way through the Old Collegians defence with an overlap play, followed by a desperate tackle as Old Collegians looked certain to level the match.
The 13-6 win sees Burnside advance to the preliminary-final to face Onkaparinga for a place in the grand final, who suffered a crushing 45-0 loss to minor premier Brighton on Saturday.