A powerful and energetic performance from the most-improved side in the league was too strong for a Toc H team that turned in their worst display of the season.

After a testing winter of postponements and attritional battles on heavy pitches, there was a sense of excitement on Good Friday as glorious playing conditions offered Toc the perfect platform to impress. But not for the first time this season, Burnley surprised a few people and at Simon Field gave the home side an afternoon to forget.

Their final try on the full-time whistle neatly summed up the game: an effortless turnover leading to one of their impressive centres cantering in from halfway. That score also brought up the 40-point mark - the second week in a row Toc have conceded that number - and it was no less than Burnley deserved.

Surely the most improved team in the division, the visitors were unrecognisable from the side Toc eased past earlier in the season. On that day it was Didsbury who were cruising to victory against a team who, it appeared, would be battling at the bottom end of Lancashire North. Here, they fully-deserved their bonus point victory and justified their high league position.

To say Toc were surprised by the onslaught that came their way would be an understatement. The feeling post-match was that Burnley were the most physical side to have come to Didsbury this season. Underpinning their simple and effective use of the ball in attack, was an excellent defensive shape and attitude. By contrast Toc’s organisation at both ends of the field wasn’t close to the standards set at other times this season and often their attacking efforts were elaborate, error-laden and unconvincing.

The turnover count was again high which kept gifting Burnley good attacking opportunities in dangerous areas of the pitch.

At the heart of their success lay a powerful centre partnership whose confrontational defence and direct lines of running in attack put constant pressure on Toc's back division. They were complemented by a robust and mobile back row which dominated the breakdown, either by slowing down ball to crawling pace or turning it over before making good yards.

After a solid opening, Toc took the lead through the boot of full-back Rory Gibson but it wasn’t long before Burnley crossed for the first of their seven tries. And like many of the others, they didn't have to work too hard for it. A simple switch from an attacking scrum saw the blindside winger walk under the posts.

Burnley spurned a couple of good attacking opportunities before stretching their lead to 19-3 but then followed Toc’s best period of the game. The home side levelled the gap to 19-10 at the break when Gibson sneaked over in the corner after collecting a clever grubber kick from centre Tom Makin. But that was as good as things got for Toc who didn’t score again until 78 minutes when some long overdue quality with ball in hand released Enita Okodiko on the left wing and his pace and power won the race to the corner. It was window dressing. And even then there was still time for Burnley to end the game as they started it: by applying big pressure in defence, turning over the ball, and easing under the posts for seven more points.

Next game: North Manchester, Home, 3pm, April 2nd.

Written By Jamie Peacock