Lancashire Cup Action for Bury 1st Team

Having had a very positive pre-season, expectations were high amongst both the players, coaches and supporters and with a final score of 37-17, it enabled Bury to secure a quarter-final place on Valentines Day.

The game started with Bury domination possession and territory for the first twenty minutes. In this period there was great control from the Bury pack, providing good, clean ball for the backs to run their well rehearsed moves. The first points of the game came from the boot of Adam Heath successfully kicking a penalty awarded for an infringement at the break down. This was followed up with a further seven points after the Bury scrum pushed their opposition off the ball allowing back row forward Ed Watkins to break with the ball and offload to prop Jake Greenhalgh who was able to fend off two defenders and ground the ball neatly in the corner. Heath converted with ease.

From the kick off Bury gained territory in the Colne & Nelson's 22m zone and continued to apply pressure. As the opposition attempted to clear their lines Alex English was able to charge down a clearing kick and score the second try of the afternoon, again converted by Heath.

After this spell of dominance and a few changes being made, Bury took their foot off the gas and allowed Colne & Nelson back into the game, their first points of the afternoon coming from ill discipline at the break down and a converted penalty. A similar infringement shortly after resulted in the opposition number eight running in under the posts for a try, after a quick tap penalty, which was converted.
Just before the break, Bury were to add to their total with a great line break by inside centre Ben Shedwick. Having moved the ball along the line quickly from the ruck area after quick distribution from man-of-the-match scrum half, Karl Simpson, Shedwick was able to use his size advantage to muscle through the stretched defence and race over the line. This try was again converted, to continue Adam Heath's 100% record from the boot.

After the half time break Colne & Nelson were to enjoy a period of territory and possession and although the home side defence held for long periods the visitors were to score their final points of the game with a converted try.

With Heath having continued his scoring from two more penalties, Bury were to finish the afternoon with the arch-poacher Mark Campbell going in under the posts. In an afternoon where the Australian could have scored three tries from interceptions, he finally managed to get the referees approval and crossed the try line successfully and the score was converted to finish the game with a 37-17 victory for the home side.

With a few areas to be worked on and improved before next weeks opening league fixture away to Colne & Nelson, Bury's coaching team seemed pleased with their sides start to the season.