Bury v Mossley Hill 36-22

In their first competitive game of the season Bury RUFC travelled to Mossley Hill in the first round of the Alan Stone Lancashire Bowl.
With a young team, featuring six of the senior colts team from last year, Bury started brightly and led by captain Alan Dobson, put pressure on the home team try line. Impressive work from back rows Jordan Miller and Ed Watkins. interlinking moves from Will Smith, Joe Kelly and a back line of Leo Frechini, Dominic Bennett, Gabriel Bryant, Sam Norris and Kio Rostiaman could not unlock the home side's defence.
On the quarter hour mark the home side kicked the ball upfield to clear their line and from a series of errors Mossley Hill were able to score the first try of the afternoon. The conversion was kicked from just under the posts.
Eager to capitalise on their territory and possession, Bury were to reply swiftly. Having won a scrum against the head, Bury were able to work the ball on the blind side of the scrum and with swift handling from Alex English, Ed Watkins was able to score, dancing through a broken defence. The conversion was narrowly missed from a difficult angle.
The home side were to score again after a mistake at a ruck close to the Bury line allowed Mossley Hill to increase their lead to 12-5 with the conversion missed.
Bury's never-say-die spirit was to show again just before the interval and with slick hands. Following powerful running by Izra Asif and clinical rucking by Cameron Bagnall and Mark Blain, the ball was quickly distributed by Will Smith and worked round the defence for Alex English to score 5 metres in on the right hand side of the pitch. The difficult conversion was kicked successfully by fly half Joe Kelly.
With the scores tied at 12-12 the sides were to switch ends and Bury were to play up hill in the second half. From the Kick off Alex English was to be met by the oncoming home side pack and after bravely maintaining possession, was unable to continue, replaced by James Swinburn.
In a now tense affair tempers were to start to flair, after a few minor scuffles the referees patience was beginning to be tested and on the 50th minute the home side were to be reduced to fourteen players for fighting.
Bury were to return to playing rugby after showing that they weren't to be intimidated by Mossley Hill and were to score from some direct running by James Swinburn. Having worked the ball from right to left, James was to crash over the try line between the posts, with two defenders on his back. The conversion was kicked to give Bury the lead.
Mossley Hill were to rally again and scored another try on the wing, the difficult conversion was kicked and the scores were once again tied at 19 all. With quarter of an hour remaining the home side were informed that a draw would see the away team progress in the competition, this lead to a greater impetus for the home team to regain the lead. This was done after the Bury back line were judged to be off side and from the resulting penalty Mossley Hill took a three point lead.
Bury now needing another score were to score next through substitute Stuart Swinburn having picked up on a loose ball from the back of a home side ruck and finish under the posts unchallenged. The drop goal conversion was missed but the visitors lead was regained.
With three minutes remaining Bury were to book their place in the next round of the cup and with an 80 metre break from James Swinburn finishing under the posts and giving him a brace of tries for the afternoon the visitors were to leave the victors with a final score of 36-22.
Bury will start their league campaign in Lancashire North Division next Saturday 5th September against Thornton Cleveley's at the Radcliffe Road ground, kick off 3pm.