Bury V Orrell

After a very wet week, Bury faced Orrell at the Radcliffe Road ground. The recent drainage work had paid dividends and the pitch was in great condition considering the rainfall.
The game started as a pretty even affair, with both sides looking to play entertaining, running rugby. As both sides sized each other up the first break through came for Orrell who were able to move the ball quickly from the scrum and score under the posts.
Bury were not to let this faze them and began to get on top in all areas of play. From a series of infringements from the visitors, The Rams were able to make their way into the Orrell red zone curtesy of Tom Smith's boot and from a serious of drives from the forwards and backs combined Jordan Miller was able to bundle his way over the try line and open the scoring. The conversion was successfully kicked to give Bury the lead.
Spurred on by their successful and direct play, Bury were to again work their way back up field after a very well executed catch from the Orrell kick off. Following a series of infringements on the five metre line, the home side were able to increase their lead with centre Rick Rothwell barging his way over the try line following a tapped penalty being moved wide via Joe Kelly and Chris Potts. Again the conversion was kicked with ease from under the posts.
The visitors were to finish the half with a couple of penalties of their own to leave the score at 15-11 at half time.
The second half started with Orrell controlling possession of the ball and not allowing the home side to get a foothold in the game as they had in the first half. A great defensive effort began to take its toll on the Bury side and the visitors were to score a series of penalties from the accurate boot of their centre and a try out wide to regain the lead.
Again Bury were not to put their heads down and with everything to play for, were able to gain some possession and through some great interplays and carries from Jonny Allen, Oliver Frechini, George Kelly and Paul McGarreghy made their way to within striking distance. After the ball was moved from the left to the right of the pitch at pace and then back again, Ed Watkins was at hand to finish in the left hand corner. The difficult kick was again successfully converted from the boot of Tom Smith.
Still trying to play running rugby was to prove the undoing of Bury, first an interception was to cost them a try and then a dubious decision in which an isolated Orrell player was awarded a penalty which led to quick thinking and another try much to the amazement of the home side.
With the game beyond Bury, they knew that a try would give them two losing bonus points and continued to attack. Having made their way into the visitors twenty-two metres, another series of penalties led to the dismissal of the Orrell centre for a collective of infringements. Still chasing the try, Bury were to tap and go quickly through Chris Potts who was deemed to have been tipped beyond the horizontal and the dismissal of a second Orrell player. Again the ball was tapped and Rob Plant was to crash the ball up. From the resulting ruck the Orrell tight head prop was deemed to be slowing the ball which led to a third yellow card and leaving the visitors with twelve players and three minutes remaining.
Bury could not capitalise from this advantage though and the game was to end with disappointment and a score line of 21-37. Although the points would have been deserved, bury will take a lot of heart out of this performance and look to build on it next week as they face Netherall RUFC in the National Cup at Radcliffe Rd. Kick off 2:15pm.