Bury V Burnley

Bury returned to action after two weeks of postponed games due to the weather's impact on the pitches. With their new shirts; sponsored by live music venue and bar 'Monkey House' and the arrival of New Zealand centre Tai Tupou, expectations and spirits were high going into their game against third placed Burnley RUFC.
The game started with both teams sizing each other up and from the early exchanges the game went to form, with Burnley racing to an eight point lead through a penalty kick and a push over try from the scrum.
After sustaining a large period of pressure and following some gargantuous tackles from the returning Ben Holland, Bury were to come to life though and with some possession and started to play some creative rugby in the same way their opponents had. With this new found belief The Rams began to make inroads into the Burnley defence and soon reduced the visitors lead to a point with a try from some great interlinking play. Following their early scrummaging issues, the Bury pack began to gain the upper edge and from a neatly worked back row move involving Rick Rothwell and Chris Potts, the ball was distributed from Tom Smith to brother Will Smith and carried up by Tai Tupou in the centres. From the quickly cleared breakdown, the ball was moved out wide via full back Luke Cleary and on to winger Alex English who was able to finish expertly under the posts. The conversion was kicked successfully.
With the score poised at 7-8, Burnley were to increase their lead before half time with another penalty for a deemed infringement at the breakdown by Bury. This left the score at 7-11 at the break and Bury sensing a great improvement in performance following a heavy defeat earlier in the season to the same opposition.
After the break the home side were to start the brighter and began to show a small amount of dominance in most areas of play. This was to show when again some expansive rugby led to Bury taking a well-deserved lead. Having taken the ball against the head through hooker Jonny Allen, the Bury scrum was to begin rolling forward. A break and charge from number eight, Ben Holland and some efficient rucking from locks Mark Blain and Oliver Frechini, allowed for the ball to be distributed to winger Dom Bennett, who in turn fed a sublime ball back inside for flanker Chris Potts to score out to the right of the posts. Again the conversion was put over with ease by Tom Smith.
With the score now at 14-11, the game was to become a nervous affair for all involved. More indiscipline at the ruck allowed Burnley to score and bring the scores level with around twenty minutes to go.
Following more positive play, possession and territory, Bury were to regain their lead with a penalty from full-back, Luke Cleary, in front of the Burnley sticks.
Burnley were to respond with another try and two penalties.This was to dash the Bury dreams of a deserved victory to end the year and showed the visitor's clinical edge and as to why they are so highly placed in the league table.
Although a defeat of 17-25, Bury will take great heart from the improvements shown this week and will now strive to build on this performance when they resume after the Christmas break against table toppers Trafford MV away on the 9th of January (2:15pm kick-off).

Andy Townsend