Opening League Game win for bury 1st team

In a return fixture following their cup win against Colne & Nelson the previous week, Bury travelled up to Colne & Nelson looking to repeat the victory in their opening league fixture.

With conditions not suited to Bury's expansive, free-flowing game, they were forced to adopt a more cavalier approach. After an early infringement from the Colne & Nelson pack, captain James Swinburn opted to kick for the corner, looking for Bury to assert their forward dominance early on. From the resulting line out, Bury went to the middle of the line and with a quick drive positioned themselves deep in the Colne & Nelson 22. After a controlled surge forward second row Wayne Elloway was able to peel from the back of the maul and scamper over the line for the early try. Adam Heath converted to give Bury a seven point lead.

With the sides evenly matched for the remainder of the half Bury were to turn after half-time and benefit from the conditions with an eagerness to expand their slender lead. They didn't need to wait long and with a flowing backs move and good support from the forwards, James Swinburn was able to burst up the middle of the pitch and score under the sticks. The try was easily converted by Adam Heath.

Bury's third try was to come from fast hands across the back line following a driving maul set up by the forwards, sucking in most of the Colne defence. The textbook move was finished on the wing by Samuel Ware. The try again converted by Adam Heath.

After increasing their lead, Bury were to then endure a strong period from the home side and after soaking up the pressure and only conceding three points, Bury were to find themselves back in Colne & Nelson's 22. From a strong Bury scrum, cleanly hooked ball from Cameron Bagnall found its way to inside centre Matthew Hindley. He was able to break the gain line before alluding the oncoming tackles and offload to his partner Lawrence Shedwick who finished with flare and sealed a bonus point win. With a 100% kicking record the Bury supporters had great confidence in Adam Heath, but this kick proved one too far for the fly-half and a blot on a near perfect afternoon for the young man.

Not to let his first miss of the season affect him, Heath was instrumental in the final Bury try of the afternoon. As tempers boiled over on the left hand side of the pitch between the forwards, Bury's backs retained their cool and a pin point kick from Adam Heath found the advancing Samuel Ware, who collected the ball, beat the scrambling defence and went over the line to finish a good afternoon off in style. The conversion was made and left the final score at 3-33 in favour of the visitors.

This week Bury return to their temporary pitch on the Derby High School were they face Crosby St. Mary's in a 3pm kick-off.