Bury secure a narrow victory over Clitheroe

With a spate of recent injuries, Bury were to play the game with an under strength side. This was not to show in the opening ten minutes of the game as Bury pressed the opposition five metre line in attempt to open the scoring. As the visitors defended for their lives Bury thought they had broken the deadlock with a try from Jordan Miller, only for the referee do disallow it having not seen the grounding, after he had fallen in a collision with a Clithroe player in the build up.

As Bury continued to press, scrum half Karl Simpson was to be knocked out and could not take any further part in the game. This saw outside centre George Kelly move to scrum half and the introduction of Matthew Russell to outside centre alongside Declan Hampson, the usual hooker, playing at inside centre.

After a large amount of pressure and possession, the first score of the game came against the run of play and Clitheroe were to take the lead with a penalty for a deemed infringement at the breakdown. With a 0-3 lead the visitors were to continue to be put under pressure. Although lighter per man in the scrum, the Bury front row were working in tandem with Jake Greenalgh, Alan Dobson and Andy Townsend taking four balls against the head in succession.

Bury were to be rewarded for their efforts with a try through speedster Sam Ware. After a serious of infringements from Clitheroe, Bury opted to kick the ball into the corner for the line out. After a clean catch and drive orchestrated by Christopher Potts and Ed Watkins, the ball was moved across through fly half Adam Heath to inside centre Declan Hampson, who crashed the ball into the heart of the visitors defence. The ball was quickly recycled with great rucking from Jordan Miller and Callum Jackson and fed to Sam Ware who was able to dance around his opposite number and fullback to score in the corner. The conversion was easily kicked by Adam Heath.

Clitheroe were to again respond against the run of play with another penalty before the interval after another deemed infringement. With a 7- 6 lead Bury were to lose their replacement scrum half, George Kelly with a rib injury. In a reshuffle Declan Hampson was to fill in at scrum half, captain Jonny Allen moved out of the back row and into the centres. This saw the return of former captain, Rob Plant to the action after a few years away from the game. Although having gained a few pounds, his impact was almost instant and after a rampaging run toward the try line the referee was to deem foul play at the ruck and award a penalty try. The conversion was missed.

Bury were to increase their lead with a penalty conversion following another infringement from the visitors at the breakdown, taking the score to 15-6. This was to then occur in reverse for the score to stand at 15-9.

Bury's bad luck with injuries was to then continue as winger Sam Ware was to be lost to a knee injury and winger Elliott Naylor through a suspected broken collar bone. With back rows Alex English covering one wing and Callum Jackson the other. With only Callum Patton the natural back, Bury were vulnerable in defence and this was exposed by the Clithroe fullback who outpaced the defence to set up a nail biting finish. With the score at 15-14, the Clitheroe fly half missed the conversion and Bury were awarded a much deserved victory.

Bury will now face Crosby St Mary's away, in their last fixture before the Christmas break. Kick off at 2:15pm.

Andy Townsend