Challenging test for the away team ends in a great performance win!

Even with the difference of league positions, Bury knew that it would be a testing challenge, especially with the rugby league season yet to get under way. In a bruising encounter, the visitors were not only to secure a 5-26 point win, but gain an essential four try bonus point also.

The game started with the visitors receiving the ball from the kick off and Bury showed their intent on playing a very physical game based around the rucking, mauling and scrummaging of the Union code. This took the control away from the home side and from the first scrum the Bury pack displayed their dominance, marching the Newton pack backwards off their own ball, allowing the Bury backs to be released and attack the home side's 22 metre line. In this sweeping move involving scrum half Dan Palmieri, fly half Adam Heath and Centres Rick Roberts Jnr and George Kelly, the ball was played back inside to full back Callum Paton, who was hit with a typically rugby league challenge and could no longer continue in the game. This meant that winger Matthew Hindley had to drop to full back, versatile lock Alex English to the wing and the entrance of Christopher Potts into the second row. From the resulting steady scrum number eight Ben Holland was able to charge at the Newton Le Willows try line and score the opening points of the game. This score was easily converted by Adam Heath to give the visitors a 0-7 lead.

The home side were to respond in the expected fashion, with big strong runners they made their way in to Bury half and continued to chip away. Whilst being met with some thunderous tackles, Newton were able to run a well worked move through their back line and a missed tackle in the bottom corner allowed them to score their only points of the game, an unconverted try.

Shortly after conceding and looking to regain a better score advantage, the ball was played out left from Palmieri, through the hands of Heath, Roberts and Kelly, to winger Warren Bluer. again a dubious tackle was to end his afternoon having resulted in a knee injury. This meant that Bury were to be stretched further in terms of their resources and usual hooker, Cameron Bagnall, had to fill in on the wing.

Playing up hill, Bury continued with their game plan and worked hard to control set pieces and ensure tight play. With a few penalty opportunities missed by the visitors, the half ended at 5-7 and allowed Bury to play down hill in the second half.

Pleased with their first half performance and ability to control the play, Bury knew that they needed to make their dominance show on the scoreboard. From the kick off Bury were to gain possession and territorial advantage in the Newton 22 metres. Following great work from the Bury pack led by captain Jonny Allen, steering a maul powered by locks Mark Blain and hooker Alan Dobson, a slick passing move by the backs allowed Adam Heath to glide in under the posts for the visitors second try of the afternoon. Again Heath was able to convert with ease making the score 5-14.

With a definite step up in intensity by Bury it was only a matter of time before they increased their lead again. With total dominance in all aspects of set play, Bury changed their tactic of kicking penalties for the posts to kicking for territory through line outs in the home side's corners.

From a line out Bury were to drive towards the Newton line, with some cynical play the maul was brought down leaving a pile of bodies. The ball was recycled and crashed forwards several times, before burrowing prop, Lee Slingsby, was driven over the line by locks Chris Potts and Mark Blain and with excellent positioning of the referee, the try was granted leaving the visitors with three tries and requiring another for a bonus point win. The score was narrowly missed and left the score at 5-21.

After a driving maul being pulled down illegally, Bury were to opt for the scrum, just outside the Newton Le Willows 5 metre line. With props Lee Slingsby and Andy Townsend giving hooker Alan Dobson an arm-chair ride, the tight five were again to shunt the Newton pack backwards before they disintegrated. The referee having seen Ben Holland ground the ball for the try, decided that a penalty try was required and thus making the kick for Heath easier. This brought the score to 5-26 and secured the bonus point win for the visitors.

Bury now return to the cup and play a home fixture next Saturday the 14th of February at Radcliffe road against fellow promotion rivals Eagle, kick off at 2:15pm.

Match Repoty by Andy Townsend