BURY ROBBED IN "FERGUSON-ESQUE" ADDED TIME FIASCO!

Owing to the amount of time that it has taken the writer to pen this article (despite the attention grabbing tongue-in-cheek nature of the headline!) the details have faded somewhat and, along with that, so have the feelings of aggrievement and distress!

In their second match of the season, Bury approached the game with some confidence, following their Lancashire Cup victory the previous week and, as this was a friendly match, it gave the opportunity to allow more playing time for the boys who could not be included in the previous week’s squad.

However, Bury were the slower to start and conceded a try after only 4 minutes, the Bolton pack dominating in the loose with some simple, but effective, forward dominated moves. Bury, though, were guilty of allowing them too much room around the fringes and too often backed away from the tackle, playing straight into the visitors’ hands.

More forward domination from Bolton saw them score a try after 15 minutes, following a line-out some 10 metres out. As with the first conversion attempt, though, the extra 2 points went begging.

It was obvious that Bolton were a much improved side from the previous year and some tactical substitutions were made, to add more steel. This paid dividends almost immediately, with a typical Joe Kelly solo effort, scoring a try in the corner. Smith converted a fantastic effort, from the touchline to make the score at half time 7-10.

As Bolton had turned up 3 players short, the hosts had lent them 3 players, to make the game as meaningful as possible and, ultimately it was this that was to lead to their downfall as, during the break, fly-halves Holt and Eady swapped shirts, with Holt donning the Bury colours and Eady those of Bolton.

After the re-start, a full-strength Bury side made the livelier start and Kelly scored another try after 6 minutes, again converted by Smith to put them ahead for the first time, 14-10.

Bury continued to press and what should have been a try-scoring opportunity went begging in a moment of confusion, when the ball was knocked on. From the resultant possession, Bolton resumed their supremacy in the loose and when the ball came out to Eady near the Bury 10 metre line, he stepped off his right foot, cut inside his opposite number and burst through to score under the posts (Eady1, Holt 0). The 2 points were converted by Bolton’s best player, their srum half, “Jack”.

Kelly replied with another try, again ably converted by Smith, to put them 21-15 ahead, with just under 10 minutes to go.

However, the pendulum swung again and Bolton scored another unconverted try to put them just 1 point behind, with about 7 minutes remaining. However, Kelly again showed his class and scored his 4th try of the match, this time, though, the conversion was missed, giving Bury a 26-20 lead, with only 3 minutes remaining (remember, 3 minutes!).

A determined Bolton side applied more pressure up front, which Bury soaked up well, with some equally determined last ditch defence. Then, after some 5, or 6, or even 7, minutes has elapsed, and they eventually wrestled possession back, Bury put the ball into touch, expecting the full time whistle to sound.

However, for reasons known only to him, the Italian referee (Martin “Frec” The Ref) decided not to blow for time and to allow Bolton one last attacking chance, which they took gratefully, against a confused home side. A series of pick-and-drives down the left touch line exposed some weak attempted tackles and they scored in the corner. The Bolton scrum-half, taking a leaf out of Smith’s book, converted a fine effort, to give Bolton a 27-26 winning score on what was a very entertaining and well-contested match.

However, whilst a loss on paper, and ever to put a positive spin on things, Bury will take the moral victory as it was their player, in fly-half Eady’s try, which was the difference!

JL