THE Holy Grail of the league title is within touching distance for Bury.

With six games now remaining, this win over closest rivals Rochdale III has stretched their lead to 102 points.

Consequently a win against Village Prestwich will secure the nine points needed to ensure promotion.

If they can garner 19 points in the process they will also seal the championship.

Bury have been making light work of the opposition in recent weeks and whilst they were on top away to Rochdale, the scoreboard did provide a measure of comfort for the home side.

Only captain Stu Garnett recorded a 3-0 win this week. Bury's number two kicked things off at Rochdale with a mightily impressive performance against Steve Slowick, never dropping his guard after powering to the first set 9-2.

The following sets were equally comfortable 9-0, 9-5.

Thereafter it was a little harder for the league leaders. Ed Black and Paul Harrison, both in the higher echelons of the league rankings followed Garnett, and both had to come from behind to clinch their victories in the deciding set.

Harrison in particular showed great tenacity to overturn a 2-1 deficit in some style against Paul Slater. Sam Leach was not at his best in this game and never found his usual level of fluency, being brushed aside in three sets to give Rochdale a glimmer of hope in their pursuit of Bury.

With the match result safe, Steve Creegan found himself two nil down in the final match.

There was no coasting for Bury's in form no 5 player though and he turned the game round in an eyecatching manner to strengthen his sides grip on the league table.

Rochdale III 1, Bury 4 (9 pts - 17 pts)

R Mills 2-3 v E Black (9-3, 4-9, 2-9, 9-6, 3-9); S Slowick 0-3 v S Garnett (2-9, 0-9, 5-9); P Slater 2-3 v P Harrison (9-7, 5-9, 9-7, 1-9, 5-9); G Dean 3-0 v S Leach (9-3, 9-0, 9-6); P Buckley 2-3 v S Creegan (9-2, 9-2, 5-9, 6-9, 1-9).