The old cliche, "a game of two halves," describes this one between Bury and strugglers Blackpool perfectly.

Bury won the pre-Christmas encounter in Blackpool easily, although the tight scoreline bore no resemblance to the difference between the two sides.

But there is a disturbing pattern emerging in Bury's recent games, that of questioning the decisions of the match official.

whilst almost accepted routinely in soccer, in rugby, be it league or union, it gets you precisely nowhere. arguably marginal decisions are more likely to be given against you.

To emphisise the point Bury gave away two penalties in the first 10 minutes, both for dissent, Blackpool being successful in the second of these.

The home side then replied in the 14th minute with a penalty from 30 metres, following a high tackle from the visitors.

The game came alive in the 20th minute when Bury, following a succession of a five-metre scrums, were eventually awarded a penalty try, the conversion a formality.

The Bury set-scrum, particularly in the front five, was totally dominant.

Eight minutes later, again following a succession of forward drives, scrum-half Matt Boyd released his three-quarters and centre Harvey Leeming cruised over for a converted try.

Bury then wrapped up the half with another fine try.

A poor clearance from the visitors' full-back was gathered by wing three-quarter John Johnson, who committed the cover and flicked the ball out to full-back Paul McGarraghy backing up, who crossed for an unopposed try.

With a 24-point lead going into the second period there was no reason why Bury should not have won by a margin of at least 50.

However, a combination of complacency and the visitors raising their game meant this was not to be.

Coach John Hargreaves had made some tactical substitutions, bringing on John Westwood for Rick Roberts, and John Sheppey for Sid Butt.

It didn't seem to gel and Bury never seriously threatened the Blackpool line, although some fine passing moves down the three-quarters saw at least four good scoring opportunities go beging.

It took untill the 73rd minute before Bury were to add to their half-time total. It was a very well worked and intuitive try, involving scrum-half Livesey, having taken over from Boyd, stand-off Ian Webb and lock-forward Lawton.

Having been awarded a line-out seven metres from the line, Livesey took the quick throw-in, Webb received and fed inside to Lawton who made all of eight metres to score.

This was the high point of a disappointing second period.

Blackpool need to do some serious work if they are to avoid relegation, both with the existing personnel and any recruits they can raise.

The introduction of coach Barry John Mather, a great rugby league player, both at club and international level, can only benefit the club.

Apart from the minor glitch earlier this season, non of which was the players" fault, it would be a pity to see them go down.

BURY: Roberts, Butt, Marshall, Hargreaves, Lawton, Hargreaves, Robinson(c), Smithson, Boyd, Webb, Johnson, Chester, Leeming, Fielding, McGarraghy. Replacements: Westwood (for Roberts, 40) Sheppey (for Butt, 40), Livesey (for Boyd, 57).