HEATON MOOR...17

BURY...7

RFU North Lancs 1

"REVENGE is a dish best eaten cold." So it was when the host team repaid the visitors for defeat at their hands when they visited Bury before Christmas.

Bury could have been three points down after five minutes, but the Heaton Moor kicker made a hash of his effort in front of the sticks. He was to make amends though five minutes later with an easier attempt.

Bury were a much changed team from the previous week, having lost wing three-quarter McGarraghy to a broken ankle, stand-off Ian Webb with a severed tendon in his thumb, and scrum half Glynn Smith, unavailable due to work commitments, with a further two played out of position.

Moor, too, have seen some significant changes in personnel in the weeks that have elapsed since the last game, with at least four new players who were to make a significant difference.

The scoreline, to a degree, flatters Bury as they could easily have been over 20 points down in the first 15 minutes, were it not for simple handling errors Moor could have scored three tries.

Bury's first serious attempt at breaching the Moor defences came from a penalty in the bottom left corner and the crash ball was only just held up feet short of the line.

The home side's break-out was spectacular, with their New Zealand import at stand-off breaking from the 22 and looking as though he would run through the cover to score, but he had not counted on the pace of Bury wing Fielding, who dragged him down with ease.

After a shaky start Bury recovered some of their composure, but then captain John Westwood was yellow-carded for an offence, which at worst should have been a penalty and at least a set scrum. The official opted for the card and the penalty, giving Moor an easy three points.

It was poetic justice that Bury were able to take a narrow lead for a transgression by Moor, which was at least a yellow-card offence, but potentially the player should have been sent off.

Centre Sam broke clear of the cover and put a clever kick over the try-line. As he out-paced his opposite number in the chase for the touchdown he was first pushed and then tripped, the official awarded the penalty try and the conversion head-on to the posts was converted by Robinson.

Bury turned around at half-time with a one-point advantage, but faced a stiff breeze, giving the home side a definite edge. Moor opened their account in the second period with a penalty.

The next 20 minutes saw neither side stamp their name on the game.

However, with 15 minutes to go, and after a period of concerted pressure, Moor eventually crossed the line.

They added to this with a penalty. Full-back McDougal, breaking out from his own 22, was running cross-field behind his centres to link with left wing Mark Fielding.

The official viewed it as 'crossing' and the Moor stand-off added the points to put his side 10 points clear.

Bury had two clear scoring opportunities from only five metres, but on both occasions took the wrong option and Moor ran down the clock.

After the two recent wins, expectations were high. The team played for 60 minutes with commitment, however, had Moor taken their early opportunities they could have at least doubled their score.

BURY: Smyth, Sheppey, Tattersall, Kennedy, Smithson, Westwood (C), Laughton, Robinson, Livesey, Chester, Bailey, McDermott, Elliott, Fielding, McDougal. Sub: Kelly (for Sheppey, 55)

Tomorrow sees Burnage visit the Radcliffe Road ground kick-off 2.30 pm. In the first league match of the season Bury lost narrowly, having had the game won twice.