Carlisle...29pts Bury...5pts

TRAVELLING north on the M6 in torrential rain, prospects of the game taking place were fading fast, writes MIKE JONES.

The pitch conditions were, to say the least debatable, but credit to the Carlisle club and an understanding referee, the game started on schedule.

Bury were almost made to suffer in the opening minute, but the home side's initial assault on the line was only stopped by some fine tackling and stand-off Glyn Smith was able to kick Bury to safety.

Bury, surprisingly, were a good match for Carlisle's strengths and worked their way back into their opponents 22.

After a succession of set scrums, captain John Westwood, aided by his pack, was able to roll off a maul to open the scoring with an unconverted try after ten minutes. Kicker Smith just missed the conversion from wide out.

All in all, not a day for place kickers. From a technical point of view, if you can't get a steady platform with the plant foot, your chances of success are almost reduced to zero. It's like trying to hit a golf shot with the ball rolling away from you.

Carlisle were stunned and Bury were in the ascendancy when that thing a team needs, a bit of luck, deserted them. A set scrum on the Bury 10-metre line saw the ball squirt out of the side of the scrum and was fly-hacked upfield by Carlisle's stand-off Jamie Cook.

Left wing Paddy McDonnell was following up. He added his foot to the ball and as it slithered over the line, he managed to touchdown for an unconverted try.

Bury lost the services of centre Callum McDougall in the 20th minute with a head wound that needed 11 stitches. Needless to say, he did not return to the fray.

Andy Hunt replaced him at blindside flank, with Bernard Robinson and Martin Freschini alternating at either centre or openside flank.

Bury's resistance was breached in the dying moments of the first half when Carlisle centre Simon Little took a pass that was at least three metres forward.

As Bury checked for the obvious infringement, the referee saw fit to ignore it and awarded the try under the posts, which was easily converted, despite the conditions.

In fairness, it was an embarrassment to the Carlisle committee and supporters, with whom the writer was sitting.

Turning with only a seven-point advantage, the game should have been up for grabs, however, Bury were burning out as five of the players, who tried their hearts out, were finding things tough after moving up to the first team from the lower orders.

Bury were to concede tries in the 10th, 14th and 20th minutes of the second half, only one of which was converted. However, even Carlisle were now starting to feel the pace and Bury found their second wind in the last 15 minutes.

They could have scored on two occasions, but with the ball like a bar of soap, vital passes did not go to hand.

Their efforts were not helped by losing second row Martin Kennedy for a yellow card infringement. The referee was technically correct, having issued a general warning to both sides for entering the loose from the side, he warned that the next person infringing must walk. A pity he penalised the wrong player.

This just about sums up his competence as even the Carlisle contingent agreed that his performance was less than adequate.

Special mention for Andy Hunt, normally third team captain, playing out of position at a pace to which he is not accustomed, but his performance was excellent.

The hospitality at Carlisle was superb, just a pity about the result.

BURY: Tattersall, Westwood (cpt), Holland, Lawton, Kennedy, Robinson, Smithson, Freschini, L McDougall, Smith, Kyle, Leeming, C McDougall, A Wardle, McGarraghy. Replacements: Hunt (for C McDougall 20 mins).

Tomorrow Bury make the short trip to Rossendale (kick-off 3pm).