NORTH LANCS/CUMBRIA - Oldham...39pts Bury...3pts - BURY never looked likely to win this game against league leaders and local rivals Oldham.

They were outplayed in all aspects, with the possible exception of set scrummaging.

Bury showed individual commitment, without doubt, but there is no cohesion and leadership to allow them to progress, even against teams not of the same calibre as Oldham, but who should be brushed aside without a thought.

Captain John Westwood is a committed leader, but his gung-ho style, reminiscent of officers in the First World War going over the top and losing the lives of both themselves and their men, only to be scythed down by enemy fire will not in rugby terms achieve the goal of this season that of consolidation in this higher division.

Bury were to enjoy a strongh wind at their backs in the first half and superb underfoot conditions. Their hosts having transformed the playing surface by installing a very expensive and highly efficient drainage system.

They were, however, unable to capitalise on the territorial advantage and convert it into points. The exception being a lone penalty from flanker Robinson late in the half. Oldham only made three serious attempts at the Bury line, but were to score tries on both occasions.

The first came from a simple tap penalty move from ten metres out taken quickly and catching Bury retiring and flat-footed.

The second coming ten minutes before the interval from a simple line-out move from 15 metres with a good throw and take pulled down to form the driving maul and the flank forward rolling off the side to touchdown.

Bury were unfortunate to lose the services of stand off Botha, who had already made one 40-yard burst and seemed Bury's most likely chance of scoring.

A kick on the head which resulted only in a penalty, saw him withdraw, but return to the field five minutes after the half-time interval.

After the resumption Oldham applied what Bury lacked, speed of thought, appraisal of the situation and lethal execution.

This resulted in five second half tries of which fortunately only two were converted. In defence of some players, particularly Robinson, Smithson and Smyth, Bury were not playing as an integrated unit. You need to score points to win and Bury seemed to have lost the knack of scoring tries.

The problems that Bury are having can be cured on the practice ground and applying the lessons learnt to actual matches. They could do worse than use Oldham as a role model.

BURY: Tattersall, Kelly, Smyth, Kennedy, Roberts, Westwood (c), Lawton, Robinson, McDougall, Botha, C Wardle, McDonagh, McGarraghy, Fielding, R Wardle. Replacements: Fawcett, Smithson.