Bury...3

Fleetwood...15

THE match between league leaders Fleetwood and second-placed Bury had all the ingredients of a first-rate clash writes MIKE JONES.

Bury were out to prove that their position has been achieved on merit, and the visitors were keen to maintain their unbeaten run.

In this match sponsored by Michael Wood Homes the first point was proven, Bury are second by right and Fleetwood, though good are vulnerable and with a little good fortune the scoreline might have been reversed.

The Bury groundstaff had produced a playable surface, managing to completely roll the pitch to provide reasonable underfoot conditions.

It was however the 35 mph wind blowing end-to-end that would play the major role with Bury having that advantage in the first half.

The home side kept Fleetwood pinned back in their own half, but wasted easy scoring opportunities in the sixth and 10th minutes when penalties from only 20 metres were missed.

The visitors opened their account in the 22nd minute in what was to be their only incursion into the Bury 22. Bury were deemed to have not released on the floor after being tackled and the conversion from 15 metres out head on to the posts was easily taken.

Bury went back to their siege tactics and given another shot from 20 metres it was now full back Keith Webb who failed to convert.

From the restart it was obvious to the spectators from both camps that Bury were unlikely to secure a half-time lead. Fleetwood were to score the first of their two tries when Bury centre Harvey Leeming, going down the right wing, had his pass to a support player intercepted, the ball was moved completely across field by the Fleetwood threequarters and the Fleetwood right winger made 60 metres to outpace the cover and score an unconverted try in the corner.

Bury were denied a try by the referee when prop forward Ian Marshall was judged not to have grounded the ball. This was not in fact the case. The match official having controlled the game well up to this point, now decided to start shuffling his red and yellow cards.

Bury flank forward Robinson was sin-binned for ten minutes for a professional foul and Fleetwood's scrum half for deliberate obstructrion.

Bury reduced the margin to five points in the last stages of the first half when Keith Webb converted a penalty in front of the sticks.

The second half was a testament to sheer bloody-mindedness by the home side.

The script should have been that given the advantage of the conditions and the pace of their threequarter line, a hatful of tries should have resulted. This was not to be. Denied possession by the Bury pack and ferocious tackling by forwards and backs alike, Bury enjoyed more territorial advantage even against the wind and more scoring opportunities.

It fell to a piece of outrageous good fortune to allow Fleetwood the only score in the second period. Their out half being unable to reach a pass from his scrum half close to the Bury 22, took a wild kick at the ball, made a slight contact and with the wind assisting, cleared the advancing cover and was able to touch down for an easily converted try.

Man of the match was Bury skipper John Westwood who captained in the style of Lancashire and England skipper Bill Beaumont. To quote his team-mate Steve Smith: "He puts his head where other people wouldn't put their boot."

BURY: Smyth, Whitehead, Marshall, Kennedy, Smithson, Westwood (c), Fawcett, Robinson, Smith G, Loftus, Stott, Webb I, Leeming, Wardle, Webb K. Replacements: Freschini (for Leeming 23 mins).

Tomorrow Bury visit Thornton Cleveleys to continue their league programme (kick-off 2.30pm).