NORTH LANCS LEAGUE ONE: Trafford MV...18 Bury...8

THERE was a feeling of apprehension when visiting the Ashton-on-Mersey home of MV.

Having only won the last meeting by virtue of two injury-time scores, Bury were in no doubt about the potential of their hosts.

On a pitch that was in good condition, considering the rain of late, there was also a strong crossfield wind and pronounced slope to cope with.

None of these, in reality, were an advantage to either side, but the use of the conditions contributed to Bury's demise. The home side played the downwind touchline and were rewarded with a penalty after just five minutes when Bury encroached offside.

Only ten minutes into the game, the home side scored a fine try, again using the conditions, moving the ball up the slope and into the wind, creating a three-man overlap, which their inside centre did not need to score an unconverted try.

This shook Bury out of the torpor that gripped them and started what was to be a concentrated asault on the MV line.

Three excellent scoring opportunities went begging, the first was a lack of communication. Bury were driving forward from a set scrum five metres out and a score from No 8 forward Fawcett looked a formality.

However, scrum half Smith, in attempting to pick out the base, lost possession and MV hacked into touch to clear their lines.

Both centres Leeming and Ian Webb could have scored, but both were stopped only metres from the line.

MV had, by now, lost their momentum and, territorially, Bury enjoyed first half advantage. It was now looking as if the game was not beyond recall.

After the restart, Bury continued the pressure and left wing Rob Wardle, with a clever chip down the line, was unfortunate to see the ball slide into touch five metres from the try line.

Bury, against expectations took the line out against the throw, the drive was stopped one metre short, but MV had already been judged offside. Full back Keith Webb converted from in front of the uprights.

Bury took a set scrum against the head 20 minutes into the second half on the MV 10-metre line. Leeming sold a class dummy and opened the gap for right wing Mark Fielding, who came inside to improve the angle for the kicker and scored the point-levelling try. The conversion was missed, the ball grazing the outside of the right-hand post.

The prospect of an unexpected win, or at worst a draw, now seemed a possibility -- that was until the wheels came off.

A side cannot score if it does not win its fair share from the four pivotal aspects of the game, the set scrum, line-out, ruck and maul.

When the first two dry up completely the latter components are usually in retreat and defeat is an inevitability.

MV were to score two further tries, the first a chip over the advancing defence by the inside centre which the full back gathered on the full and scored unopposed.

The second was a crossfield passing move, outflanking the Bury defence and allowing the right wing to score in the corner.

Both scores were indirectly attributable to failure in the basics.

This Bury side is an enigma which can, in the space of a single game, inspire collectively and individually, or sink into mediocrity.

BURY: Roberts, Whitehead, Marshall, Smith A, Kennedy, Westwood (c), Fawcett, Robinson, Smith G, Loftus, Wardle, Leeming, Webb I, Fielding, Webb K. Replacements: Boyd (for Smith A, 10 mins).

Tomorrow Bury entertain unbeaten league leaders Fleetwood at Radcliffe Road (kick-off 2.30pm).