Bury 15 - Burnage 7

BURY turned out on a wet and wide Burnage pitch at Parrs Wood, but could not take advantage of the conditions because of ring rust brought on by partying over the festive season and not training enough to compensate.

This lack of training showed as early as the first minute when, from their own kick-off, Smithson burst down the centre, but was hauled down, with no support, metres from the line, allowing Burnage an easy clearance kick, when

Bury should have been seven points clear with 79 minutes to play.

The local side continued to control both possession and position throughout the first half but were unable to turn these advantages to points.

After only five minutes more Marsh was tripped with a clear run on the 22 metre line, but Bury failed to convert.

They continued in attacking vein in the Burnage half, but bad decision making, players shouting for the ball when not in position, and lack of back-up saw many more chances going begging.

After 25 minutes Bury took yet another ball against the head in the set scrum allowing Freschini to run through in the centre and score with two opposition players still clinging to his back, Webb converted then kicked a penalty and it was 0 - 10 to Bury.

The local side continued to dominate the play and it was only when the homesters got into the Bury half for the second time on 40 minutes that they were awarded a penalty 20 metres out.

They ran the ball and for some unknown reason the Bury defence parted down the middle just like the biblical sea, the Burnage centre scoring under the posts. Five points and an easy conversion seven point right on half time. This was the first time that the Bury tackling

had been at fault, scant reward for effort as point tally was only 7 - 10 in Bury's favour.

The second half was a repeat performance but with the Bury scrum more and more dominant as the game wore on.

They walked the opposition scrum back at some of the set scrums, and ran them back at others.

At the mid point of the half A. Smith replaced I. Webb due to injury, and the team had to be rejigged.

Bury won the high kicking game. Following one of these kicks Burnage attempted to run out of defence only to have Marsh strip the ball from them on the half way line.

A lack of gas meant that he was in danger of being caught, when he gave a good pass to Fielding on the wing, who made the last 22 metres look easy. This five points was the last score of the match.

Bury must learn to play to the foibles of the referee for any given game, and adapt accordingly.

As this game showed five penalty decisions were reversed to Burnage favour, because they did not follow the referees' strictures on talking.

They had been warned. If the referee wants the game to be played by Trappist monks, then so be it. At least 15 points were thrown away.

A further 15 points, or more, were there for fitter players. It could easily have been 7 - 40 in Burys favour, ignoring missed kicks. Bury are well placed to go up a league at the end of the season, but will come straight down again if these failings are not addressed.

BURY: Smythe, Whitehead, Marshall; Kennedy, Smithson: Westwood (capt), Freschini, Robinson: Smith G, Webb I; Ward, Marsh, Leeming, Fielding; Webb K. Subs: Smith A (60 min), Roberts.