Bury Squeeze Home at Silcock Park

The post match beers must have tasted just that bit better for Bury on Saturday as they overcame what was a 11 point deficit to snatch victory in the final minutes from a stunned Clitheroe XV.

After a comfortable win against the same side in the cup on the opening day of the season perhaps the home support could be forgiven in thinking, or hoping, more of the same.
It was not to be and Bury made the most of it and aided and abetted by some crass mistakes from the home side, inflicted revenge.

A glorious late summer day for rugby and it was Bury who opened the scoring rather ominously finding space out wide. [0-5] Clitheroe were stung into action and an excellent series of drives got them within a yard and scrum half Nathon Burns wriggled over [5-5].
No extras for either kicker but Bury were successful with a penalty after 20 minutes to retake the lead[5-8].
Not to be outdone another good build up from Clitheroe saw them camped under the Bury sticks and Josh Malkinson used his size to good effect to crash over. Burns converted [12-8].
Undaunted Bury again stuck back with a try just before the interval to give them a slender half time lead [12-13].

The first 20 minutes of the 2nd half was all Clitheroe as they attacked strongly. Some panicked defending on their own line caused Bury to attempt a wild clearance kick; which comically went straight up and down - right into the grateful arms of Oscar Duck - who only had to fall over for the try. Extras over [19-13] A penalty from Burns further stretched the lead [22-13] .
But Bury just wouldn't be buried and returned with a try to close the gap [22-18].

The game was still anyone's and when Will Tattersall scored a converted try [29-18] perhaps the home fans thought it was, at last, in the bag.

With only 10 minutes remaining Bury cranked up the pressure and scored another to close the gap [29-25] to an uncomfortable four points.
Just minutes on the clock and Bury with their tails up and all the momentum again found a way over the Clitheroe line [29-30].
Moments later the ref blew for no side and it was the visitors who jumped for joy as the maroons players were left deflated.

Maybe not the end of the world. There was some good play from the home team especially in the first half but the last half hour was really one not to not forget, but not to be repeated.
Fair play to Bury for their tenacious play and we hope to meet again in the second half of the season.

No game for the 1sts next week. But is Cup, or Lancashire Bowl, action next up at Silcock Park; when De la Salle RUFC are the visitors again on October 5th.