National League Two South Redingensians 29 Bury 17 A grandstand finish almost salvaged two losing bonus points but alas it was not to be as Bury failed to score after being camped on the Rams’ try line.
In many ways Bury did not deserve to get anything from the game as they put in an error-strewn display to hand the victory to a well-drilled home side.
The opening 20 minutes saw the Rams in complete control, holding Bury in a vice-like grip. Bury did manage to thwart the Rams pack from exercising their well-rehearsed driving maul but it was costing them as a catalogue of penalties were conceded.
Finally the dam was broken on 13 minutes. Rams fly-half Humberstone, aware he had penalty advantage, cleverly chipped the ball through and left wing Connor Corrigan raced onto the ball to touch down.
Ten minutes later and Bury conceded again from a penalty. Centre Will Simpson appeared to be the victim of a dangerously high tackle, but no whistle was blown and, as the Bury players prevaricated, Rams’ prop Andy Berry took the penalty quickly and sped through a yawning gap before supplying Humberstone, who in turn passed back inside for scrum half Illingworth to score by the posts.
Bury managed to close the gap just before the break. The Wolfpack gave The Rams a dose of their own medicine, driving the ball fully 30 metres before Dwayne Corcoran’s half break gave Lord just enough space to set Will Affleck free and he jinked his way over to make it 12-5 at the break.
The home side went further ahead just five minutes into the second stanza as Andy Amor went over.
The Rams now had their tales up and with Bury continuing to concede penalties they went for the bonus point earning fourth try.
Navas was hounded at the base of a five-metre scrum and his fumble allowed Illingworth to pounce on the ball and dot down. Humberstone’s conversion made the score 26–5 with almost half an hour still to play.
Back came brave Bury, Corcoran forcing his way over from a scrum to make it 26-12. To their credit, Bury kept pressing, and Will Scholes grabbed a third try.
With two minutes left, another try would have given them two bonus points but alas, one forced pass too many went astray and that was how it ended.
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