Fresh from their rip-roaring second-half display at Canterbury last weekend, which yielded four unanswered tries in a 29-21 victory in Kent, Bury St Edmunds entertain Clifton at The Haberden today (3pm).

Up to sixth in the National League Two South table, Bury have a great chance to cement a top-five position over the next three matches against Clifton (12th) Henley Hawks (eighth) and London Irish Wild Geese (11th), before they go into a tough set of three fixtures against Redingnensians Rams (fourth), Chinnor (second) and Cinderford (third) during the month of December.

“Canterbury are a good side and they have had some decent wins, so that was a good result,” explained Bury head coach Ollie Smith.

“I have to say, though, that if we had been playing one of the top-four sides, then we would probably have lost heavily.

“The performance was basically not good enough, if we want to be up there, challenging.

“But we’ve had some really good results lately. Most teams have played each other now, so it’s shaping up, though obviously there’s always the odd crazy result.

“I don’t think we are far off.

“The next two months, and the next six games, are the key to our whole season.

“Our next three matches are all winnable, if we play to be our best, but then again we could potentially lose them all if we don’t perform.

“If we can win these next three games, and keep building up momentum, then it sets us up for the next three tough games against tougher opposition.

“We have set ourselves targets and we want to be competitive.

“Clifton have had a few good results, and they scored 33 points against leaders Taunton (43-33 home defeat) last weekend.

“Henley are a bit hit-and-miss, and we’ve then got London Irish Wild Geese at home,” added Smith.

Bury have won six of their last eight matches since their disappointing opening day 17-50 defeat to Tonbridge Juddians.

BURY team: Smith, Bixby, Greco, Scholes, Swithenbank, Mitchell, King, Edison, Anderson-Brown, Honey, Corcoran, McBride, Rouse, Osborne, Lord.

Replacements: Coutts, Silvestri, Uru, Harrison, Snelling.