Bury consolidated their third position in London Division 2 North with a workmanlike victory at Stevenage. The team is now looking a more settled unit and will look forward to the rest of the season with optimism.

Bury consolidated their third position in London Division 2 North with a workmanlike victory at Stevenage.

The team is now looking a more settled unit and will look forward to the rest of the season with optimism.

Stevenage started strongly, using the slope and the elements to put early pressure on the defence. In the fourth minute a penalty conceded by Bury six yards from their try line saw a bizarre refereeing decision make the Bury defence stand four yards behind the line, which despite protestations from the skipper led to a straightforward try for the home team. Galvanised into action Bury then started to come into the game, Chennel at scrum-half providing quick service to the backs, with Brown outstanding as a hard running dynamic centre.

A sustained period of pressure saw the home team constantly penalised, Beukies successfully kicking two penalties to give the visitors a narrow lead.

However, Stevenage responded in injury time and their heavier pack successfully drove over in the corner to re-establish the lead at the interval.

The second half saw domination by the visitors, the pace and guile of the Bury backs proving too much for the home defence. Parkes broke from the base of the scrum on the blind side and made good yards before feeding Van De Berg who drew the last defence before passing to Trede. Another player to come through the youth ranks, he scored on his first full appearance in a league match.

Constant territorial advantage allowed the visitors to display the flair that they have been achieving on the practise field, but outstanding defence from Stevenage kept the scoring down to a regular flow of penalties, all successfully converted by the ever reliable Beukies.

Bury host the Civil Service at the Haberden next weekend, and with only one point separating them in the league they will be looking to avenge their heavy defeat from earlier in the season.