BURY overcame their usual early jitters away from home to record their first win on the road this season.The team at Westcliff had a more settled look, following the comprehensive win over Chingford the previous week.

Westcliff 12 Bury 17

BURY overcame their usual early jitters away from home to record their first win on the road this season.

The team at Westcliff had a more settled look, following the comprehensive win over Chingford the previous week.

Hall was back at lock and ex-Colt White took over the full-back's berth.

It was the home team that settled first, Bury displaying their characteristic away nerves that have blighted them all season, and after a period of sustained pressure the home scrum half Odediran exploited a gap in the Bury defence to score, converted by Lemon. Bury then lost their own scrum on half way, the right wing made good ground and Bury were penalised for slowing the ball. A quick tap penalty saw Westcliff spin the ball wide for their winger Radley to cross in the corner, giving the home team a 12-0 lead.

Bury then settled, and started to display some of their exciting attacking rugby that have thrilled the crowds at the Haberden this season. Cross won a good line out ball, it was swiftly moved into midfield, and Turner took an exquisite pop pass from Brown to split the Westcliff defence and score, successfully converted by Beukies. The visitors continued their attacking rugby, and Beukies kicked a penalty to take the score to 12-10 at half time.

The second half saw Bury producing some good spells of rugby, although the coaches still felt that the mantle of earlier away defeats this season continued to stifle their play. Van den Berg then produced a clean break in midfield, and Brown was on his shoulder to take the scoring pass, successfully converted by Beukies to give the visitors a 12-17 lead.

The last twenty minutes saw a scrappy pattern develop, with the home team desperate to score, and Bury seemingly unable to produce the confidence to create furthur scoring oppurtunities. The match ended with the home winger Radley looking certain to score on two occasions, but outstanding defence from Brown and Van den Berg prevented Westcliff from snatching a late winner.

Bury will take huge encouragement from this hard fought victory, and will now make the long trip to Portsmouth for the next round of the EDF cup in good spirits.