If the proposed league reorganisation takes place at the end of this season, in order to avoid demotion Bury must finish above halfway in the table.

This fact made the encounter with the unpredictable Bedians an important match.

Neither side dominated in the first quarter, as Bury lost stand-off Rick Roberts Junior with a blood injury in the 25th minute, temporarily replaced by his father.

During this enforced absence Bury blew a good opportunity, but then took the lead in the 28th minute.

Left wing Bob Rigby, having crossed the try-line for a certain try, was foul-tackled and the referee awarded a penalty try, routinely converted by the returning Roberts Junior.

The visitors could have narrowed the gap but missed an easy penalty attempt from 30 metres head-on to the posts, and Bury turned around with a 7-0 lead.

But within two minutes of the restart, a loose pass 20 metres out saw the opposition inside centre intercept and cruise over the try-line unopposed, easily converted.

Bedians then took two easy penalty shots to take a 7-13 lead on 51 minutes.

From that point on the game drifted away from Bury, and an unfortunate set of circumstances resulted in Bedians scoring another try.

Still, Bury refused to roll over and with five minutes remaining, a line-out 10 metres out was claimed by flanker Morgan Reidy. He linked with captain Bernard Robinson who in turn fed veteran back row Nick Smithson and he crashed over for an unconverted try.

Bury hammered at the opposition try-line in the final five minutes, but could not force the converted try that would have given them a one point win.

BURY: Marshall, Butt, Bailey, Wardle, Smith, Robinson(C), Reidy, Smithson, Coburn, Roberts, Lawton, Nuttall, Chandler, Rigby, Jones.

BURY RUFC 12 OLD BEDIANS 18