Two very good defences

Barnes scored an early unconverted try; the visitors took the lead not long after and dominated the first half. Most of the second half was played in Bury's territory; early in the 4th quarter scrum pressure resulted in yellow card for a Barnes' prop then Bury's 2nd try. Barnes' 2nd came just before the end.

The visitors kicked and off and Barnes soon responded with a long kick; Bury had the ball for a couple of phases before being turned over. Barnes went wide and their no. 8 broke through strongly; the attack broke down with a pass into touch 18 metres from Bury's line. The line-out was thrown long and Barnes got the ball. After advancing with 5 recycles a basketball pass from the fly-half to the no. 8 enabled the latter to touchdown at the corner at 2½ minutes. The conversion was unsuccessful.

Barnes kept the ball from the restart then were turned over; another turnover soon got the ball back and kicked for territory. Bury then put together an exceptional set of 29 phases finished by prop Cooper scoring at the posts before 9 minutes, finally overcoming very good defence from Barnes. Fly-half Garside converted.

The visitors returned the restart with an up-and-under; Barnes' backs attacked well until the opposition forced an error to get the first scrum 13 metres from their line. At that they got a penalty and then kicked to touch to their 10 metre line. From the line-out they advanced well with 6 phases to get a penalty just outside the opposition 22 near centre field at 15 minutes and opted to kick for the posts. The kick missed and the defence touched down for a 22 drop-out.

Bury attacked again with 13 phases before being penalised 6 metres from Barnes' line for not releasing. The kick took the home team to 16 metres from halfway then an error at the line-out gave the visitors a scrum there. From it they soon went wide then chipped to touch 6 metres out; from their line-out Barnes cleared to touch 9 metres out. After the line-out they forced a turnover and went wide before an error gave Bury a put-in 30 metres out. Again Barnes were penalised in a scrum and the visitors kicked for a line-out 5 metres out. Their pack kept the ball tight but were soon penalised. Barnes' kick didn't find touch and Bury went wide only to be penalised 14 metres into the opposition half. The kick gained 16 metres then from the line-out Barnes made ground recycling 6 times to get to the 22. Bury got the ball there and cleared to touch to their 10 metre line. Barnes attacked again from their line-out; after a break by their scrumhalf, his pass for support in the 22 was caught by a defender and cleared to touch 5 metres from halfway. From the next line-out the home team released to centre and advanced before being penalised 15 metres ahead. The kicked gained 25 metres for Bury and from the line-out their pack intended to drive but Barnes offered no defence. Bury then advanced strongly with 6 mixed phases almost to the line and got a penalty 5 metres out. They kicked for a line-out and got over after recycling 3 times but were held up by good defence. They chose a scrum this time at which the defence was penalised; another scrum resulted in their free-kick. Next they went wide then recycled 6 times before being forced into touch 9 metres out. Barnes used an up-and-under from the line-out and that resulted in their scrum 26 metres out. Another up-and-under followed that Bury got shortly before being turned over. Barnes then kept the ball for 5 close phases; after those 3 kicks were exchanged leading to a line-out for the visitors at halfway. They kicked out from that for the whistle.

After Bury's second half restart kicks were exchanged before their line-out which was stolen. Barnes advanced some metres with 5 phases to another line-out for them 17 metres into the opposition half. They went wide from that then passed forward 7 metres back. The visitors went wide from that before they were turned over. Three more kicks preceded another Bury line-out close to where the last one had been. This was followed by a near vertical up-and-under that the opposition secured. Barnes kept the ball for 5 mixed phases before chipping through the line. Bury dealt with that and kicked well to touch 3 metres from halfway. Barnes went wide from the line-out then the visitors forced an error after the first recycle to get a scrum put-in 15 metres from their line. They pushed the home team's pack back to get a penalty 5 metres ahead and kicked to 13 metres from halfway. The line-out resulted in another scrum and another penalty against Barnes. The next line-out was 6 metres past halfway and the visitors had the ball for 3 phases after it before the opposition forced an error to get the ball. Barnes then kept the ball recycling 5 times before Bury forced an error to get another put-in back 8 metres inside their half. Pressure again in the scrum resulted in a 10 minutes rest for a Barnes' prop and Bury's kick took them to 28 metres from their opponents' line.

They set up a maul from the line-out and that was penalised; Barnes kicked to almost halfway and used an up-and-under after their line-out. Bury got the ball and put together 10 phases before kicking ahead. Barnes kicked back to the opposition line for a 22 drop-out. The home team soon chipped in to the 22 then the visitors kicked back long. Barnes ran the ball recycling 4 times before being penalised for crossing at the opposition 22. Bury kicked for a line-out at their 10 metre line and following that kept the ball close at first then caught the defence offside when going wider. Their kick from their half took them to 18 metres out and from this line-out they first kept the ball close then went wide and one pass sent no.8 Bursey to the corner at 23 minutes. The conversion was wide.

Bury cleared the restart to touch; Barnes took a quick line-out and kicked into the 22 where the ball was marked. The visitors cleared to touch at their 10 metre line; Barnes recovered from tapped ball at their line-out and recycled once before their scrum 18 metres back. Following that and 2 phases Bury forced an error to regain possession. They had the ball for 4 phases without advancing before an opposition scrum. From that Barnes kicked from their own half to the opposition 22. Bury soon replied with an up-and-under; Barnes secured the ball and recycled 8 times, mostly close to get a penalty 16 metres into their opponents' half. The kick didn't go into touch and resulted in a scrum back. From it the visitors kept the ball for 4 close phases before using an up-and-under. Barnes got that ball but were straight away penalised at their 10 metre line. Bury kicked to just outside the 22 then had their line-out stolen. Barnes kicked long; Bury ran back wide then dropped a pass at the opposition 22. Barnes got the ball and also went wide; they recycled twice to get a penalty at halfway. They ran that and after they recycled close 4 times centre Strang chipped to the right wing and starting fullback Goveia got the ball and ran to the line at 36 minutes. The conversion was wide.

Barnes secured the high restart and kept the ball for 3 close phases before Bury forced an error to get a put-in 5 metres past halfway. They soon released to centre then recycled 3 times before kicking out for the final whistle.