Team: BLADE Declan Donnelly (Captain), UNDERTAKER Adam Sillett, HALO Calum Crook, CHOPPER Charlie Coward, TANK Gianni Tucci, "H" Harrison Sutton, HEADLESS Jack Bainbridge, SHARKY Jacob Nuttall, STINKY Jay Benson, BRUISER Joe Howarth, MR.T Jordan Taylor, ICEMAN Josh Hornby, PARKY Oliver Parkinson, GINGER Terence Butterworth, BOMB Tom Wardle, LIGHTNING Wayne Bannister.

COACHES MAN OF THE MATCH: JOE HOWARTH - BRUISER
Oppositions Nomination: Jacob Nuttall - SHARKY

A pre-season friendly played in the right spirit of friendship and fun, with play going from end to end.
With debuts for Charlie Coward (Hooker), Jack Bainbridge (Centre), Jay Benson (Wing) and Terence Butterworth (Lock)and missing five players from last seasons team we headed to Littleborough with an open mind.
Littleborough finished last season coming runners up in the Rochdale Tournament, so we knew they were no mugs.
Bury started sharply with some strong runs, but once tackled they watched while Boro players came through the gate to pick the ball up. Fortunately Iceman and Blade stopped a sure try with the Boro player losing the ball. Halo, Parky and Headless combined to allow Sharky to run down the line to score a converted try. Boro came back with two converted tries which came courtesy of stronger rucking and recycling of the ball. Bury then came back through some good line out work by the forwards and when they started to ruck and maul correctly they retained possesion with a nice passage of play. Bruiser drove over manfully and Boro gave away a penalty in their own 15m area. "H" popped the ball up for a unit of forwards who drove purposely with MrT emerging from the bottom of the pile over the line. Sharkey converted to equal the scores at the interval.

Second half started brightly for each team with some excellent passages of play but without any completion of these excellent moves by each set of players. Credit given to their fly half who noticed that our right winger and full back had got tied in at the last ruck. He kicked long towards the corner and their winger just beat our retreating players to score. They missed the conversion.....
With time running out and Boro a try in front we needed a converted try. The referee pointed out to both sides that two minutes remained. Tank and Ginger at second row were told to push like they have never pushed before, and they did. Halo collected and returned it to Ginger as he broke free, who popped it out to Parky passing back inside to Sharky who saw the gap and didnt look back. Most pleasingly not a single player stood and watched.... from behind we could see 12 figures disappear into the sunlight as Sharky did a diving try over the line.
With points equal and Sharky out of breath, several players offered to take the conversion... but the main man stepped up to coolly slot the ball through the posts to win by 2 points.
Credit must be given to Littleborough who against a taller and heavier forward pack won more of the tight possession. Bury need to start rucking and mauling like they tackle and this should be a good season.

Next week is away to Rochdale for the official start of the season.