Tarleton 99 Bury 0 (From Bury Times)

Tarleton 99 Bury 0

1:00pm Thursday 7th February 2013 in Sport By Mike Jones

THE gap between top and bottom of North Lancs League One was cruelly exposed at Tarleton on Saturday, when Bury’s youngsters were completely overwhelmed.

The league leaders, who have won 12 of their 13 matches so far this season, condemned bottom of the table Bury to their 13th straight defeat.

Yet there are possibly some positives to be taken by Tarleton’s impressive domination of the match.

Five years ago, Tarleton were riven by internal politics which resulted in a mass defection of senior players, leaving them with an inexperienced junior section. That has been built into a wonderful side which is deservedly lying top of the division.

Bury has a junior section of around 150 active players ranging in age from eight to 18, who are supported by qualified coaches and enthusiastic parents.

It is not beyond the bounds of possibility that Bury’s success in junior rugby will, in time, also translate into the senior game.

How quickly that can happen remains to be seen.

The junior section was set up 15 years ago by Chris Caloe and Derek Heath.

They always said it would take 15 years to see the benefits. That time has now elapsed, but the transition from colt to the senior game is not yet yielding fruit.

However, providing the junior section remains intact and is well supported, success should eventually come.

Bury entertain Garstang on Saturday, kick off 2.15pm.