Bury and Leyland Seniors fought out a thrilling Lancashire County Red Rose League match at Unsworth Hall on Thursday, with the result in doubt until the final putt of the last game.

Bury got off to a bad start in the opening match, with captain Steve Bracegirdle, having recently returned from major knee surgery, suffering a severe recurrence.

Supported by some inspired play from partner, Mike Howarth, the pair battled doggedly to the final green before visitors John Rogerson and Frank Berry holed out to give Leyland a two-point lead. Vice captain John Latham and Nick Lawless were soon locked in a tight game with Brian Johnson and Bill McCartney, with the Bury pair sealing victory on the 17th to square the match.

Things were equally tight in game three with Stuart Hindley and Stan Horne matching shot for shot with Stuart Knowles and Ken Littlejohn, before the Bury pair gave the home side a 4-2 lead with the last putt of the game.

Bury hung onto the lead with first Ken Pendleton and Bob Emmens halving game four against Stuart Russell and Ken Littlejohn and then Jimmy Pilkington and Billy Lawrence holding their nerve on the 18th to halve with Chris Heywood and Chris Woodcock.

John Bradbury and Dennis Taylor had no answer to a whirlwind performance from Paul Blezard and Peter Battersby in match six.

After halving the first in par, 21 handicap Blezard burned up the outward half in six under par to secure victory for the visitors on the 13th green.

With the match finely balanced at 6-6, the final pairing of Alan Green and Jimmy Hardman reached the par three – 17th, one down, only for Green to strike a glorious tee shot close to the pin to secure the win to bring Bury back to all square.

Peter Harrop and Bill Roberts battled grittily up the last to secure the half, which saw one of the most exciting games of the season end fittingly in an honourable draw.