Following a four-week break in league action, Bury recorded a narrow victory at home to Clitheroe in North Lancashire Division Two on Saturday.

Despite a spate of injuries, the understrength Bury team enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges and thought they had broken the deadlock with a try from Jordan Miller, but the unsighted referee was forced to disallow the effort after he had fallen in a collision with a Clitheroe player during the build up.

The first score of the game came against the run of play with Clitheroe taking the lead with a penalty.

The Bury front row were working in tandem with Jake Greenalgh, Alan Dobson and Andy Townsend taking four balls against the head in succession and they were rewarded for their efforts with a try through speedster Sam Ware. After a clean catch and drive from a lineout, orchestrated by Christopher Potts and Ed Watkins, the ball was moved across through fly-half Adam Heath to inside-centre Declan Hampson, who crashed the ball into the heart of the visitors defence.

The ball was quickly recycled with great rucking from Jordan Miller and Callum Jackson and fed to Ware who was able to dance around his opposite number and full-back to score in the corner. The conversion was easily kicked by Heath.

Clitheroe responded with another penalty and despite losing scrum-halves Karl Simpson (knocked out) and George Kelly (rib injury), Bury led 7-6 at the interval.

Following a few years away from the game, Bury captain, Rob Plant returned to action, and, despite having gained a few pounds, his impact was almost instant. A rampaging run toward the try line saw the referee award a penalty try following foul play at the ruck. The conversion was missed.

Bury increased their lead to 15-6 with a penalty conversion following another infringement by the visitors. However a penalty from Clitheroe reduced the arrears to 15-9 shortly after.

Bury's bad luck with injuries continued with wingers Ware (knee) and Elliott Naylor (collar bone) forced out of the game as the hosts began to look vulnerable in defence.

Clitheroe's full-back outpaced the defence to set up a nail-biting finish with the score at 15-14. However, the visitors' fly-half missed the conversion and Bury were awarded a much deserved victory.

Bury face Crosby St Mary's away on Saturday in their last fixture before the Christmas break, kick off at 2.15pm.