BURY missed out on a top-four spot in South Lancs and Cheshire Division Three North, despite a 12-10 home win against second-placed Clitheroe.

The Rams went into the game with the aim of securing a bonus-point win which would give them the chance of finishing inside the top quartet but they would also be reliant on other results going their way.

Bury started the game well and pinned the visitors back during the opening exchanges but it was Clitheroe who were the first to get on the scoreboard.

Stolen possession provided the away side with good field position and a quick movement of the ball from the right to the left allowed the winger to dive over and open the scoring.

This did not change the equation for Bury who still needed four tries to secure a bonus point.

They pressed hard and were soon in the lead, some strong work in the pack allowing Alex English to pick up from the base, evade the defence and score under the posts for Tom Smith to convert.

At the changeover Bury were looking the fresher of the two sides, and when they came out they really started to push on. Standout performances from Aaron Jones and Richard Walsh gave Bury a good platform to attack.

Both players were really pushing Clitheroe hard but they remained steadfast.

Clitheroe took the lead midway through the second half dotting down in the corner again to extend their lead.

Bury rang the changes and freshened up their attack and brought some of their senior colts players in to the picture.

This was to prove the difference as some great work by the Bury backline gave Joe Moore and opportunity to score his first try for the club on the right wing, touching down to give Bury the lead and the win.

This was not enough, but it would not have mattered anyway as results in other games did not go Bury's way.

The Rams have come a long way this season under coach Glyn Smith, and will look to develop and improve their young inexperienced side further in future seasons.