BURY were beaten but not bowed in their North Lancashire League Division One derby with Bolton.

The hosts, who have only won four of their 22 games this season, played their part in a match that struggled to spark into life during the early stages.

Both sides got bogged down in a forward game of attrition with successive rucks and mauls, pile- ups, and very little invention from either three-quarter line.

Bolton failed to make use of tactical kicking but were rewarded by a penalty in the third minute, when Bury pulled down the ruck, and it was converted from out wide.

Bury were to transgress again in the 18th minute and the kick, from 30 metres, was again converted.

Bolton should have added to their score in the 28th minute, when a penalty from an identical position was given against Bury for joining the ruck from the side, but the visitors could not take full advantage.

The first half petered out with neither side making any serious attempt to score, except for one isolated incident in the bottom left corner of the field when Bolton got within 10metres but Bury were able to successfully clear.

With only a six-point advantage to the visitors, Bury were now in a position to use the wind tactically with high raking kicks pushing the opposition back.

However, they were to lose the services of stand-off Ian Webb five minutes after the resumption which hindered their efforts to play this style of game.

For the next 25 minutes neither side dominated but, from a breakaway down the open side flank, Bolton crossed the line for a converted try.

From the restart, Bury worked their way up field and a clever piece of play by wing Blake Roberts saw him chip over the advancing three quarter line before he was stopped by the full-back three metres out.

Bury did get into scoring positions through rolling drives but they could not add the finishing touches to their play.

Bury are back in action on Saturday when they host De La Salle, kick-off 3pm.