AS the eyes of the cycling world were trained on Yorkshire and the start of the Tour de France, a weakened Comets side were battling hard north of the border.

Kris Ramsden and Ben Scranage were both unlucky to be on the losing side as they each picked up 15 points in a closely-fought contest in Edinburgh.

And every member of the squad played their part with the final result always in doubt until the closing stages.

Bury took a slight lead after Dawid Renc and James Elston took maximum points in race five, and after Edinburgh hit back the Comets edged in front again as Scranage and Howarth took seven points from race seven and six points from race eight.

Scranage went on to win the ninth to leave Bury just four points in arrears before Danny Taylor and Ramsden teamed up to level the scores with a terrific maximum in the 10th. The match took a swing towards the home side, as the Comets suffered a string of exclusions and falls but Ramsden managed to haul them back on level terms after taking race 15.

Taylor continued his excellent form in bringing Neil Howarth through for a share of the points in the next race and Scranage inflicted the first defeat on home rider Hewittson with Ramsden again third for a Bury 6-4.

However, a mix-up in the final race saw Edinburgh take seven points for a slightly inflated victory.

Results Kris Ramsden 15, Ben Scranage 15, Danny Taylor 14, Will Owens 12, James Elston 9, Dawid Renc 9, Neil Howarth 8.

Bury seconds had to concede penalty points to Edinburgh and began with a 39-point deficit.

But that did not stop them trying and while they won out 69-53, the Scottish side triumphed 122-69 once the penalty points had been added.

Taylor led the way with 18 points in what was an impressive all-round team display.

Results Danny Taylor 18 James Eston 16, Krisitam Ramsden 16, Wll Owen 10, Dawid Renc 9.