BURY Seniors’ hopes of an exciting start to a bumper season of 36 Red Rose County League and Challenge matches were dashed when their annual visit to Great Lever and Farnworth Golf Club was washed out without a ball being struck.

Friendlies secretary Brian Simper has worked hard to set up a thorough pre-season fixture list with four matches planned before the league opener at Fishwick Hall.

With a record 51 players registered, the aim was to get the whole squad vital match play on grass in the opening weeks, particularly as they have been playing off mats all winter.

The weather was much kinder for their visit to Wilpshire, although an understrength side found it tough going.

Illness dealt a further blow in the opening match when Bury’s Brian Simper was forced to retire after four holes, leaving captain Jimmy Pilkington to battle on against Wilpshire’s Phil Burgess and John Wilson.

Despite a valiant performance he eventually succumbed 5 &4 to give the home side the opening points.

Vice captain Denny McKinstry and Gordon Swinnerton soon mastered the tricky Wilpshire greens to defeat Mike Barker and Frank Booth 4 &2.

New pairing Dennis Taylor and Ken Brown reached the turn all square against Derrick Smith and Dave Forest only for Smith to reel off two pars and three birdies to win five hole to Wilphsire and seize victory.

It was a similar story for Rod Davis and Trevor Ince, who lost 5 &4 against Colin Phillips and Wilpshire skipper John Oxford.

Bury hit back and a dogged display from Gerry Barnes and Ken Pendleton saw the Bury duo win their match on the 18th green.

The visitors failed to pick up another point as they went down 10-4.

Bury were back in action yesterday at Shaw Hill and welcome Great Lever and Farnworth to Unsworth Hall today for the final friendly before the Red Rose League starts next week.