YWCA Bury’s bid to force the North West Premier promotion race into the final weekend of the season was scuppered by a 50-42 defeat at Blackpool.

The Bury Grammar School-based outfit had won seven straight games to get to within touching distance of second-placed Warrington and a possible play-off spot.

But they were undone on the Fylde coast in their penultimate match of the campaign, making it impossible to finish higher than third place in the table.

Blackpool began strongly and were 17-9 up after the first quarter.

The home side kept the eight-point advantage throughout the remainder of the match, despite Bury’s best efforts.

YWCA’s final match of the campaign is at home to Manchester this weekend, when they will look to cement their third-place finish.

Bury’s second-string side remain seven points clear at the top of the Championship, but cannot be promoted to the Premier as two teams from the same club cannot compete in the same division.

They look odds-on to win the title following a 49-31 win at home to Northwich.

Ella Hewitt was voted player of the match by the opposition for her strong defensive display.

Elsewhere, the club’s junior team have made it through to the national finals for the second successive season after winning the North West title.