BURY Broncos A team were defeated 26-20 at second-placed Rochdale Cobras on Saturday.

The Cobras, who have only lost one game this season, came up against a determined and committed Broncos team. And although there were outstanding performances from Sean Kelly, Sam Donley, Baz Cambell, Will Spencer and Paul Bretherton, too many errors, penalties and a completion rate of only 40 per cent cost the Philips High School side.

The Whitefield-based team started well and were the better side for the opening 10 minutes but poor ball control let the Cobras take advantage of some weak tackling to score.

More poor Bury play and penalties gave Cobras the field position to scoot over from acting half for a soft try taking them into a 12-0 lead.

Broncos hit back and finally got on the scoresheet when Donley took a short ball from Kelly to crash over.

Errors crept in though, and the Cobras stretched their lead to 18-4.

A scrum from 35 yards out let Kelly break the line for a well-taken try to reduce the deficit to 18-8 at half time.

The Broncos competed well in the second period and good field position saw Spencer go over from close range. Jay Rawlinson added the conversion as the Bury side closed the gap to 18-14.

Although rattled, the Cobras soon increased their lead to 22-14 and then stretched it even further to 26-14.

Joe Galpin then put Rawlinson in at the corner. Rawlinson also added the conversion as the Broncos reduced the deficit to six points.

However the Cobras held on to win.