BASEMENT club Bury battled their way to their second victory of the Lancashire North season on Saturday, winning 11-7 at home to fourth-bottom North Manchester.

The Rams opened the scoring with an early penalty, scrum-half Tom Smith slotting his kick between the posts from the 22 metre line.

With a controlled restart and well-executed exit strategy, Bury were soon back up-field and pressing for further points.

Some great work at the break down by Jonny Allen and Mark Blain gave Bury the opportunity to double their lead with a second penalty, again successfully kicked by Smith.

North Manchester tested the home side with some direct running and off-loads, but Bury remained resolute and reached the break with a 6-0 lead, despite Joe Kelly being sin-binned for a late tackle.

The Rams began the second half still a man short and received a further blow when back row veteran Christopher Potts was forced to leave the field with a knee injury.

Wayne Elloway was brought on as his replacement as Bury reshuffled their pack, but their hand was strengthened by the reintroduction of Kelly.

With Will Smith pulling the strings, Bury stormed to the visitors' five-metre zone following a move up the left involving centres Tai Tupou and Luke Cleary and winger Dominic Bennett, but a good scramble in defence allowed North Manchester to turn the ball over.

Elloway was sent to the sin bin after a big hit that was deemed not to have included any arms.

With a one man advantage, North were able to punch their way into the home side's danger area and a quick tap penalty for an infringement at the side of the ruck allowed the visiting scrum-half to dive over the line.

The try was converted and North Manchester gained a one point lead.

They were not in front for long, though, as Dom Bennett finished off a quick-fire move in the left corner that began from the restart.

Tai Tupou made a great break through the centre that was initially ended by some strong tackling but Alex English and Kelly redistributed the ball to Bennet for a clinical finish.

The conversion was missed to set up a nervy finish but a man-of-the-match performance from Graham Biggs in defence saw Bury over the line.

Bury travel to 10th-placed Colne and Nelson on Saturday for a rescheduled fixture.