Super Swann ensures Queensbury go down fighting

Bury were immediately up against it when Rovers, playing down the slope, scored after just a minute, centre Gareth Davies receiving the ball out wide to crash over for a converted score.

There were more problems for the home side just five minutes later when Rovers’ second row Tom Burns popped up in the centre to dive over.

Bury were struggling to keep pace with the visitors, who crossed again when Burns again appeared out wide to score.

The introduction of player-coach Andy Senior gave Bury a much-needed boost and he was unlucky not to score when just held up over the Rovers line.

With half-time approaching, the game looked dead and buried when a sweeping move across field saw full back Geoff Hick go over to give the away side a commanding 24-point lead.

Four minutes in to the second half the fightback was on when the impressive Joe Langford made a break and stepped his way over under the posts, Scott Swann adding the extras.

The try gave Bury a huge lift and they continued to force Rovers back with strong running from Joe Swain, who was proving a real handful.

Bury reduced the deficit further on 53 minutes when a lovely reverse pass from Swaine found winger Swann, who outpaced the Rovers defence to the line. Swann converted from wide out and Bury were back in the game at 24-12.

Bury were now in the driving seat and continued to attack the Rovers defence repeatedly and it came as no surprise when they went over again. A fine crossfield move saw scrum half Joe Flanagan feed Swann, who raced in to score his second. He goalled to leave Bury just a converted try adrift.

The remainder of the game saw Rovers camped in their own half defending desperately as centre Callum Murgatroyd and stand-off Josh Naylor continually tested their defensive line.

After the game coach Senior said: “We started poorly but the players showed some real character today.”