Odsal Sedbergh 12 Queensbury 20

QUEENSBURY had to pull out all the stops in order to see off a staunch Odsal Sedbergh challenge in the opening round of the President's Cup at Odsal Rec.

Bury made a dream start when centre Ash Ryan waltzed through to the uprights from a scrum leaving wingman Scott Swann to add a simple extra two but any thoughts of an easy ride were quickly dispelled as Sedge hit back with gusto.

Packman Kaine McEwan and Shaquille Jones made the hard yards to give Jared Priestley a difficult chance in the corner but the pass went astray before all the hosts' hard work was rewarded when substitute forward Scott Smith shook the visitors and the post when he powered onto a short ball to hit the whitewash. Centre Luke Dawson added the conversion to tie the scores 6-6.

Both sides settled down to a war of attrition as the tackles flew in fast and furious and it came as no surprise when the half ended in a bout of fisticuffs that saw the protagonists, Odsal stand-off Shaun Flynn and Bury full back Adam Crompton, sent to the sin-bin.

Queensbury, now with the slope in their favour, made an ideal start to the second half when Swann crossed unopposed in the corner, soon followed by another crucial effort from second-row forward Tom Hainsworth, who tracked a kick over the top and took the awkward bounce in his stride to make the chalk.

Swann added the conversion but Bury’s indiscipline was censured once again when second-row forward Joe Walker was shown the yellow peril for back-chatting the referee.

The visitors shrugged off the reduction in numbers to put centre Jason Gelder on a charge to the flag for their last score of the match in a 20-6 tally.

Sedbergh, however, refused to take a backward step and camped out in the Bury red zone in the gathering gloom.

The volatile Flynn was clearly sailing close to the wind in his over exuberance and had to be substituted on the advice of the referee before more punitive action was taken and all the hosts' endeavours came to fruition when a kick-and-chase saw wingman Robert Priestley sprint over close enough to allow Dawson the chance to add the extras.

With the game done and dusted in their favour, Bury prop Dan Hawksworth was unnecessarily sent off following a punch in the tackle to end a rough, tough cup tie that had the crowd on their toes throughout.