Superb team effort as Bury give Yorkshire Cup favourites an almighty shock

QUEENSBURY bowed out of the second round of the BARLA Yorkshire Cup with their heads held high following a glorious team effort against red-hot favourites Fryston Warriors.

The Castleford outfit showed their pedigree at at Deanstones Lane with an early long range touchdown from wingman Adam Rothwell.

But Bury were undaunted by the visitors' lofty status and were thwarted when hooker Jonjo Naylor and wingman Josh Boulger were held inches short of the whitewash.

Fryston second row forward Jack Smith was sent off for a head-butt when he was in possession and stand off Aaron Dobek joined him on the sidelines for 10 minutes when he protested vigorously.

However, they made light of the reduction in numbers when packman Steve Scott barged his way to the chalk, leaving scrum half Andy Speake to add the extras.

Bury battened down the hatches, with the arrival of substitute forward Andy Senior bolstering the defensive line to change ends just 10-0 down at the break, and then made a major breakthrough on the restart.

A rapid change of direction saw Boulger dive over in the corner, leaving the Warriors to protest he had stepped into touch.

They responded immediately when Speake collected a dink over the top to reach the posts and add the conversion for a 16-4 cushion.

Bury showed their character and dogged determination when they pounced on a Fryston handling error to hack the ball the length of the field and scrum half Jonny Norman kept his cool to cut inside the full back to score.

Wingman Scott Swann added the conversion before the host’s second row forward Jack Evison received his marching orders after a clash of heads.

Fryston used the resulting penalty to good effect when substitute three-quarter Wayne McHugh sprinted through a gap for an unconverted try.

But the tie was once again back in the melting pot when second row Andy Walker ran true and straight to the line, and Swann made sure of full reward to leave Bury just four points in arrears at 20-16.

The biggest shock of the season looked a distinct possibility when Norman just failed to intercept with the back door wide open, but the class and composure of the Warriors held sway when wingman Andy Mathews squeezed over in the corner.

A late drop goal from Speake completed the tally as the mightily relieved visitors welcomed the final whistle.