BURY'S hopes of lifting the H.C. Smith Trophy on Sunday fell by the wayside after falling an agonising 11 runs short in the run chase.

The game was played at Wythenshawe and when opponents Monton were restricted to a gettable 165 for 8 hopes were high of victory.

All five of Bury's bowlers performed admirably on the day, especially John Wiggans who broke his little finger in the fourth over of the afternoon but showed great courage and determination to finish his spell later in the innings for only 34 runs.

There was also a stunning one-handed catch by Trevor Morton t dismiss Monton skipper Jason Maddox.

Bury set off in chase of the runs with Riaz and Brawn putting on 40 for the first wicket but from then on only young John Shaw showed real application and in tandem with Andy Metcalfe took the Sports Club side to within sight of victory.

It was a good spell of bowling from Nav Din that put a spanner in the works with his 4 for 28 leaving the Bury lads just short of what was required and leaves them still to lift the trophy after five attempts.

There was better news on Saturday when Whalley Range visited Bury but it was a close call.

Losing the toss the local side were asked to bat and after a rain interruption skipper Ian Thew took the brave decision to declare after only 34 overs and give his bowlers 39 overs to remove the visitors.

Bury reached 154 for 5 thanks mainly to a fine unbeaten 58 from Morton.

Their bowlers set off well with Wiggans picking up a wicket with the fourth ball of the innings but then the skipper began to sweat as Whalley Range crusied t 73 for 1 off only 18 overs.

With only a further 82 needed in 21 overs and nine wickets left Thew turned to Steve Dublin and he proceeded to rup through the Range batting taking 7 wickets for 34 runs in 10 overs leading Bury to a 17 run win and a 20 point haul and justifying his skipper's decision to declare.