A DEPLETED Burnley and Pendle Lions side produced one of their best performances of the season after a coming away from Bury as convincing winners.

Late withdrawals in the build-up to the game meant a reshuffle of personnel, with several players having to play out of position with only a two-man interchange bench.

But it appeared to work in Burnley’s favour and galvanised the team, who got off to a flyer with Ben Healy racing clear to score under the posts after some excellent play by Kiwi prop Caleb White, Will Yip and Rob Lawless. Marcus Farnworth added the conversion.

A second try arrived five minutes later when Farnworth took advantage of a disorganised defensive line and his evasive skills left the Bury players standing as he raced away to score a try which he converted.

Bury got a foothold in the match with their first try to cut the game to 12-6, but that just prompted the Lions to up their game once more. Following a series of penalties, Lawless opted for a quick tap-and-go, popping a pass to captain Healy who crashed over for his second try of the game.

To the Broncos credit, they kept themselves in the game with a fine backline move to score out wide and make it 18-12 to the Lions at half-time.

The Lions crossed for the first try of the second half, Ian Coates on hand to score after more impressive work by Farnworth and Lawless.

The Lions were now beginning to running riot and with Chris Greenwood pulling the strings in the unfamiliar position of stand off, White was rewarded with a try.

Coates then raced in from 50 metres, while further tries came from Lawless and White to make it 48-12.

The wingers also got in on the act, Alan Taylor benefitting from a one-handed pass from Sonny Waddington to score under the posts before rookie winger Ayrton Campbell squeezed over in the corner.

The Lions play Blackbrook ‘A’ at the Prairie Sports Village on Saturday (2.30pm).