THE pitch at Littleborough lies in the shadow of the M62, behind Hollingworth Lake, the feeder reserve for the Rochdale canal system.

The pitch slopes and not only end-to-end, but it is convex across its width, this allied to a strong wing blowing down the slope made playing conditions difficult, heavy rain before the match rendering conditions underfoot treacherous and the ball greasy.

Bury enjoyed the wind in the first period despite playing up the slope, and after fifteen minutes had opened their account when flank forward Robinson rolled off the maul to touchdown in the corner for an unconverted try.

Littleborough had wasted an earlier penalty from 30 metres and on balance Bury were enjoying the bulk of the possession. The front five in particular had the opposition completely stitched up, shoving them at will even against the slope.

However, on 25 minutes Littleborough drew level, working the ball to the left corner the outside centre to a pass which looked blatantly forward, the receiver then knocked the ball forward but fly hacked before it touched the ground, and Bury, perhaps waiting for the whistle, were out-paced for the touchdown, which went unconverted.

This was not to be the only questionable decision by the match official, the fourth occasion this season he has officiated a Bury game.

In the second period Bury were somewhat fortunate in that the wind had now shifted and was blowing crossfield, it was not unreasonable to expect a victory, but with the exception of Glyn Smith at scrum half, the visitors did not use the advantage of the slope.

When long line kicks were required, a switch between Mike Livesey at out-half and Smith, would have allowed the latter to gain valuable yardage.

Bury where to go behind in the twelth minute of the second half when the Fijian wing three-quarter, showing exceptional pace out wide, stripped the cover, chipped the advancing full-back and the ball sat up nicely for him to re-gather and he scored under the posts for a converted try. However, in general play he had already stiff-armed two of the Bury squad and gone unpunished.

Immediately from the re-start Bury fashioned the best score of the game, following a push in strength down the right touch they moved the ball back in-field and an astute pass, coupled with a good angle of running by hooker Sammy Kelly, saw the latter score under the posts, easily converted by Smith.

Bury could have won the game in the dying minutes, when, awarded a penalty 15 metres from the home side's try line, they opted to take the penalty kick at goal, but kicking a cross-wind attempt at goal with the pitch now cut-up, was asking too much of Glyn Smith. Having lost skipperJohn Westwood to injury earlier in the half, the decision to take the shot was made by the coaching staff.

In the last minute Littleborough scored what appeared to be a good try in the left corner, only to have the pass deemed forward, with the home spectators' reaction vocal to say the least! Perhaps justice was seen to be done.

TEAM: Holland, Kelly, Marshall, Kennedy, Smith A, Westwood (C), Laughton, Robinson, Smith G, Livesey, McGarraghy, Elliott, Chester, Kyle, McDougal.

Tomorrow Bury welcome West Park Warriors to the Radcliffe Road ground, kick-off2.30pm. This St Helen's team, though not occupying the high ground in the league, are a spin off from the prestigious West Park (St Helen's) which Bury played extensively in the sixties and seventies, a feeder club for the then highly successful Lancashire side.