Bury St Edmunds: Earnshaw, Affleck, Loose, Kharbouch, Rees, Hall, Metcalfe, Robinson, McCartney, Cooper, Harrison, Kelland, Grigg-Pettitt (capt.), Guy, Williams.Subs: Donovan, Mitchell, Russell, Sams, Reid.

Canterbury: Moss, Morgan, Sloan, Waddington, Furneaux, Reynolds, Farrance, Huntley, O'Donoghue, Frostick, De Vries, Stephens, Thomas, Mackenzie, Oliver.Subs: Herriott, Best, McGovern, Williams, Rogers.

Referee: Jack Sutton
Star Man: Patrick Robinson (Bury)
Attendance: 623

Scorers

Bury St Edmunds Tries: Harrison (29), McCartney (43, 56), Earnshaw (62), Grigg-Pettitt (73), Loose (79).Conversions: Hall (30, 63, 74, 80).

Canterbury Tries: Sloan (13), Morgan (21), Furneaux (26), De Vries (38).Conversions: Reynolds (19, 22, 27, 39).Penalties: Reynolds (12, 47, 71, 75).

Match Report

Bury St Edmunds kicked off their centenary celebration match in perfect conditions at a packed Greene King IPA Haberden. The home side attacked from the outset, with centurion and man of the match Patrick Robinson leading the charge. However, Bury’s efforts often lacked accuracy, allowing Canterbury to defend with ease. Turnovers gave Canterbury opportunities to counter-attack, leaving Bury clinging on. The visitors opened the scoring through a penalty converted by Frank Reynolds.

Bury 0-3 Canterbury

Canterbury continued to attack with speed and precision, and only a last-ditch tackle by Will Affleck prevented a certain try. However, the respite was short-lived. A few phases after a catch-and-drive saw Henry Sloan cross the line, with Reynolds adding the extras.

Bury 0-10 Canterbury

Another turnover led to another rapid attack, allowing Frank Morgan an easy run-in, with Reynolds again converting.

Bury 0-17 Canterbury

Bury conceded another penalty, and Canterbury opted to kick to the corner. A well-executed catch-and-drive resulted in a try for Harvey Furneaux, converted by Reynolds.

Bury 0-24 Canterbury

Bury finally responded, earning a penalty and kicking to the corner. After a few phases, James Harrison crashed over the line, with Callum Hall slotting the conversion.

Bury 7-24 Canterbury

An untidy passage of play followed, culminating in a midfield break by Canterbury and a try for Jesse De Vries, once again converted by Reynolds.

Bury 7-31 Canterbury

That remained the score at half-time.

HT: Bury 7-31 Canterbury

Canterbury kicked off the second half as Bury attacked their favourite corner, with the home crowd hoping for a miraculous turnaround. A catch-and-drive resulted in a try for Fin McCartney, though the conversion was missed.

Bury 12-31 Canterbury

Canterbury counter-attacked and earned a penalty, which Reynolds converted.

Bury 12-34 Canterbury

Spurred on by their vocal supporters, Bury attacked with renewed purpose. McCartney spun off a line-out maul to power over for his second try, though the conversion was again missed.

Bury 17-34 Canterbury

Canterbury were beginning to wobble, and referee Jack Sutton issued a warning for repeated infringements. Bury kicked deep, and after a series of phases, Alex Earnshaw found the space to score, with Hall converting.

Bury 24-34 Canterbury

Bury continued to attack at every opportunity, though a penalty converted by Reynolds briefly stemmed the green tide.

Bury 24-37 Canterbury

A brilliant break by debutant Billy Reid allowed captain George Grigg-Pettitt to crash over in front of the ecstatic home fans. Hall converted to close the gap to six points.

Bury 31-37 Canterbury

With time running out, Bury launched another deep attack but conceded a penalty, which Reynolds converted.

Bury 31-40 Canterbury

A superb break by Grigg-Pettitt, combined with excellent support play, resulted in a try for George Loose, with Hall adding the extras.

Bury 38-40 Canterbury

From the restart, Bury went in search of the winning score, but it was not to be. Another penalty allowed Reynolds to tap and kick the ball dead, bringing an end to a pulsating second half.

Bury will reflect on what Director of Rugby Jacob Ford described as "first-half madness," during which they conceded 31 points. Meanwhile, Canterbury will be relieved to have clung on to a narrow victory after conceding 31 points themselves in the second half.

Full-time: Bury 38-40 Canterbury

Imagery: Beanstalk Media