Bury St Edmunds Team:
Earnshaw, Reid, Loose, Kharbouch, Affleck, Hall, Metcalfe, Peck, McCartney, Cooper, Russell, Harrison, Grigg-Pettitt, Donovan, Williams.
Substitutes: Sams, Easton, Lavin, Guy, Collier.

Westcombe Park Team:
Wallace, Thompson, Griffiths, Braithwaite, Webster, Fryatt, Davies, Muhelman, Harris, Roofe, Smith, McPherson, Devine, Hudson, Glasspole.
Substitutes: Wagstaffe, Timmerman, Hoad, Lofinmakin-Dutta, Smith.

Referee: Phil Russell
Star Man: Billy Reid (Bury St Edmunds)
Attendance: 613

Match Report
A quite incredible first half saw 66 points scored, with the sides level at the break, 33–33.

Bury opened the scoring in the first minute with a scintillating break by Loose, putting Will Metcalfe in. The conversion was missed.
Bury 5–0 Westcombe Park

Park hit back almost immediately, with Toby Wallace scoring; the conversion was also missed.
Bury 5–5 Westcombe Park

A clever line-out and a few phases later, Kyan Braithwaite crossed for Park, with Wallace converting.
Bury 5–12 Westcombe Park

Another smart line-out move saw Elliott Roofe score, with Wallace again adding the extras.
Bury 5–19 Westcombe Park

Man of the Match Billy Reid then sparked Bury into life, with Samir Kharbouch scoring. Callum Hall converted.
Bury 12–19 Westcombe Park

From the restart, the electric Reid broke again, setting up Alex Earnshaw for his first try, which Hall converted.
Bury 19–19 Westcombe Park

James Harrison scored next for Bury after several phases of pressure, with Hall again on target from the tee.
Bury 26–19 Westcombe Park

Park responded with some skilful play, Thomas Webster scorching his way to the line, Wallace converting.
Bury 26–26 Westcombe Park

Ben Cooper then powered over for Bury, Hall converting.
Bury 33–26 Westcombe Park

On the stroke of half-time, the influential Mikel Davies scored for Park, with Wallace adding the conversion, levelling the scores.
Half-time: Bury 33–33 Westcombe Park

If the crowd thought the second half would bring another try-fest, they were mistaken. As lively as the first half was, the second half failed to live up to expectations. A spate of injuries and yellow cards disrupted the flow until Bury's indiscipline cost them again. A penalty, followed by a catch-and-drive, led to a try for Joshua Daniel-Smith. The conversion was missed.
Bury 33–38 Westcombe Park

Park began to control play and stretched their lead when Davies scored his second try, Wallace converting.
Bury 33–45 Westcombe Park

Kieran Thompson then scored after a determined run, although the conversion was missed.
Bury 33–50 Westcombe Park

Earnshaw gave Bury hope with a blistering finish, but it was not enough, and Park held on for a deserved victory.
Full-time: Bury 38–50 Westcombe Park

Summary
This match perhaps summed up the season for Bury St Edmunds. No one can doubt their point-scoring credentials; however, game management, discipline, and defence have consistently proved to be their Achilles’ heel. Westcombe Park secured a deserved win with a pragmatic and effective style of play, driven by some notably tactically aware players including Davies, Fryatt, and Griffiths.

Imagery from Official Media Partner, Beanstalk Media, here.