As alluded to previously, there was a lot going on last Saturday. There were goodbyes, thank yous & potentials galore, but luckily everything came together just right to give us a perfect end and another memorable Bury Rugby day.

Thank you to everyone that attended and supported the club over the duration of the weekend. A special mention must go to the volunteers and hospitality team that did such a sterling job in bringing this together.

The support - across the club - has been phenomenal all season and we are, as ever, grateful to the Haberden faithful for this.

Relive the weekend with Andy Herlihy's match report below and the image galleries from Shawn Pearce and Beanstalk Media.

Bury St Edmunds 1st XV v Henley Hawks
Saturday 22nd of April | 15:00h

Bury kicked off their final match of season bidding for a top four finish and set off at a fair pace being awarded a penalty try after only a few minutes play.

Bury 7-0 Hawks

Hawks hit back with a penalty converted by 12 Max Titchener

Bury 7-3 Hawks

Hawks should have scored next following a break by livewire 9 Fenley but a lack of composure lost the moment.

A rare moment of Bury possession led to a try by 8 Craig Stevenson the conversion was missed.

Bury 12 -3 Hawks

Bury tried to play from deep but conceded a penalty quickly taken by Hawks and a technical infringement led to a penalty for Hawks.

Bury 12-10 Hawks

Bury increased their lead with a converted penalty by 15 Charlie Reed

Bury 15-10 Hawks

An ill disciplined period of play ended with a converted penalty from the Hawks by Titchener

Bury 15-13 Hawks

Bury conceded a further penalty that Hawks kicked deep into the Bury 22 , a catch and drive accumulated considerable momentum and was illegally halted. Referee Connor Boyle had no hesitation in awarding a penalty try to complete a hat trick for the enthusiastic official.

Bury 15-20 Hawks

Hawks scored again following a scrum and penalty advantage, the impressive 9 Ewan Fenley forcing his way over, the conversion was missed and that was the end of the first half action.

Bury 15-25 Hawks.

HT Bury 15-25 Hawks

Hawks kicked off the final half of this season's rugby and Bury rose to the occasion playing from deep. Hawks joined the party and also tried to run from deep, unfortunately conceding a penalty that Bury took quickly. Neither side could really get the upper hand until a break by Bury captain Bursey led to a try by 14 Ciaran Leeson, the conversion was missed.

Bury 20-25 Hawks

A very dominant Bury scrum led by the obdurate Ben Cooper led to Referee Boyle penalising Hawks. Bury kicked deep ,an off the top line out ball was chipped ahead by Will Christie and gobbled up by 4 Rob Conquest to score, Reed converted.

Bury 27-25 Hawks

A frenetic period of play could have led to tries for both sides however unforced errors lost the opportunities, throughout this period it seemed that Bury were more likely to score and did so after a slick piece of play Leeson finishing strongly to claim his second, Reed converted

Bury 34-25 Hawks

A momentary loss of concentration and temporary hypnopompic state by Bury led to an opportunist try for replacement 20 William Crow, Titchener converted

Bury 34-32 Hawks

From the restart Bury played numerous phases and Rob Conquest helped himself to his second try ably converted by Reed

Bury 41-32 Hawks

The match entered a nervy last few minutes and Hawks had an opportunity to reduce Bury's lead , Titchener's penalty attempt rebounding from the upright. Bury took the chance to attack from deep, their exploits halted by a penalty. Hawks kicked deep for one final fling. The anticipated catch and drive did not materialise with Bury purloining the ball and the match ended on a rather quiet note.

Final Score
Bury 41-32 Henley

Bury will be pleased to have produced a try scoring spectacle for a large and vociferous crowd, securing a bonus point win and hopefully a top four finish. This was not to be with other results conspiring against the Haberden based outfit. Henley will not be content with a losing bonus point and will reflect on a number of clean line breaks that mostly came to nothing and on occasion a rather generous defence playing into Bury's hands.

Bury 15 Reed 14 Leeson 13 Brown 12 Saddleton 11 Stanway 10 Hawkins 9
Christie 1 Hill 2 McCartney 3 Jeffery 4 Conquest 5 Browne 6 Williams 7
Bursey 8 Stevenson 16 Kingdon 22 Cooper 18 Kelland 19 Kharbouch 21
Hall

Henley 15 Wood 14 Flynn 13 Hakimian 12 Titchener 11 Scott 10 Cookland
9 Fenley 1 Mason 2 Macrae 3 Frostick 4 Ellaboudy 5 Harrison 6 Lunnon 7
Vooght 8 Lowe 16 Manning 17 Niazi 18 Bradley 19 Crowley 20 Crow

Referee Connor Boyle
AR1 Paul Carroll
AR2 Simon O'Neill

Star Man: Bury 14 - Ciaran Leeson

Crowd 643

Thank you to our matchday sponsor, KWS UK Ltd.

Galleries

Presidents' Dinner - Beanstalk Media
Matchday - Shawn Pearce
Matchday - Beanstalk Media

Thank you for your support this season.