Bury not cowed by big Island crowds

Guernsey ........ 19 Bury St Ed ...... 27

WERE points awarded for home support, Raiders would not be struggling near the foot of National Two South.

Another bumper crowd packed into the Garenne Stand at Footes Lane to see Jordan Reynolds’ side push the in-form visitors all the way but, ultimately, lack the cutting edge to secure a third win of a tough campaign.

Bury St Edmunds arrived with confidence high after a good run of wins and that was evident as they opened a 12-0 advantage with tries from Sam Bixby and Alex Grey.

Raiders got it back to 1212 courtesy of two catch-and-drive moves finished off by hooker Tom Ceillam, but with Sam Steventon’s yellow further punished by a third Bury St Edmunds try from Will Scholes before the break and a fourth from Jack Johnson just after the restart, the home side were made to pay.

Bury St Edmunds were more than a shade fortunate to see their fifth score by Finlay Sharp stand as a forward pass put him away to score and make the game all but safe at 27-12.

Raiders kept plugging away with their star flyhalf Owen Thomas shining on his long-awaited return and inside the last ten minutes he produced the final pass for Elia Morisio to finish off from close range.

Thomas converted but Bury managed the remaining minutes to take five points and keep Raiders deep in relegation trouble.