BURY had no answer to the quality of De La Salle, who chalked up another convincing victory in a season they are destined to end undefeated.

With only three games remaining and having slipped perilously close to the North Lancashire Division One relegation zone, Bury find themselves in the position of needing at least one, possibly two, more wins to ensure their survival.

They face a tough task on Saturday when they travel to Littleborough but, if they have the right personnel available and play to their potential, there are brighter prospects for their final two fixtures, away to Birchfield and at home to Tarleton.

Bury actually opened the scoring against De La Salle with a penalty from Bernard Robinson in the first three minutes but the visitors struck back almost immediately with a converted try and a drive from the ruck produced a further score.

Robinson added a second penalty but De La Salle went down the short side from the set scrum for an unconverted try to extend their lead.

The visitors were twice penalised for niggling offences but added further tries before half time to take a 21-point advantage at the turn.

Paton crossed for an unconverted try early in the second half to give Bury hope but a combination of tiredness – four of the team had played the day before – and some slack tackling round the fringes saw the invincible De La Salle score five more tries, four of which were converted.