MOVING up a division this season as champions, Birchfield have done themselves proud.

The possibility remains of a top-four finish in a very competitive North Lancs One.

Saturday saw them over-come a shaky start to convincingly beat relegationthreatened Bury, who held the early lead thanks to a penalty.

It took Birchfield 15 minutes to steady themselves and after levelling through a Ben Royle penalty, Birchfield totally dominated without any reward.

Bury regained the lead when their only foray into Birchfield's 22 ended with a penalty.

Birchfield hit straight back through winger Ste Fitchett going over in the corner for an 8-6 interval advantage.

The second half saw the hosts completely on top with hooker John Whitty riding on the back of a rolling maul dropping over to score.

In the 63rd minute, second rower Chris Lyon shrugged off two tackles on a 20-metre break before feeding Whitty who in turn picked out scrum-half Terry Fallon.

Fallon fed the ball across the backs and eventually into the safe hands of winger Chris Tickle who forced his way over at the corner for Royle to add the extras.

With John Whitty scoring a second, Paul Findlater adding to his try tally and Ben Royle both times supplying the extras, Birchfield ran away to victory.

They have no fixture on Saturday.