Having won their first warm up match 19-0, Stags were taught a lesson in support play and incisive running, going down 40-15 at Bury St. Edmunds.

Before facing Leicester Forest at Hinchingbrooke for the first league game of the season on 9 September, Stags will need to work on fitness, ball retention, speed to, and organisation at, the ruck and defensive alignment on the blind side.

An indication of the game at Bury is that whereas front row forwards, Mike Blanchard from a tap penalty and Devon Brown from a line out catch and drive, scored the Stags tries, all those from Bury were from their backs in open play.

There were some encouraging features. The line out, a problem last season, worked well and the light scrummage, after an early wobble, was solid. Discipline was very good, the penalty count being hugely in Stags' favour. (The referee who, in general, had a good game might usefully have yellow carded Bury frequently for their persistent offsides). The disappointment was that Stags, either through poor ball retention, lack of crispness in passing and directness in running, failed to put Bury under sustained pressure when in attacking positions.

After an even opening ten minutes, Bury scored from a blind side break and added three more tries before the interval, Stags replying with a converted try and a penalty; 26-10 at half time.

Though Bury managed two second half tries (one a beauty covering 75 yard), Stags defended better in this period and with greater composure might have achieved more than the one score.

In what should be a lively and action packed afternoon this Saturday, the 2nd and 3rd XV's are also at home, to Oundle and St Neots respectively.