Impressive win at Preston Grasshoppers

2nd October 2016
Preston Grasshoppers v Bolton u13's
Away

Weather: sunny

Team:
Forwards :
Davies
Gillibrand
Whittle
Atherton
Holt-Gregson
Webster
Belle
Waite
Griffiths
Chadderton
Winteringham

Backs:
Maley
Keogh
Jackson
McDowell
Glynn
Price
Ash worth
Hodson

Bolton u13's were hoping to keep up their 100% record going into this away match against a well-drilled Preston Grasshoppers side, and worked hard to secure a solid victory.

The Bolton backs had a flying start with Oliver Keogh running in two tries in the opening four minutes. Levi Waite and Ben Price, returning this week from county duties, marshalled the team well. Bolton's forwards showed particular strength in clearing out from the ruck, with Shane Gillibrand , Connor Whittle and Connor Winteringham putting in hard work phase after phase and George Jackson Sam MacDowell and Mark Glynn showing the way with great tackles against bigger opposition.

Preston pulled two tries back to get on level terms before Keogh claimed his hat-trick after only 13 minutes to put Bolton back in front. Sam Atherton produced another immense tackling performance and was in the right place to touch over to bring the score to 4-2 on 20 minutes. Again, Grasshoppers pulled one back, but Bolton began to put some daylight between the teams before half time with Leon Hodson scoring the first of his own hat-trick before Keogh ran over his fourth try to put Bolton 6-3 up at the break.

For the first time this season the Bolton pack met their match, but good recovery work from Tyler Maley ensured he stole the ball and ran in a try early in the second half. Keen to get in on the hat-trick glut, Ben Price ran on to his own kick to put Bolton 8-3 up. Hodson scored his second shortly after to leave Bolton in a hugely dominant position. Bolton were reduced to twelve men for a time and were forced to reorganise, which they did with style. Preston used their numerical advantage to score two tries, but Hodson and Price completed their hat-tricks to leave the final score as Bolton 12 tries, Preston 5.