Bolton U13s vs Blackburn U13s

Bolton U13s vs Blackburn U13s

AKA Sun cream required for a scorcher of a match.

Team
Backs
McDowell
Price
Hodson
Atherton
Keogh
Jackson
Hopkinson
Glynn

Forwards
Malevialle
Holt-Gregson
Hallliday
Griffith
Gillibrand
Davies
Bell
Jenkinson
Winteringham
Whittle

On a beautiful sunny morning Bolton U13s had their a return fixture against Blackburn at home. The teams have previously met at the beginning of January in Blackburn in a cup match which had has been convincingly won by Bolton. Today was, however, a different story with Bolton not having their own way and a strong Blackburn performance. Blackburn opted to receive the kickoff that was taken by Ben Price. The initial exchanges were even, with staunch defence put up by each side, both packs kept the ball tight and there seemed to be no spaces for the runners outside. It was halfway through the first half before Bolton's top scorer Leon Hodson managed to find a gap in the defence and go on one of these characteristic runs to get his first of three tries. Not to be outdone Blackburn came back with one of their own. With a change in the subs the game changed some and became a little more open, that allowed James Hopkinson back after injury some space to run. Also new lad, Ben Malevielle comes on and makes an immediate impact by carrying the ball strongly and defending against the big Blackburn pack. The open game allowed Oliver Keogh who puts in a huge amount of work to touchdown 2 tries. In the dying minutes of the first half Freddie Holt-Gregson who having a resurgence in form goes over for a well earned try, ending the first half Bolton 5 tries to Blackburn 1. (It was exhausting watching them).

Second half - Blackburn kick off and hand possession to Bolton who through the forwards, Connor Whittle, Blake Griffiths and Connor Winteringham, make ground up field but it’s Hodson who spots a gap at the breakdown and runs half the length of the pitch for his 2nd. Now the boys show some slick passing, Keogh with the initial break but with Mark Glynn and Ben Price interpassing it’s Ben Price to get the touchdown. Oliver Kough gets his 3rd shortly after this and then we see a resurgence from Blackburn who know their strength is in the pack, they breakdown the defence and score 2 tries of their own. In the dying minutes it’s Bolton back up field pushing for a try but time runs out on a cracking rugby match.

Match finishes Bolton U13s 8 tries to Blackburn 3

With a little time to spare and such lovely weather a Barbarians match, (each team split in 2), ensues with all players on the pitch having a run about. No scores recorded here.