Under 11's Match Report 16th January 2011

The Under 11’s managed to field a full side this week away against Aspull who they hadn’t played before.

With Reece Townsend and Lewis Barnes back in the team.

The weather conditions were atrocious with heavy persistent rain and strong winds but the pitch was playable if not wet.

Not a great day for running rugby however and handling was going to be difficult.

Bolton kicked off up the slope and the noticeable size difference between the two teams started almost immediately to make a difference.

Running downhill with the ball in hand were the tactics from Aspull, which worked well. Two early tries by the home team, which were converted, stunned the away team into action.

Bolton started to get stuck in and began to stem the flow from the Aspull forwards Ben Turner who was fearless in the tackle was all over the pitch.

Oliver Crompton, hungry for the ball, made some excellent driving runs and Alex Ramwell as always in the thick of it. The game finished at half time with Aspull 3 tries to Bolton’s nil ahead but by no means a poor game by the away team.

At this age group size matters in particular on the reduced size pitches.

Bolton started the second half down hill and started well. Good passing moves started to stretch the Aspull defence and again good runs by Oliver and Ben started to break the defence down.

Aspull however were a strong side and last-ditch desperate tackles stopped the Bolton attack.

Matty Moore and James Preston dominate the rucks with their forward drives as they did the previous week and Bolton were the superior rucking side of the two.

Bolton eventually turned possession into points when Alex Ramwell took the ball from a maul close to the Aspull line and dived over for a well deserved try.

Zak Grundy converted the try.

Bolton put in a great performance against a much bigger side and the score did not reflect the effort that was put in.

The final score was 38 v 7 to the home side.

Ben Turner deservedly won the ‘Player of the Match’ award for his tackling and running skills in the match. Well-done Ben a superb effort.