1st touch, 1st Try, 1st Win

The boys made the trip over to a very cold and damp Oldham after a few weeks without rugby due to bad weather, and several were missing due to injuries.

Yet despite the above or perhaps because of it they started the day like they intended to come away with a win. In fact the warm up saw them showing their determination and skills in abundance, which was to be a glance of what was to come.

Bolton won the toss and Joey took the kick off deep down into the Oldham half where it was followed by about half the pack, the poor Oldham back was literally knocked off his feet by a rampaging Will McCambridge , who picked the loose ball up and ran over the line for the first try , much debate then ensued about the exact time , approx 20 seconds by my watch , never the less all recognised it was perhaps the quickest try the lads have ever registered, and that was only the start. (official time was 21.8seconds)

Only a few minutes later Josh ran in the second equally determined try, this time nearer the posts allowing Tom H to convert.

There was a brief momentary lapse of concentration by the Bolton crew so unaccustomed to being in front, and Oldham managed to get a try back way over in the corner.

The remainder of the first half saw the Bolton Boys who by this time were growing in confidence with every second run in another four tries by Will Brindle, Jack Clayton Hardman, Michael Latham and Chris Kehoe, with one conversion by Adam Kazmi this made the half time score Oldham 5 Bolton 34.

There were so many plusses the coaches and lads didn’t know quite which to discuss first; should it be the quick recycling of the ball, Jack CH scoring with his first touch of the ball or Michael scoring his first ever try from a sweet pass by Joey?

The second half saw a flurry of further tries from Adam Kazmi, Tom Hill and Ryan McClusky, as well as a couple more from Will Brindle, and a conversion from Joey Gore.

Oldham ran in two consolation tries and continued to battle away hard despite a couple of injuries.

Talking of injuries Tom McCormick had a ride in an ambulance with a suspected broken arm (thankfully subsequently found not to be broken) and Will McCambridge injured his thumb in a “discussion “ with one of the Oldham players.

A very well deserved win and a truly inspired performance from the whole squad gave the parents and coaches a hard time in selecting outstanding performances, so much so that the parent’s man of the match award was shared by the whole team.
Coaches award went to the hard man of the pack , yes “Mr Bolton style himself “ Jacob Walker, and the lads selected Jack who excelled in his first game for the team.

A mention must go to Joey for the birthday cake (can you have a birthday every week please was the plea from the lads) and finally to Vicky for enduring her first game of rugby and bringing luck to the lads.