Hutton 1st xv 10 v 10 Bolton 1st xv

As the scores were level, Hutton progressed because they scored two tries to Bolton's one.

Played in torrential rain, the match was never going to be one for expansive rugby, and so it proved with the majority of possession being kept in the tight, with both sets of forwards smashing into each other. This aggression was epitomised by Louis Critchlow and Matthew Parrish, who broke the gain line on numerous occasions early on.

Hutton eventually gained the early territorial advantage and after some impressive slick handling, for the conditions, scored in the corner to take a 5-0 lead after 15 minutes. Bolton continued to impress however, with Nick Sandbrook appearing at every breakdown to win the ball for Bolton. Debutant scrum half Nick Lever was using the ball well allowing Chris Mee to go on a devastating run, right at the Hutton stand off, who was left in a heap on the ground. The resulting ruck gave Bolton a penalty, which Lever stroked over the posts to put Bolton on the scoreboard at 5-3.

The rain subsided in the second half, allowing both sides to move the ball more freely, which played into Bolton's hands. The Cherry and Whites had the younger, more mobile side and stand off Danny Joseph had running options either side of him, giving Bolton the ascendency in the second half. However a well placed kick from Hutton, gave them crucial field position and they managed to bundle over in the corner, despite the valiant efforts of winger Marcus O'Donaghue. Bolton responded well, and with the impact from the bench of Chris Turner, Dave Ormes and John Keech, took control of the ball and found themselves camped in the Hutton 22. A well deserved Bolton try seemed inevitable, and it was Chris Mee who stormed over, Lever converted to make the scores 10-10 with ten minutes to go.

Bolton pressed for victory with veteran JP Hardman capping a barnstorming performance with a sprint down the touch line, only to be thwarted by the now lake of standing water in the far corner.

Even though Bolton technically lost the match, the performance was commendable for a side with a lot of new faces and many senior players missing. Bolton will face Hutton again in the league in two weeks, with Trafford providing their first league test at Avenue Street on Saturday.