First half tries from Rick Newman, Rhys Pritchard and Liam Ray gave Bolton a strong start against Broughton Park and the result was put beyond contention with further tries from Will Bate and James Singleton early on in the 2nd half.

Broughton started strongly from the kick off receive and utilised their mobile pack and strong backs to good effect to keep Bolton working hard in defence. The opening exchanges continued around the middle of the field, until Bolton’s terrific defensive efforts finally paid off and allowed them some possession.

Singleton marshalled his pack well and brought the backline into play through fly half Mike Mills. Mills pulled the strings from 10 and following a combination of well worked moves from debutant centre Nick Smith and his partner Will Bate, Bolton found themselves camped on the Broughton try line in search of the opening score. A lack of inventiveness from the pack made the job all too easy for Broughton and eventually a free-kick was awarded for a double movement over the line by Tony McLaughlin.

Bolton soon found themselves back in possession though with a scrum some 20m out. Despite the step up to level 6, the Cherry & White pack got the upper hand on their counterparts and drove them back towards the try line. With the park scrum disintegrated and the penalty advantage in Bolton’s favour Newman spotted the opportunity to collect the ball and crash over for the first score of the game. Mills managed to slot the tricky conversion from out wide taking it to 7-0.

It didn’t take long for Broughton Park to react and within 5 minutes they also found themselves on the scoreboard after a missed tackle allowed their 10 to ghost in with their full back adding the extras from the relatively easy conversion.

Once again Bolton piled on the pressure in the forwards and some fantastic tactical kicking from Singleton at the base of the ruck ensured they kept Park deep in their own half. The visitors relied heavily on their 10 to give them field position from his boot, but with the back three of Liam Ray, Rhys Pritchard and Danny Joseph clearing up anything that came their way Bolton never looked too troubled by this tactic.

A penalty opportunity in front of the posts was given to Bolton and after Chris Cockton’s decision to take the points on offer, Mike Mills obliged taking the score to 10-7. Shortly after Broughton Park took the lead for the first, and last, time in the game. An attempted clearance kick from Bate was charged down on the 5m line allowing for an easy dot down under the posts. 10-14.

Incensed by his error, Vice-Captain Bate was soon on the attack and showing why he has become a crowd favourite with a surging run across the pitch leaving attempted tacklers in his wake. His break down the left wing was supported by Smith, Pritchard, Ray and Newman and following several passes within the 15m channel, Rhys Pritchard found himself on the end of the final pass as they crossed the whitewash for a further score. Mills once again was on target and Bolton were in the ascendancy at 17-14.

Will Bate continued to have an impact on the game and was instrumental in the 3rd try scored just before half time. Again a break down the left wing was the start and once more Liam Ray was on hand in support. As it looked as though Bate was about to be forced into touch he lofted an overhead pass which Ray picked up superbly off his bootlaces to slide in for another 5 pointer. With the conversion kicked Bolton were looking strong at 24-14.

Bolton had one more opportunity to add to their tally before half time when rapid recycling from the back row of Newman, James Brodie and Ash Cooper allowed Mills to fire the ball along his backline with Pritchard taking the final pass only to be bundled into touch as he dived for the line.

At half time, Nick Holmes spoke to the side about maintaining their intensity in attack and defence. To help the cause, he brought Gaz Pritchard on for Tony McLaughlin with Brodie moving from 8 to second row. The team were under no illusions that the game was over and knew that Broughton would come out strong, with Bolton having dented their pride.

However, it was Bolton who drew first and second blood in the final 40 minutes to put the game to bed and the result beyond contention. First on the board was Bate, who had been instrumental in the previous two tries was rewarded for his hard work with a relatively easy touch down. The forwards worked a lineout move to perfection and Cockton found himself charging down the field causing Park to back track. Quick recycling from Critchlow provided Singleton with the opportunity to throw the ball to Ash Cooper in the middle of the park, who with a 5 man overlap decided to take the contact. Had the remainder of the pack not been on hand to once again recycle and make the most of the remaining overlap with Bate the beneficiary, Cooper may have been in for an earful from his team mates. Mills added to his tally before Holmes decided to allow Andy Crimmins on with Singleton slotting into 10.

Singleton was next on the score sheet after a loose ball was picked up by Rhys Pritchard who then exposed a wide open blindside to send Singleton racing to the try line. With Mills off the field, Nick Smith who had enjoyed an assured debut performance for Bolton took up the kicking duties. The kick was missed but with the score at 36-14 Broughton were at least four scores away from victory with a little over 20 minutes remaining.

That didn’t put them off however and some sustained pressure from the visiting pack saw them camped on the Bolton try line. Singleton was sin binned for a cynical challenge making the task slightly more difficult for the home team, but resolute defence held out around the fringes, until finally Broughton were able to find a gap and slide over for the final score of the game, converted to make it 36-21.

With 10 minutes left on the clock Bolton could not allow further slip ups and Man of the Match Louis Critchlow took it on board with a flurry of thundering hits in the closing minutes, much to the delight of the home crowd. His final tackle on the Park 15 caused a knock on which was punted into touch to bring the game to a close.

Next weekend, Bolton travel to Penrith who were relegated from National 3 last season. This will be a tough league opener but if Bolton can play at a similar pace and standard for 80 minutes they will be confident of a close fought affair.