Bolton 1st XV welcomed North Lancs 1 newcomers Newton-le-Willows (NW) to Avenue Street on Saturday, with little known about the away team Boltons preparation was very much the same as the previous week where they triumphed over Bury in the Lancashire Plate.

The previous week had seen 39 year old hover-crafting enthusiast Mike Singleton scoring a hat-trick and proving that old people really can still have fun, mid-week saw him turn 40yrs old....would this veteran still have what it takes? The pressure was on as this week he became the oldest captain ever to grace the mortfield turf, usual captain Sam Hilton was unavailable as he had a book signing in Toronto*.

Bolton (with a few regular players missing) started off like the previous week, phase after phase of unrelenting attacks puncturing the NW defence. It soon became clear that the Bolton pack could control this heavy but very much rugby leagued NW forwards unit, from the kick off excellent runs from Lloyd "Mufasa" Green and Ash "Moaty" Cooper kept the NW defence on the back foot where quick ball from young scrum half Andy "The Mizz" Crimmins allowed the back line to create havok for this shocked NW team.

With NW on the back foot it didnt take long for the first score to come, an excellent flowing move after several good forward drives saw jungle book actor and Land rover trialist Bobby "man-child" Bolton weaving his way over to score beneath the NW sticks, Danny Barlows trainee Andy Crimmins kicked the conversion.

Further phases from Bolton saw the ball through several pairs of hands, great rucking from back rowers Joe "no need to be sorry" Smith and John "best tackler in't north - honest" Keech again set the platform for quicker, better ball to the veteran Singleton and his young eager back line. As the first quarter of the game moved on it became clear that although NW lacked the pace to keep up with Bolton they would fight to the death in keeping the game alive, high shots (without use of the arm) constantly didnt get picked up by the referee who also missed a series of illegal moves at the breakdown.

Bolton were dominant at the breakdown, each scrum becoming harder for NW to deal with, the Bolton front five including MOTM Chris "Mini" Mee, Chris "Neutron" Turner, and horwich carnival goer John "Bionic knee Mark II" Stryker continuously driving NW backwards on both sides put in's to the scrum. It also became obvious that Bolton were better in the line out, not only winning theyre own ball but constantly stealing the opposition, Mark "Semi" Crows throwing was exceptionally accurate throughout the day.

The second try of the game came after an excellent line out take from Smith saw the ball crashed through several defenders by Boltons second veteran Mark "Aspinwall" Aspinall, his running and strength on the ball creating constant problems throughout for the helpless opposition, Lesh Towlers fresh Egg made its way through the backline to Danny "bag of squirrels" Joseph who broke the line and unselfishly passed it back inside to religious guru and ginger robin cook look-a-like Mike "no longer" Single-ton who scored beneath the posts, Crimmins converted again with his finely tuned pitching wedge. The score now 14-0.

After this score NW took the initiative to put up a fight, they peppered the Bolton defence with relentless attacks, Bolton held on though and continued to counter punch theyre rivals, the back three including Danny "Jimmy Frial" Barlow and Marcus "couscous" O'Donahoe running the ball back and picking holes in the scattered NW defence with tactical kicks and shimmying runs. However it was NW who scored theyre first points of the new season through a counter attack, a mis communication in the Bolton defence allowed NW to scorevery much against the run of play, the conversion missed.

Bolton rallied together and after a quick chat behind the posts wanted to make a stand, an excellent kick off chase from the Bolton back row allowed a bone crunching tackle to retrieve the ball back for the home side - an excellent way to respond. The ever increasing confidence in the Bolton team showed as the ball was kept in hand and the phases put together brilliantly, Mee, Cooper, Green all had great runs and the backs in turn didnt shun theyre duties...Bolton and Aspinall always asking questions of the NW defence.

As Bolton pressured the NW team back into theyre half NW cleared for a momentary break from tackling, however this turned into a great chance as again a lack of communication or over confidence from the Bolton defence allowed the NW players to intercept and run in for a strange but punishing try, again the conversion missed. Half time could not come soon enough, Bolton who had been dominant now found themselves more or less back to square one.

Half Time Score: Bolton 1s 14 - 10 Newton-le-Willows 1s

A half time talking to from Iron dog walker / coach Alex "core body stretch" Youngman really paid off and drilled some home truths into the Bolton team, it became apparent that the home team had to concentrate on the positives...and they were plenty of those which more than out weighed the negatives.

From the kick off the Bolton pack smashed the NW forwards in defence, the ball straight away back in the possession of the Bolton pack, scrum after scrum was won by the Bolton forwards, Mark "Semi West" Crow leading from the front and proving his worth in both the tight and loose, Bolton made NW pay when they punched the ball into the final 3rd of the field for a line out. Crow found John "the salmon" Stryker who created the rolling maul in which a couple of attempts at scoring were halted, first Turner and then Crimmins. On the 3rd occasion a finally tuned move saw Aspinall stopped short and a ruck ensued, the referee had finally had enough of the NW crusty hooker who was one of several players continuosly laying over the ball at the breakdown, a penalty try the result, the conversion again by the confident ex pie seller / eater Andy Crimmins. The score now 21 - 10.

As NW kicked off a terrific receive from the Bolton lock Stryker found NW tackling him in the air. From the resulting penatly saw Bolton march up the field for another line out, this set piece meant another NW penalty which resulted in another 3 points for goal kicker Crimmins and Bolton.

At 24 - 10 the game started to slip away from the away side, they needed help, they got it. A series of dropped balls and illegality at the breakdown became un-noticed by the referee who let NW play on and score under the posts, the conversion slotted comfortably. With the game finely balanced it became apparent that Bolton had to take back control of this game. From the off Bolton attacked through defence breaking runs, Cooper and Aspinall again the main culprits as they didnt stop dragging in defenders and leaving acres of space out wide to be taken advantage of, Bolton tried to open the game wide, the added imputus of apprentice vice captain James "Squizzy" Singleton who linked well with Crimmins and older brother Mikey .G. Singleton paying dividends at times.

Another Crimmins penalty added further pain to the NW team before extra phases saw Bolton back down in the NW half creating havok from the set piece. A 5m lineout started again with Crow hitting his man, this time Smith jumping high above the single crusty NW jumper who was back on the field...much to the hatred of the NW players. The driving maul was ever destructive from the Bolton pack as they managed to drive over, Ash "Brock Lesnar" Cooper scoring with a helping hand from Olympic wrestler John "Why dont you" Keech. The conversion again slotted like a arrow through the heart by Andy "Pie and beans £1.50 mate" Crimmins. The Score now 34 - 17.

With 10 minutes left and the game looking out of reach for the travelling team Bolton looked to close out the game and stop the newcomers taking a bonus point at least. Further runs from the Bolton backs saw the Bolton pack setting a platform further up-field. The final backs move of the game saw Bobby "Man chest" Bolton weave through the NW defence like the ghost of Falcsy Falcon for the final Bolton score, again the conversion kicked by Crimmins.

A great win for Bolton taking all the points (inc a bous point) from this match. Next week see's Bolton travelling to St Edwards O.B another new unseen team in North Lancs 1.
Final Score: Bolton 1s 41 - 17 Newton-le-Willows 1s

MOTM: Chris Mee (Unofficially - ask Youngman or Nick H for theyre answer) - "Great scrummaging, excellent defence and strong in attack.

Scorers:
Tries: Bolton x 2, Singleton,M, Cooper, Penalty Try
Conv: Crimmins x 5
Pens: Crimmins x 2

Quote of the day: "Happy birthday to me" (Mike Singleton on turning 40.)