Tyldesley 6 - 62 Bolton

... For the past few years, which means that quite a time has passed since the two clubs went head to head in a meaningful fixture. The RFU have insisted that 250 mile round trips should be the norm for Bolton rather than the short jaunt across the M61 which would appear to be far too sensible for the ruling body to consider. So it was that Bolton arrived at St Georges Park knowing only a little about their opposition, but buoyed by a decent performance last time out and the feeling that they had finally found some continuity to their play. With the weather best described as “autumn in Lancashire” they knew that they were in for a tough battle up front, but that if they could find more accuracy in their handling then they might have enough pace out wide to prosper.

To paraphrase P G Wodehouse, it is never difficult to distinguish between a Bolton rugby player with a grievance and a ray of sunshine, and this is the best way to describe the opening 20 minutes. A couple of errors and a couple of refereeing decisions to which the Bolton team took exception meant that the home team had kicked a penalty, missed another and camped in the Bolton 22 for 10 minutes or so before the visitors had made any meaningful contribution to the game apart from winding the referee up and making the coaching staff consider looking in the “Vacancies” section of Rugby World.

It took a piece of indiscipline from the home team to kick start Bolton's afternoon; a high tackle in the centre led to yellow card for Tyldesley. Mike Mills kicked the penalty and then ran in for the first try moments later following a break by Will Bate. Bolton relaxed, a little too much perhaps, and a penalty for the hosts brought the score back to 6-10 and a tight contest looked in prospect. Bolton began to settle though and strong running by Louis Townsend and Ryan McClusky in the back row and Will Bate out wide meant that the visitors finally took control of the game. Bolton politely waited for the home team to get back to its full compliment following the sin bin and then scored 3 quick tries to secure the bonus point before half time. First Niall Murphy wriggled over from close range to continue his impressive try return in his first season for the club, then Will Bate went in out wide after more pressure from the Bolton pack and finally Ryan McClusky dotted down for his first try for the first team after a well worked lineout routine, much to the delight to of his rock star entourage.

So 29-6 to Bolton at half time, and for the first time this season they started the second half on the front foot, Niall Murphy again scoring following good work by debutant Lewis Lockett on the right wing. Credit to the home team, though, and they came back again through their forwards, forcing Bolton's James Franks to collapse a maul and earn a 10 minute breatherfor a yellow card. The visitors line was never really threatened, however, as injuries disrupted an already depleted Tyldesley lineup and in the final quarter as the heavens opened Bolton ran in further tries through Louis Townsend from a lineout catch and drive, Niall Murphy again from a quick tap and then tries out wide from Chris Mee and Mark Doherty following good handling despite the conditions.

A convincing win then for a Bolton team who showed that they are capable of scoring points quickly and from all over the pitch, but who are still prone to lapses in concentration and are easily distracted on pitch. Tougher challenges await, not least from Tyldesley themselves in the return fixture at the Theatre of Trees in a few weeks time, but for now this win keeps Bolton on the right track