Defensive Edge Makes The Difference

On paper this had all the makings of an excellent game, with the teams sitting in 3rd and 4th and in the knowledge that a loss by Aspatria would open up the door for 2nd spot for the victor. It was always going to be a tough match with both sides collecting wins in their last four league outings. In reality it was a very robust encounter with Bolton eventually having the upper hand at the time of the final whistle.

Early on in the first half De La Salle kept the well and attempted to tire the Bolton defensive line with a number of probing runs from backs and forwards alike. Ash Cooper led the home side defense with a number of hard tackles that raised the spirit of his side. Della continued to pose a threat on the Bolton try line but, as was to become a common theme, failed to make the final pass count. Della almost broke through when an attempted cross field kick was put into a wide open space, but fortunately for the Cherry and Whites the ball bounced safely into touch. It was a hard fought battle in the forwards and no quarter was given by either side, Bolton relying on the boot of fly half Mike Mills to get them out of danger on several occasions in the early exchanges.

Bolton did make some breaks, mainly on the back of errors from the visitors with the back three of Jonny Stanfield, Danny Joseph and Sam Fogg making metres at each time of asking. Captain Rhys Pritchard was also prominent towards the end of the 1st half and from such a break, Bolton earned a penalty which Mark Doherty slotted to break the deadlock and end the half 3-0.

The second half started very much like the first with De La Salle dominating possession and in the forty fifth minute the Bolton defensive line faltered giving away a kickable penalty which their second row duly converted. Within six minutes of the Della score Nick Duncan scored a try off the back of a driving maul and Doherty added the conversion. Almost straight away De La Salle came back, with a converted try to level the scores yet again at 10 – 10.

De La salle then created one of their best opportunities of the game latching on to a loose ball inside their own half and making their way to within 5 m of the Bolton try line. Despite an overlap and a retreating home defense, Bolton managed to hold out and clear the danger.

Bolton’s fitness then began to show and despite their defensive efforts in the first 60 minutes they started to get on top. Scrums which had been problematic for Bolton at first, were starting to dominate with veteran Gareth Evans having to come on for the injured Manny Tailor. Bolton made the forwards pressure count and Doherty slipped through an opening to dot down only to be stopped by the referee’s whistle for foul play by a Della prop who was duly binned for the remainder of the game. Bolton made the man advantage count at the resulting lineout and Ryan McClusky was able to dot down after a well structured maul. Conversion missed by Mills.

Will Bate entered the fray at 9 for Doherty and the increase in speed around the breakdown played havoc with the Della defence. Bate bossed his forward pack well and kept turning the visitors around with a series of probing kicks from the breakdown. Bolton continued to build the pressure and after a sterling break from Alex Waddicar in midfield took Bolton from the half way line to within a metre of the De La Salle try line the home side found themselves with a scrum 5m out. The power came on and Gaz Pritchard was given an armchair ride at number 8 to dot down and secure an important victory for the Avenue Street men. Mills added the extras to end the game at 22-10.

Bolton earned the win through dogged determination, excellent defense and all round effort - no more so than Ash Cooper who was named Man of the Match. Bolton have now extended their home record to five matches and remain just one of three teams unbeaten at home so far this season. The win has moved Bolton into 2nd place, but with only 5 points between 2nd and 8th place, Bolton cannot afford to become complacent in the run up to the Christmas break.