Too Little(borough) Too Late

... with the knowledge that they had the potential to over come their opposition, particularly at home where Bolton had managed to maintain a 4 match winning streak.

Returns from Murtagh, Waller and Pritchard saw a re-shuffle in the Bolton backline with the forwards pack remaining unchanged.

Bolton kicked off with the wind behind their backs, however the early upfront exchanges went Littleborough’s way with the Cherry and Whites finding themselves under pressure upfront. First blood went to Littleborough with a controversial try in the corner given by the Borough touch judge. Conversion missed, Score 0-7.

Littleborough continued to apply the pressure and Bolton’s ill discipline in front of the posts provided the visitors with a penalty in front of the posts, calmly slotted by their kicker.

Half time score 0-10

The second half began much as the first one had ended with Bolton under immense pressure from the Littleborough forwards. An injury to stand-off Pritchard saw Mark Doherty step up into the number 10 slot and begin to boss the Bolton backline. Powerful running from centres Howarth and Flanagan built a platform for the forward pack to work from but little mistakes kept creeping in to give away possession.

A strong tackle from Littleborough’s 13 stripped Bolton second rower Geoff Earle, before making up 40 yards to score across the Bolton whitewash. Conversion slotted and score 0-15.

With 20 minutes to go Bolton finally switched on and from a line out 20 metres out drove the much larger Borough back backwards towards the line. A cynical tackle 2 metres out collapsed the rolling maul and questionably the referee did not give the penalty try. From the penalty Bolton opted for the scrum and the powerful Bolton forwards continued their scrumming form by knocking back the visitors causing the referee to go under the posts and award the penalty try (5 minutes too late). Conversion scored, 7-15.

Full time score 7-15

M.O.M – Andrew Murtagh