Buried in Barrow!

Therefore the team hopped onto the bus with the knowledge that a victory should be attainable. However Hawcoat showed why their home record has been exemplary this season.

Unavailability saw yet more changes across the Bolton backline with centre Dave Bruen back in the fray and Stand-off Danny Joseph stepping back in after a weekend playing with kids…

Bolton kicked off and started strongly with hard running from all the forwards pack. Scrum half Waller linked well with his backline to create opportunities for Bolton however resolute defence from HP stopped any attack dead in its tracks. It was then the turn of the home team to apply the pressure and from a line out the HP pack drove forward before releasing the backline for their centre to touch down under the posts, conversion scored along with a penalty a few minutes later. Score 10-0.

Bolton the attacked the HP line and came away with a penalty, duly slotted by full back Mark Doherty taking the score to 10-3. Bolton then lost concentration for an awful 20 minute period which saw HP score three tries due to poor defense and decision making. A great break from Danny Joseph through the large centres created space for him to show his heels and put Mark Doherty in under the posts. Conversion scored.

Half time score 29-10

Second half started better for the Bolton pack with tremendous forwards pressure at the line-out creating a rolling maul from which Tony McLaughline got up with a smile on his face. With the defict now down to 12 points Bolton tried their hardest to get within bonus point distance of 7 points. However poor tackling saw the home team skipper go over the line taking the score to 34-17.

Bolton then showed their ability to play with a fantasticly run training ground move. Perfect ball to the back of the line was crashed in through ever present number 8 Matthew Parrish and rapid recycling put the ball through the hands and sent centre Flanagan over the whitewash. Conversion slotted once again took the score to 34-24.

Tiredness then set in and a good dummy from the home side fly half saw him jink through the Bolton defence and touch down under the posts. The conversion signalling the end of the match.

Full time score 41-24

M.O.M – Matthew Parrish