Bolton Unable to Exact Revenge over North Manchester

As seems to have been the case all season Bolton’s only consistency was their in-consistency. Unavailability due to injuries was made worse by unavailability due to the England game and along with last minute cry-offs meant that Bolton started with a bare 15, their only sub having to start for the third team who were also playing at home.

The first half started with Bolton taking the kick but a skewed kick saw Bolton back on the half-way line for a scrum. Bolton looked to set their usual high standard at the set-piece and managed to turn over the first scrum of the day. The ball was fed to stand-off Doherty and the Bolton back line began to work at breaking down the N Manchester defence. Bolton looked to try and exploit the blind side and did so very well thanks to strong running from their pack in particular, and as always, young back rower Louis Critchlow. Bolton spent the first 10 minutes peppering the away teams defensive line and on a number of occasions made good yards but last ditch tackling kept the Cherry and whites out. The first score went to N Manchester after a fumbled pass was hacked on by their number 10 and the foot race for the ball was won by the North Manchester winger, conversion missed and score stood at 5-0.

Bolton restarted just as they had done and attempted to break down the defence through a serious of forward crashes and running backs moves. Infringements at the ruck presented Bolton kicker Doherty with a change to add 3 points and reduce the lead with a penalty in front of the sticks. The fly-half duly converted and Bolton set up to receive the kick again. Once again Bolton’s pressure caused North Manchester to give away another penalty just before half time, unfortunately the kick was sent just wide.

Half-time, Bolton 3 – 5 N Manchester

Bolton looked to start the second half in the same way they had finished the first but a strong kicking game from the N Manchester 10 saw Bolton chasing ball and managed to find themselves defending in their 22. Strong defence managed to keep the visiting forwards away from the whitewash but sever pressure saw Bolton give away a chance at 3 points which was converted taking the score to 3-8.

The following 20 minutes saw exchanges from both sides with neither team making much of their possession. An unfortunate injury to centre Flanagan saw Hooker Cockton move to 12 and a re-shuffle in the pack saw Matthew Parrish return to the fray after a lengthy absence through injury at number 8. Pressure on the Bolton forwards eventually told and N Manchesters scrum-half spotted a gap down the blind side to go over for the second score of the half. The conversion was missed and the score finished Bolton 3 – 13 North Manchester.