Struggling Bolton Overcome Promotion Hopefuls Hutton

The pre-match build up started well with the intensity showing even in the warm-up, each player could be seen wanting to make a difference and when the first whistle went it showed!

Bolton began the half taking the kick playing towards the club house and early exchanges set the one for a hard hitting game. The first ten minutes were evenly fought out with both teams enjoying possession but with Bolton seeming to control the territory with only the odd deep kick from the Hutton 10 causing them to retreat into their own half, however the Bolton back three dealt with Huttons kicking game superbly and responded through a variety of runs and kicks. An offside offence at the ruck provided Bolton with the chance for 3 and Fly-Half Rhys Pritchard stepped up to the plate and gave Bolton the lead.

In previous weeks Bolton have been guilty of switching off after putting on the board, but that was not to be the case this week. Bolton received the ball and looked to continue putting the pressure on the Hutton defence through a number of barnstorming forward runs and fast flowing backs moves. Credit must be given to the 10, 12 pairing of Pritchard and Keech who caused their opposite numbers no end of grief by breaking the gain line on multiple occasions throughout the 80 minutes. One such break by Keech set Bolton up in the Hutton 22 and quick ball rom veteran scrum half Singleton created further pressure on the visiting sides defensive line. With options on both sides the number 9 went right and a slick handling move saw lock John Stryker slide through the mud and over the line. The conversion just missed giving Bolton an 8-0 lead.

From the restart a wonderful take by Chris Mee and a jinking run got Bolton back on the front foot and Bolton used this to their advantage. For the second time in the half a last minute pass put number 12 Keech through the gap and gained Bolton a huge amount of territory. In their eagerness to pressurise Bolton, Hutton gave away another penalty and Bolton showed their intentions by kicking for the corner. Solid line out ball between Captain Cockton and openside Newman created a perfect platform on which to start the drive towards the whitewash, however cynical play from the Hutton prop collapsed the maul and saw him spend the final 10 minutes of the half in the bin.

With the option of 3 points in front of him Bolton decided to go for the jugular against a depleted Hutton pack and pointed at the ground for the scrum. The Bolton forwards stepped up baying for blood and were only stopped from walking over the line by a collapsed scrum, the scrum was re-set and again Bolton struck cleanly. With the ball now at returning number 8 Parrish’s feet, the Bolton forwards pumped their legs in a bid for a 5 pointer but once again the scrum went down leaving the official no option other than to stand underneath the posts with his arms raised for the penalty try. The conversion was slotted and Bolton had a 15 point advantage over their visitors.
Hutton, however did not lie down and began to try and build pressure through a number of forward drives and, as ever, slick handling moves from the backs. A Hutton line-out just 10 metres from the Bolton try line looked like their first opportunity at a score but incredible and resolute defence from the Bolton pack stopped a usually dominant Hutton maul from crossing the line. Hutton did continue to pile on the pressure and this eventually told with an offence at the breakdown providing them with a scoring opportunity. The attempt was put over the bars with ease and the score stood at 15-3.
Half Time

The second half began in much the same vain as the first with Bolton doing all they could to pressurise Hutton both with their forwards and their backs. Special mentions must go to Mclaughlin, Stryker, Parrish and Critchlow who popped up at every possible opportunity wanting to barge over the Hutton defence. The resolute visitors however did not give up and from a turn over in the Bolton half managed to throw the ball wide and use the overlap to their advantage taking a five pointer in the corner. The conversion superbly placed by the Hutton kicker reducing Bolton’s lead to 5.

In previous weeks conceding such a score would have knocked Bolton’s confidence, however the atmosphere from the sideline urged the boys on to find a further score. From a deep kick the ball was collected by Sandbrook at full-back who then began to jink his way through a staggered Hutton defence. Support came in the form of his wingers and Bolton made good yards up the pitch. The forwards took over being fantastically marshalled by Singleton at 9 with a number of blind side crashes. Singleton looked to go wide from one such ruck but was beaten to the ball by lock forward McLaughlin who exposed a tired defence to go over the line from 10 metres out unopposed. Once again Pritchard stepped up to add the extras but was unsuccessful, the score now stood at 20-10.

Bolton were now in an unknown position with the opportunity for a try bonus point victory looming and with plenty of time still left on the clock. Another solid take at the restart from Parrish and a barnstorming run in which three defenders were brushed aside set a platform for the Bolton backline to run at a back-peddalling defensive line. O’Donohue made the most of a gap on the wing to gain the yards for Bolton before fast recycling at the breakdown allowed the Bolton forwards to yet again charge at the Hutton line. As Bolton marched up the field the touch-line support got louder until a tired defensive line finally broke to allow Critchlow to crash over under the sticks. Conversion scored and Bolton stood at 27-10 with the try bonus point in the bag.

Yet again Hutton refused to lie down and with just minutes left on the clock a good backline move almost broke through but, as had been the case all day, outstanding work in defence and at the breakdown gained turnover ball for Bolton which was subsequently punted into row Z for Bolton’s first victory over Hutton since their entry into the league 3 seasons ago.

An outstanding performance from every player from 1-15 showed just what Bolton are capable of and proves that their current league position is not reflective of their potential. If Bolton can take this performance into the remaining league fixtures they can be sure of cementing their position in North Lancs 1.