On Another Day!

On Another Day!

Valiant Team Performance Ends In Flattering Victory For Rochdale.

By Mark Down.

Bolton traveled to unbeaten league leaders Rochdale on Saturday knowing that they would have to up their game from the previous weeks draw with Leigh. Yet again unavailabilities and mid-week drop outs meant Bolton were forced to travel with only 17 players, however, it was pleasing to see Lewis Lockett return at 10 and Jonny Stanfield at fullback, making his first start of the season for the first team.
|Bolton kicked off and the opening exchanges were evenly matched with both sides attacking at pace and defending solidly. Bolton were first across the try line following a perfectly weighted kick through by Lewis Lockett split in home defense, fullback Jonny Stanfield outpaced the final defender to scoop up the ball and dive over the line, Bolton's joy was instantly turned to disbelief as the very young (17) referee ruled the try out for a knock-on, even the home support at that end of the pitch said it was a perfectly good try!
This seamed to set the tone for the rest of the game with Bolton receiving very few decisions from the match official, even the dominant Bolton scrum and in particular veteran prop Taff Evans who time after time forced his opposite number to pop up couldn't get a decision out of him.
Rochdale opened their account after 15 mins with a converted try, the rest of the first half saw Bolton pretty much camped in the Rochdale half, that was until the 38th min when Rochdale launched an attack that ended with Louis Critchlow being shown a yellow card for a tip tackle, unfortunately Bolton couldn't hold out with 14 players until half time and the home side went over for their second try on 40 mins, conversion missed.

Half Time... Rochdale 12 Bolton 0

The second half started with Bolton feeling that they were still very much in the game and felt that it was still there to be won, once back up to full strength Bolton began to apply pressure with several attacks coming up short of the Rochdale line, however it was the home side that extended their lead firstly with a penalty quickly followed by another converted try to take the score out to 22-0.
Director of Rugby Dave Crouch decided to introduce fresh legs and emptied his bench, with Tom Crook coming on for Simon Frost and Paul Leigh replacing James Higgins, this decision almost paid off when, much to every bodies surprise ( including his own ) Paul Leigh went on a barn storming run and getting to the 5 mtr line before being stopped, unfortunately Paul couldn't find the offload to the supporting players.
With Bolton now chasing the game gaps began to appear in the back line and this allowed Rochdale to score a breakaway try from inside their own half, conversion missed. With the clock ticking down Bolton were determined to have the last say, and after sustained pressure on the home try line Louis Critchlow went over for a very well deserved try for the team, Lewis Lockett converted.
Rochdale defended very well and it's easy to see why they have won all of their 10 games so far, but the final score of 27-7 was very flattering for them. On another day, with a more experienced man in the middle the outcome could have been so different. Dispite loosing this was an excellent team performance from Bolton with everyone working for each other.

Final Score...Rochdale 27 Bolton 7

Man Of The Match...Connor Orrell ,covered every blade of grass!