5 points is 5 points...

Bolton 29 Sefton 17

Bolton entertained Sefton at The Avenue this weekend. The pitch was in perfect condition, thanks to all the ground staff for their hard work.
The match started with Bolton very much in control and in the sixth minute, Will Bate charged down a kick by Sefton. Rhys Pritchard fly kicked the ball on, Will Bate the ball up and passed it to Alex Waddicar who crashed over for the first score of the match. Rhys Pritchard added the conversion. In the eleventh minute, Sefton were awarded a penalty and their flyhalf converted it from thirty metres. Bolton had quite a lot of the possession and when Sefton got the ball their flyhalf kicked it a long way down the field. In the twenty-second minute Bolton were on the scoreboard again. The forwards put together about four phases of play, Will Bate picked the ball from the ruck and made a lovely inside ball for Niall Murphy to score. Sefton were not out of the game. They scored a well worked try from a lineout inside Bolton’s twenty-two and added the conversion. Bolton came back again with a good try of their own. From a lineout deep in Sefton’s Twenty-two the ball came out to the backs. Some deft handling enabled Ryan McClusky to go over for the try.

Half-time score: Bolton 17 Sefton 10

Almost straight after the kick-off Bolton were awarded a penalty. Paul Leigh made a surging break and Jonnie Stansfield passed the ball to Ryan McClusky who went over for his second try of the afternoon. Bolton were winning the battle of the defences and Sefton tried hard to find space with their quick wingers. Bolton were also finding their feet in the scrums and were able to disrupt Sefton’s scrum ball. In the fifty- second minute Louis Lockett made a fantastic break from a lineout ball, then passed to Rhys Pritchard who scampered over for a try and added the conversion. Injuries to Louis Lockett and Kieran Shacklock didn’t help Bolton’s cause. The final few minutes saw Louis Critchlow go off for Head Injury Assessment. Sefton, in the seventy-seventh minute, finished off the game with a try in the corner.

Full time score: Bolton 29 Sefton 17

Bolton came away with their unbeaten run at home this season still intact and five points which was very pleasing. Bolton played some excellent rugby on occasions and their discipline was so much better. The injury count was high, and this put a bit of a ‘downer’ on the win.

Man of the Match: Rhys Pritchard