Bolton 1st XV 20 - 5 Mossley Hill 1st XV

The newly promoted Merseyside outfit, had pushed some of the top sides in the league quite close this season, so Bolton knew they wouldn't have it all their own way, and so it transpired, as the away side started aggressively, putting in some bigs hits on the Bolton players.

It took thirteen minutes for Bolton to break the deadlock after some strong forward play allowed The impressive Rhys Pritchard to find a gap and release winger Marcus O'Donohue to score under the posts. Mark Doherty converted to give Bolton a 7-0 lead.

This score led to huge territorial gains for the Bolton pack, who through the strong running of Louis Critchlow and Man of the Match Chris Mee, were starting to wear their opponents down. Eventually the pressure told, and a Mossley infringement allowed Doherty the opportunity to stretch Bolton's lead to 10-0 after twenty minutes.

Bolton continued to be the side offering the most threat in attack, with a solid scrum and lineout giving them a great attacking platform. However, a combination of good defence from the visitors and poor finishing meant Bolton didn't capitalise on their dominance and didn't add to their score before half time.

Their Liverpool counterparts did finish the first half well and continued in this vain in the second half, getting on the scoreboard five minutes into the second half, after a sustained period of pressure and some poor Bolton tackling led to a Mossley try. The conversion was missed, but Mossley were deservedly in the match at 10-5.

The home side rallied, and despite not playing their best rugby, managed to forge a passage into their opponents half. Good lineout ball from John Stryker and relentless work in the loose from prop Sam Hilton and hooker Gareth Evans, led to a further Mossley indiscretion at the breakdown, giving Doherty another straight forward three points.

Bolton's lead was now 13-5 and they had appeared to have stopped Mossley's revival. This was completed when O'Donohue scored his second try of the match after a fine break from half way by Doherty was finished in style by the in-form, winger.

Bolton didn't play their best rugby, but winning when not playing well is something they have to learn to do. Also notable was an impressive debut by number 8 Gareth Pritchard, who has a bright future ahead of him.

Next week Bolton entertain Hutton at Avenue Street, and a seventh straight victory would see the cherry and whites begin the new year in fourth place in North Lancs 1.