With confidence high in the Bolton camp over last week’s triumph, and with the clash of 2nd v 3rd, Bolton took to the field knowing a bonus point win would take them a step closer to North One West.

There was one noticeable change in the pack, with the previous weeks MOTM Rick Newman unavailable due to work commitments, Tone Dog was reunited with the starting lineup and Nick Sandbrook was brought back into the fold starting on the bench. The back line, was reshuffled due to the injury of newboy Mike Mills, and so Andy Crimmins started at 9, with James Howarth earning his first team debut, occupying the bench come kick off.

As 2:15 pm arrived the ball was hoisted into the clouds by Singleton, however, direction was lacking allowing the Keswick pack to take a clean, unchallenged catch, and begin an attack into Bolton’s own half. Although, Singleton cannot be found responsible, due to lack of opportunities to practise down to Bolton’s sterling defensive record this season.

As the first 20 minutes progressed, Bolton knew they were in for a hard fought afternoon if they were to secure the vital 5 points. The Keswick pack began to motor into Bolton territory with big carries from their impressive back row, which resulted in an infringement at the base of a ruck. Kewsick opted for the posts, however this was narrowly missed and the Bolton were let off the hook.

This surprising start from the Cumbrian visitors had Bolton on the back foot, and with big hits from the ever prominent Chris Mee and Tony McLaughlin they were able to keep the Keswick attacks at bay. On the 17th minute one such collision found Tony down for several minutes allowing skipper Chris Cockton to one, take a breather, but secondly to grab the pack to give a good stern word.
Tony was taken off due to the reappearance of distant memories from San Tropez in the fore front of his mind once again, and was replaced by Nick Sandbrook who was keen to make an early impression.

With the pack re-galvanised, Bolton forwards marched up into the opposing half, quick ball from Andy Crimmins at the base of the ruck, fed Singleton on the front foot. As the Keswick defence swarmed to take a chunk out of the number 10, the ball was moved slickly through the hands of Bruen and Bate who found a pin point pass for Frank the Tank formerly known as Rhys Pritchard. With quick, nimble feet Pritchard took the ball to the line, drew his man, only to hear screams from Timmy on the Wing ‘Can I have the ball pweasee Whys’. Somehow Louis Critchlow skipped around the one legged defence with a fine ‘pop’ from Pritchard and charged up the touch line much to the delight of the home crowd before the covering defence bundled him and his baseball into touch.

The lineout was formed, and Hilton and Mee launched James Brodie, who lept from the ground like a fresh water salmon to steal the bait. As the Bolton pack began to trundle on, with Ash Cooper and Gaz Pritchard commanding from the back, the infringement was imminent and the referee blew for penalty in front of the sticks which Pishelberry (Mark Doherty) duly obliged.

As the game entered the final 10 minutes of the first half, Bolton found themselves in a promising position on the field. Strong carries from Cooper, Mee and Broadie up the top right corner resulted in another breach of the rules from the Keswick pack. With the game at 3 – 0 , Doherty opened his curtains and began to stride across to the mark assuming he was to be called into action and the 3 points were to be taken, however, Cockton moved at the speed of Brodie’s Neck and Nominate and the quick tap was taken. Crimmins used Louis Critchlow as his battering ram who fell centimetres short of the line, with quick ball recycled the backs thought it was playtime, however, a dummy pass and pounce from ‘Coop the Loop’ Ash Cooper Bolton had finally got the ball down. The conversion was missed by Doherty due to an infringement from a lock of hair.

From the restart, Gaz Pritchard took a clean catch under pressure and found the illustrious Will Bate who began to dodge, dip, dive duck, and dodge his way around the Keswick defence. A high tackle on Bolton’s own Sméagol only angered Bate, who spotted a gap and glided through, only to be brought down agonisingly close by the covering Winger. Keswick managed to turn the precious ball over and clear their lines… for now.

Bolton began one final attack with the half time whistle imminent. Cockton found his man with pin point accuracy and the driving maul was setup. With the crowd adding to the surge, Brodie was securely fastened in for the ride by Mee and Hilton, who were joined behind by Ash Cooper, Gaz Pritchard and Nick Sandbrook. All heads were down, shoulders in and legs powering through, the white line quickly appeared, in which Cockton snaffled the ball of young Pritchard to dot down and take the glory. Doherty failed to add the extras, and Bolton went in to half time with a 13 – 0 lead, requiring two tries from the second half if a bonus point was to be taken.

Half time arrived, and Howarth began to dish out the Oranges like it was a cheese and wine evening at Bolton School. Coach Nick Holmes rang the changes. The following change was a much awaited present for the Ladies of Avenue Street. Sam Hilton made way after dominating the scrums all afternoon, for the fine specimen of a man Ben Stubbs. For those that don’t know Ben, he can easily be mistaken as an occupant of shirts 9 – 15, with the white boots, healthy glowing skin and fine hair piece. He definitely has the ‘best looking prop in the league’ title to his name, however, a team player who is keen to add another, and Saturdays performance proved none the wiser.

As the half began, Bolton began to take their foot off the gas, and allow Keswick back into the game and their 22. The front row of Keswick began to see more ball from the scrumhalf, resulting in a scrambled Bolton defence. Keswick were now camped on the Bolton try line for a good 10 minutes and each one of the opposition pack had numerous ‘pick and go’s’ at the Bolton line but to no avail... strong defence from the usual suspects, including Cooper, Critchlow, Stubbs and Pritchard kept the door firmly shut. With Keswick running out of ideas, the fly half received the ball and shipped it out wide, the Bolton backline were outnumbered allowing an overlap and a sure try for the visitors, however, the outside centre fumbled the straight forward pass over the try line, allowing the Cherry and Whites to turn over the ball. Crimmins dug for the ball and the quick pass allowed Singleton to clear the lines up and beyond the half way line like a young Kwissy Turner.

Strong running from the Bolton backline including Mike Richardson who kept looking for work kept the possible 5 points alive. With a fine scrum move from the Bolton backline, Crimmins received the ball off Singleton on a loop who only had to find bate and Bolton would have skipped along for a third try, however Crimmins, had other ideas…. He stuck the ball up his baggy jumper and was collared by the covering defence. Upon capture, Crimmins passed launched the ball over his head in attempt to find support, however a knock on was made, and another chance went begging. Holmes appeared from the side line like Robin Williams in Peter Pan and calmly asked for Crimmins to leave the pitch, and the arrival of Howarth was upon us.

Bolton went into the last quarter, with 14 men, as Ash Cooper received a yellow card for repeated infringements at the breakdown. This didn’t dampen the Bolton mind-set who began to make strong headways into the opposing 22. A Bolton scrum was setup on the 22 and as they did all game the Bolton pack dominated driving Keswick backwards. From the base of the scrum Pritchard broke and made several meters, with the following carries from Mee, Cockton and Broadie, there was only one direction the ball was going. Stubbs found himself at the back of the ruck and powered his legs through the challenges to cross the white line, however, referee deemed him held up.

The Bolton pack were now in desperate need of a score, and the following scrum sent Keswick further back. As the ball was recycled, Bate now at 9, dummied the defence and Singleton and shimmied across the line. Doherty added the extra.

Bolton went all out in search of the all-important fourth try, however, with only 4 minutes left on the clock it proved a step too far.

Bolton will rue the fact they had enough opportunities for the bonus point, however, a well drilled Keswick defence managed to keep it a close fough encounter for the whole 80 minutes.

Next week Bolton, have the week off, and with the rearranged fixture of Eccles V Blackburn, I’m sure a few eyes will be on the result at Gorton Street.

MOTM – Will Bate.

Report by James Singleton