Despite the heavy traffic, Bolton arrived in plenty of time to prepare for this crucial 1st plays 2nd match up to discover a pitch in anything but good condition. However, credit must go to the ground staff who were out en masse with pitch forks in an attempt to clear the standing water. A tremendous hailstorm during the warm up put halt to Bolton’s preparations, who went back inside to ride out the weather. With the hail gone but the rain still falling and the wind still howling Bolton lined up to take the kick off…

… only to be asked to search the pitch for a missing pitch fork spike.. which, 5 minutes later, turned out wasn’t even on the pitch. So back to the game. Ex Eccles player Will Bate stepped up to start the game and put a deep kick in to test the Eccles hands early. A mix up in communication caused the ball to dribble around a bit before it was collected and run back at force into the chasing Red & White defensive wall. Both sides showed their determination to get the upper hand with hard running and even harder defence. A turnover ball put Bolton on the front foot and eventually the pressure told with Eccles conceding a penalty in kickable range. Doherty stepped up, but was unsuccessful with his first attempt.

The ensuing 22m drop out was fluffed due to the ‘soft’ under foot conditions and kicked straight to the rampaging Ash Cooper who proceeded to do what he does best and charged it back at the home side. Bolton recycled the ball well and Will Bate at 9 was commanding his pack well. Further strong carries from Chris Mee and Tony McLaughlin put Eccles under pressure and once again they committed an offence at the breakdown to give Doherty another kickable opportunity. This time the full back stepped up and slotted the ball cleanly through the uprights to give Bolton a well-deserved 3-0 lead.

Now Eccles are a side that have competed well in this league for several seasons and were not going to go down without a fight. The restart was once again dribbled along the floor and collected by a Bolton player intent on making ground. An attempted box kick was well charged down by the Eccles back row and Bolton were under pressure on their 22m line. Rick Newman, who was outstanding all day for Bolton fought for everything he could and eventually turned the ball over allowing Bolton to clear their lines.

The next several minutes went along in much the same way with Eccles attacking, Bolton turning over and clearing the ball deep. On a number of occasions the clearing kick went just too far for wingers Liam Ray and Rhys Pritchard to chase down with the Eccles full back happy to dot the ball down for another 22m drop out.

From a turnover just inside their own half, Bate fed James Singleton who utilised his strong runners outside him. First Dave Bruen who then found Mike Mills outside him. Mills drew his man perfectly and passed to debutant Liam Ray. With a defender in front of him, Ray opted for the kick which went along the touchline and bounced in to touch just several metres out from the Eccles try line. Under pressure, Eccles opted to drive the ball out from the lineout and made some ground before eventually succumbing to the efforts of the boys in red. Bolton managed to turn the ball over and began their assault on the Eccles try line.

The pressure told and yet again Eccles conceded a penalty, this time the referee had seen enough to award Glen Cahill a yellow card and give Bolton the advantage. Having had some success already in the scrum, Skipper Chris Cockton opted for the set piece at which point, Eccles sacrificed one of their backs to ensure they had a full 8 to stop the pushover. However, it was to no avail as Bolton’s veteran prop Sam Hilton made mincemeat of the Eccles Captain and James Brodie was the grateful recipient at the base of the scrum. The conversion was unfortunately missed by Doherty.

With their scrum struggling and Bolton on top, Eccles opted to bring on stalwart Sean Griffin to shore up the front row. However, in a moment befitting his reputation, a late/high (not sure which) tackle saw him immediately sent to the bin still in his pristine kit. With the penalty only a few metres out from the Eccles try line Bolton once again opted for the scrum. Eccles chose to replace their hooker to bring the front row back on and flanker Joe Dale moved in to hooker. The change did them well and the managed to hold off the Bolton drive. A pick up from MOM James Brodie was snuffed out by the Eccles back row and a number of pick and go’s just didn’t quite get Bolton to the line.

Once more Eccles were forced in to conceding a penalty and Bolton were now 2 men to the good as yet another home player walked from the pitch having received a yellow card. Bolton’s lineout was also functioning well and Bate gave Bolton the perfect position with a kick into the corner. The lineout was disrupted by Eccles number 8 Simon Donovan and cleaned up well by Bate. The forwards regrouped and began to plow their way back towards the line. A great line from Louis Critchlow broke the advantage line and took Bolton within touching distance. At this point Bate released his backs and Singleton brought Mills in on a great line, but the ball was lost in contact and Eccles cleared the imminent danger.

The remainder of the half went by without any real talking points, but Bolton were without doubt the dominant side but a dogged defensive effort from the 13 men of Eccles prevented any further scoring.

Half time Eccles 0 – 8 Bolton

Bolton knew that Eccles would come back hard in the second half and also knew that discipline would be the deciding factor against a side who were now constantly chirping at the official.

The opening exchanges of the half went without any real dramas and with neither team really dominating play or possession. The mud was starting to take its toll with tired players and loose handling around the park. Eccles had decided to keep Dale at hooker with starting hooker returning at back row, this kept the Eccles scrum strong and meant that Bolton were unable to exploit this set piece as much as they had in the first half.

That was until a knock on from an Eccles player gave Bolton a scrum just inside the home teams half. Coach Nick Holmes took the opportunity to bring on Alex Youngman for his first game back since getting injured in the return fixture back in November. Tony McLaughlin made way after a strong performance and Brodie moved into second row with Newman slotting in to his preferred position at 8. The forwards packed down against a now full Eccles pack following the return of the sin binned players. The strike was good and the power came on. The Eccles pack had no answer for Bolton’s determination and they fell apart quicker than your average modern day boy band. Newman controlled expertly at the back as Eccles begged for a penalty. Eventually the home side realised they were in trouble and attacked the fast moving scrum resulting in another penalty for Bolton and a feather in the caps for the Bolton forwards.

With the posts too far away Bolton opted for the corner in an attempt to extend their lead. Newman claimed the ball and Bolton moved it wide bringing in their sizeable backline. The centre partnership of Bruen and Mills was worked nicely and Bolton were on the front foot with Eccles defending desperately. Ash Cooper took the ball at first receiver and looked to bring in the next man on the crash but a risky charge from Donovan paid off as he intercepted the ball just 5 metres from his own line. He sprinted down the side line with a winger in support. The Bolton side were wrong footed trying to turn and chase and Donovan had a long lead. Doherty came across from full back to cover and the ball was shipped inside to the winger. Despite his best efforts from the opposite side of the pitch, Liam Ray could not make the last ditch tackle and Eccles went over for a try. The conversion crept over hitting the crossbar and upright at the same time to get Eccles back into the game 7-8.

With their tails up, Eccles now played with a renewed urgency as they sought a further score to take the lead. Indiscipline was now seeking into the Bolton side and James Singleton was sent to the bin for an offside offence on the Bolton try line. Eccles took their chance to go in to the lead with a well struck penalty that had the home crowd cheering as if they thought the game was won.

If anything this only spurred the Cherry & White’s on even more, and after a quiet word under the sticks they returned to the halfway line to be advised by the official there was just 5 minutes left on the clock. The restart was kicked deep and Bolton chased hard, however Eccles knew what was at stake and kept the ball well. They began to make yards down the pitch and put the visitors under pressure. Eventually, Bolton managed to turn over possession but lost it almost immediately with a knock-on on the centre spot. The referee indicated the game was now in its final minute with Eccles having the put in. The end was in sight for the home team, but Bolton aren’t top of the league for nothing and knew that 1 minute was enough.

A pick and go from the base of the scrum came around the side only to run in to Rick Newman. Newman managed to strip the ball clear and off load to a team mate to run it up the field. From the ensuing ruck Bate went right and fed Cockton who had spotted a gap outside the first two Eccles defenders. The break got Bolton on the front foot and Bate switched the play going left. The ball found its way out to the wing where second row Louis Critchlow popped up with ball in hand. A would be tackler was fended off by the rampant Critchlow before he was felled by a low hit. Once again Bolton recycled the ball and Eccles had reason to be worried. At that point nerves got the better of an Eccles player who attempted to illegally strip the ball at the breakdown for the official to blow for a penalty and indicate the last play of the game.

Doherty stepped up and looked up to the sticks. Despite the wind making a comeback down the pitch Doherty, cool as a cucumber, slotted the penalty to give Bolton an 10-11 victory and cause to celebrate a very hard fought victory.

A lot of credit must go to Eccles who battled hard throughout the game and took the chances when they were on offer. Saturday was without doubt, one of the toughest matches the Cherry & Whites have played all season.

A word also for Bolton player Andrew Crimmins who played his last game for the 2013/2014 season before he goes off on his travels across central America. Andy has been a central figure in Bolton’s side this season and he will be missed, although his desire to always have something to say at a break in play won’t be… “can I just say something lads….” “NO!”